Holy smoke, she`s gone country! Maybe it`s because she`s been hanging about with that Cowboy, you know, Tony Romo. Whatever the reason, it turned out to be a safe run for Jessica Simpson, the former pop princess whose new CD "Do You Know" debuted at No. 1 on Billboard`s country charts the week of Sept. 9.
That same week, it became the No. 1 title on iTunes for all genres.
And the CD`s breakout single, "Come On Over," made chart history by becoming the first debut country single by a solo artist to develop the top-50 at No. 41. Not bad for a gal whose critics predicted she was lost for bankruptcy on Music Row.
Back in Los Angeles after a flying jaunt to Las Vegas to do for a charity event, the Texas-born beauty offered some insights about her incredible yet sometimes unstable road to Nashville.
"To go in this world, you give to go to yourself first," said Simpson. "That`s what Nashville has meant for me. "I`ve always believed if you remain lawful to your eye the choices you\ make will end up being the mighty ones. I`m in the most comfortable place I`ve always been and the grin on my face couldn`t be more genuine."
Like many of the country greats she admires - Patsy Cline and Willie Nelson, included - Simpson started out singing in her church choir. Her father, Joe Simpson, was a Baptist minister and Jessica said he uncovered her to a lot of gospel music.
As a pre-teen, she grew tired of choral singing and began to follow her daydream of celebrity and fate in the music business. Along with competing in local dance and vocal competitions, she also auditioned for the "New Mickey Mouse Club" at the age of 12. Simpson admits to being heartbroken when she received a letter from Disney saying she hadn`t made it.
The rejection was especiallydisappointing because so many of her peers were accepted: Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Ryan Gosling and Keri Russell.
"Rejection is a capital thing," said Simpson. "It allows you to be lone and fancy things out."
Despite her disappointment, Simpson bounced back quickly when she was invited to lead to an album recorded by a gospel choir in New Jersey. That project led to Simpson recording her first solo gospel album, which she said her grandmother paid to have duplicated. It didn`t take long for the CD to see the ear of Columbia Record`s music executive Tommy Mottola, who signed her to a recording contract in 1999.
Simpson`s debut CD, "Sweet Kisses," produced the hit single "I Wanna Love You Forever," launching her to international fame. Her follow-up CD in 2001, "Irresistible," debuted at No. 6 on theBillboard 200Album Chart and produced the hit one of the same title.
During the transcription of her third CD in 2003, "In This Skin," Simpson`s personal life began to unravel. Suddenly, she establish herself more notable for her marital troubles to pop singer Nick Lachey than her music. The world got an up-close-and-personal look at the couple`s rocky private life on the wildly popular reality show, "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica."
Simpson said the program, which ran for 41 episodes until March 30, 2003, painted an inaccurate portrait of her as a ditzy, dimwitted and selfish person. That not only damaged her self-esteem but also led to the dissolution of her wedding to Lachey, former member of the boy band 98 Degrees. The couple divorced in 2005.
These days, Simpson`s feeling much stronger.
"I`ve sworn off all the haters," said Simpson. "My computer is turned off and I mostly read my fan mail to promote myself. And my faith has granted me strength. Without it, I`d have given up a long time ago."
As Simpson began to heal from her divorce and an attack of public criticism, she realised it was time to fall to making her beloved music. And she became more determined than always to prove herself as a recording artist capable of leaving behind a legacy.
So she left the gaudiness and glamor of Los Angeles and headed back to Nashville in 2007 to do what she cherished to do all along - write and record country music. Her label, Epic/Columbia Nashville, hooked her up with a squad of writers and 12 songs for "Do You Know" began to take shape.
The event was a contemporary mixture of country tunes centered around her experiences with spirit and love. Among the tracks are "Remember That," "Pray Out Loud," "When I Loved You Like That" and "Do You Know," which was scripted by legendary singer/songwriter Dolly Parton.
"Dolly is a remarkable man being," said Simpson. "She`s the form of someone that when you go to rest at night you think she might be saying a petition for you. That`s the sort of person I want to be to the multitude I know."
With the winner of her new CD and her restored confidence, Simpson said she has finally found peace on her journey. And careless of obstacles and a few remaining naysayers, she knows her life and her career hold exciting and eternal possibilities.
"No matter how successful the register is in the world, it will constantly be successful to me because it has allowed me to be my heart`s desire," said Simpson. "I truly consider what I`m singing about and I know what I`m doing. Yes, it`s all highlighted by the world`s perspective but if I stay small and straight to who I am, the scoop is yet to come."
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