Jessica Simpson: She's Not the Aloof Starlet You Think She Is

By Tracey Harrington McCoy Posted Mar 12th 2010 11:25AM

Pop-Ed: It's been a rough couple of years for Jessica Simpson. Each time she seems poised to take a few steps forward, something pops up and she gets knocked right back down. She's weathered a divorce (from Nick Lachey), two consecutive high-profile breakups (with John Mayer and Tony Romo), a series of unflattering photos and an ex-boyfriend who can't seem to keep his mouth closed (Mayer again). And with a fair number of observers waiting with bated breath to see her fail, it's surprising she still puts herself out there at all.

But the fact is, Jessica Simpson isn't as dumb as everyone thinks she is. This girl has talent, and it's not just her singing voice. She knows exactly what she's doing, and always has.

During her 'Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica' days, Simpson nurtured an image the audience absolutely loved. She created a character that was funny, relatable and sympathetic. And it's that Simpson who's returning to entertain America with a new reality show, 'The Price of Beauty,' only this time it's on VH1 not MTV.

But it's been a tough road, and the jury's still out on whether or not she can woo TV audiences one more time. She's definitely had some troubles after her first reality show, 'Newlyweds,' and marriage to Nick both ended.

Once the marriage went kaput, little-by-little, the media began picking the blonde singer apart. Simpson was gratuitously linked with every single guy in Hollywood. Her first major movie role (as Daisy in 'The Dukes of Hazzard') was ripped apart. Her albums didn't sell well. She started dating Hollywood lothario John Mayer only to be unceremoniously dumped. And to top it all off, her ex-husband was (and still is) in a long-term relationship with a gorgeous former MTV VJ, Vanessa Minnillo.

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Jessica Simpson Snapshots

In this photo released by CBS, singer/actress Jessica Simpson talks with host David Letterman on the set of "The Late Show with David Letterman" Wednesday, March 10. 2010, in New York. (AP Photo/CBS, John Paul Filo) **MANDATORY CREDIT; NO SALES; NO ARCHIVE; NORTH AMERICAN USE ONLY**

CBS ENTERTAINMENT

Jessica Simpson Snapshots

Actress Jessica Simpson visits "Late Show With David Letterman" at the Ed Sullivan Theater on March 10, 2010 in New York City. Celebrity Arrivals At "Late Show With David Letterman" - March 10, 2010 Ed Sullivan Theater New York, NY United States March 10, 2010 Photo by Jeffrey Ufberg/WireImage.com To license this image (59874381), contact WireImage.com

Jessica Simpson Snapshots

Jessica Simpson visits "Late Show With David Letterman" at the Ed Sullivan Theater on March 10, 2010 in New York City. Celebrity Arrivals At "Late Show With David Letterman" - March 10, 2010 Ed Sullivan Theater New York, NY United States March 10, 2010 Photo by James Devaney/WireImage.com To license this image (59877778), contact WireImage.com

Jessica Simpson Snapshots

Musician Jessica Simpson seen on the streets of Manhattan on March 10, 2010 in New York City. Celebrity Sightings In New York City - March 10, 2010 Streets of Manhattan New York, NY United States March 10, 2010 Photo by Brian Ach/WireImage.com To license this image (59876816), contact WireImage.com

Jessica Simpson Snapshots

And just when things were starting to look up in 2008, Simpson took another tumble. Things started off with promise. She started dating Dallas Cowboy quarterback Tony Romo and was getting ready to release her big comeback album, a foray into country music. The buzz on Jessica Simpson was starting to rise. And then, on the cusp of her big return, it came to an abrupt halt when she stepped on a Florida stage in a pair of unflattering high-waisted jeans. The photo of her singing onstage in her "questionable" denim landed on the front page of tabloids everywhere. Simpson's weight, not her record, became one of the hottest news stories of the winter. A few months later, Romo broke up with her at a particularly bad moment -- the night before her 29th birthday. Again, she became a joke.

Simpson's been front page news the past couple of weeks -- again, not by choice. John Mayer decided to reveal intimate details about their sex life in a Playboy interview; he compared her to "crack cocaine" and claimed to be addicted to her. Simpson didn't respond and remained mum, waiting until she was on Oprah to share her "disappointment" in him. It was a classy move. In fact, her entire Oprah interview was great. Cute, funny and charming, Simpson gave the audience a peek at the girl they fell in love with on 'Newlyweds.'

Simpson is once again poised to make a comeback. 'The Price of Beauty' debuts Monday night on VH1. She has a ton of loyal fans who want her to succeed (her Twitter page has over 2.25 million followers!). And she seems confident and excited about her career. She's right where she wants to be. Who knows, maybe she planned it like this all along...

Tags: jessica simpson, John Mayer

Comments

(73)

Friday 12 March

By Graham Cracker Billy

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

LYPSYNCING NO TALENT HACK, AND THOSE ARE HER GOOD POINTS!!! BY THE WAY I B 1ST!!! WHAT'S THAT? WHAT'S THAT?

By mcurtis2962

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She has more talent than you give her credit for. She actually is very smart and has a very nice voice. She just has not really found her genre yet.

By Stella

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Exactly when will she be finding that genre? Hasn't she been at this for about 15 years already?

By wondertrash.blogspot.com

Does this mean that she really does have an 160 IQ??

By Lindi

am I the only one??? I find her neither, smart or pretty, what's with her mouth? She can't hold a tune, really can't act, looks like a lost soul, like she's so stupid as not to be able to count to three...we know she gets a ^5 for bedding guys, still,I wonder, can she make a living at it? You say yes, I say NO!!! Lucky Nick, he'a away from the situation. :-)

By Leila

Cute, funny and charming?! Talented, intelligent?! Jessica Simpson?!!! Please, she just seems more and more desperate for attention and I've never seen such a phony. I just do not see her in the way this article describes her, nor does a lot of the public.

By kyleb

Hello Lindi
No you are not the only one who thinks she is not talented nor smart. The gretest amount of publicity she gets is bad publicity and American people like bad publicity, thus keeping her on the front pages. She most certainly cannot carry a tune and to think she can sing the Star Spangled Banner!!!!!!! She obviously never listened to herself sing it. She sang it at a golf activity that Toni Romo was involved in and obviously he was so embarrassed he dumped her. She is dumb enough to say that the things John Mayer said about her was good for her. At first she went behind the scene on Ophra and cried tissues full but whan she saw how it got her name out there, she changed her tune. She said, "Now my phone is ringing off the hook." DUH!!!!! I guess so!!!!!Half the men in the country would like to try that now!!!! They never heard of Sexnapul or what ever he called it so they want to see what that is, You don't have to be smart and talented to spread your legs!!!!!! As for bucket mouth Mayer. He needs to learn to keep his big mouth shut. A real man don't try to build himself up by putting some else down!!!!!! If I was woman I wouldn't go near him.

Sunday 14 March

By Heidi

um, kyleb, the term John Mayer used was "sexual napalm". If you've never heard of napalm then you are either as dumb as a rock or 12 years old. Ever heard of Vietnam?

By junebug

Gosh Lindi, little bit envios of her or what?? She is rich and famous and,did not get that way by being dumb,she also seems really sweet.

By sarahb

I heard on TMZ last night that Jessica is a size four. That is certainly no size four sitting beside David Letterman. she needs to know that wearing her drsses too small does not make her look smaller. I admit she is not fat, but she is no size four. She was when she played Daisy Duke.

By Koz

Do the stars pay good money to people to pick out their clothing.

Well she should get it back, that is the ugliest dress I have ever seen and those shoe don't help.

By Kay

Smart? Please.... The only reason people actually liked her on the Newlywed show was because it was apparent Nick found something about her that was lovable - his love showed her humanity. Other than that, she is as vapid as a cloud.

By LB

Well, I guess you're all celebrity experts. The media really does a FANTASTIC job at giving the public the facts and nothing but the facts, which allows all of you to presume to know the intimate details about these celebrities with 100% certainty... I'm in awe...

By shalie

She is a pretty girl and is using her fame in the right directon. Not sure why people have always hated her.. I saw her while modeling fo World Swimwear in Malibu and she is very friendly.

If she's "always known exactly what she's doing" then why is her career in shambles, and why does the author of this article ask if her new incarnation will be accepted? Or is it that she has purposely been trying to sabotage herself every step of the way?

By Nate

Was this article written by Jessicas' publicist? At first I thought maybe it was ghost written by her dad, but since there is no mention of her double D breasts, that lets him off the hook. The point is, this is a puff piece Valentine to Jessica. Why?
This woman can't sing, can't act, can't speak intelligently,has horrible taste in men,except for Romo, is dull and boring, isn't very pretty, dressed badly and seems desperate for attention and to stay in the limelight. The only good things I can say is that she seems to have a sense of humor and that she isnt a drunk or a junkie.
She is irritating because she wont seem to go away and no one can figure out how she got famous in the first place, but she is basically benign.

Monday 15 March

By steve

You hit the nail on the head I can't believe you said everything I was thinking. right on. Jessica WHO!

By LORENZO

jessica simpson your 15 minutes are up

By outandabout333

I'd do her.

By Karmakin

Why do men feel a need to state they would "do" anyone? Yes, we all know that a lot of men will stick their penises in anything even semi-attractive. This is not news.

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