Beth Ditto to release `shocking` autobiography

The 30-year-old openly gay Gossip star is to put pen to paper to recall her underprivileged childhood in rural Arkansas, coming to terms with her sexuality and body image, and also to share some scandalous stories.

She told NME, 'The only stuff I'm embarrassed about talking about in it (the book) is the first Gossip album. That was kind of embarrassing, but people already know about that.

'In that first album there was stuff about going down on girls, which was pretty cringeworthy. But for the most part I just take it all in my stride, it's fine. I don't get embarrassed easily. I don't. I could show you my butt cheeks now and I'd be fine about it.

'There's some s**t in there that is going to seriously shock the c**p out of everyone - things that's going to make people forget about me eating squirrels. Totally eclipse it.'

The book, entitled Coal To Diamonds, will be released later this year.