GIDDY UP

Jessica Simpson’s ‘Sexy’ Country Rockstar Transformation

For her first album in 17 years, the former bubblegum pop star headed to Nashville for a “reinvention.”

Could Jessica Simpson be the country rockstar the world never knew it needed?

Since stepping onto the pop music scene as a teen idol in the late 1990s, Simpson has navigated numerous phases of reinvention—each more compelling than the last.

From pop sensation to reality TV star to bestselling author of her candid memoir Open Book, Simpson has managed to stay relevant and fresh. But now, with the release of her new EP, Nashville Canyon Part 1, set for Mar. 21, the world will finally experience Jessica Simpson as the country-rock powerhouse that—at least she says—she was always destined to be.

Simpson recently sat down for an exclusive interview with The Cut, conducted by none other than her sister, Ashlee Simpson-Ross—a pop icon in her own right. The conversation gave fans an early glimpse of what they can expect from Simpson’s first studio album in over 17 years.

Reflecting on her career, Simpson revealed how decades of experience in the music industry have shifted her priorities. These days, it’s not about chasing chart-topping hits. Instead, it’s about authenticity and staying true to herself.

“Making this record wasn’t about having a hit,” Jessica explained. “I don’t care if anything’s a hit… this project is for me to set myself apart from old versions of myself.”

Unlike her 2008 country-tinged album Do You Know?, Nashville Canyon is being released independently, free from the constraints of a record label. This newfound freedom has allowed Simpson to fully explore and discover her authentic sound—a sound that was inspired in part by a moment with her daughter.

“I was playing ‘I Saw the Light’ by Hank Williams instead of ‘Happy Birthday’ to my 11-year-old daughter,” she recalled. “And all of a sudden, I saw the light: I had to be in Nashville. I started looking at real estate that day.”

The Nashville music scene became her muse, and soon, Simpson was in the studio, channeling that energy into a collection of songs that Ashlee describes as Jessica’s best work yet.

“When I listen to Nashville Canyon, I hear an Americana, rockabilly, timeless, old-school, classic vibe,” Ashlee said, highlighting how much of a departure this album is from Jessica’s previous work.

On Feb. 21, Simpson will premiere her new sound with the single, “Use My Heart Against Me,” a country-rock anthem about the lure of an old relationship.

“It was a sexy song to write,” Simpson told People. “It’s kind of [about] craving someone that you want again and you don’t care if your heart is used against you.”

With Nashville Canyon Part 1 set to release on Mar. 21 and her new single out tomorrow, Simpson is ready to prove to the world that she is more than just a pop star of the past, but a country singer worthy of the genre’s attention.

Clare DonaldsonEditorial Intern

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