Jessica Simpson celebrates emotional milestone after suffering ‘deepest heartbreak of my life'
Jessica Simpson said an emotional 'thank you' to the audience for her first performance in 15 years, as she celebrated 'coming back home to the best part of myself'.
The singer, actor and designer – who sold two million copies of her debut album, Sweet Kisses, when she was 19 – has not performed live since 2010, the year she released her most recent album, the holiday collection Happy Christmas.
However, Simpson, 44, seemed thrilled as she delivered a lively set on Wednesday 12 March at the Recording Academy 's Austin Chapter Block Party during SXSW festival in Austin, Texas.
She debuted four new songs, including 'Use My Heart Against Me' and 'Leave', possibly inspired by her separation from husband Eric Johnson, with whom she shares three children, in January.
She also sang covers of 'Son of a Preacher Man' and 'These Boots are Made for Walking', Rolling Stone reported, the latter of which featured in the soundtrack to her 2005 film The Dukes of Hazzard.
Later, she observed the significance of the moment in a message to her followers on social media.
'Last night was my first performance in 15 years,' she wrote in an Instagram post, along with several clips of her performance.
'It was an emotional coming back home to the best part of myself. Thank you for embracing me. You know that I have so much to say, but this lucky voice gets to soar again tonight. I love y'all. More to come…'
Simpson kicked off her music comeback last week with the official release of 'Leave' from her forthcoming EP, Nashville Canyon: Part 1, followed by 'Use My Heart Against Me'.
'Leave' describes a relationship that has grown cold after an apparent betrayal: 'What we had was magic/ Now you've made it tragic/ Giving her what you gave to me/ Now the well that you drank from is empty.'
Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music
Sign up now for a 30-day free trial
Sign up
In a YouTube video about the making of the song, Simpson said it was one of the most difficult songs for her to write but she 'needed to get it out'.
In an interview with The Cut last month, Simpson told her sister Ashlee Simpson that she had been through 'the deepest heartbreak of [her] life'.
The 44-year-old actor confirmed that she and the former NFL player have broken up in a statement shared on Monday 13 January, explaining that amid the challenges of their separation, she and her ex are focused on their children: Maxwell, 12, Ace, 11, and Birdie, five.
'Eric and I have been living separately navigating a painful situation in our marriage,' she told People. 'Our children come first, and we are focusing on what is best for them. We are grateful for all of the love and support that has been coming our way, and appreciate privacy right now as we work through this as a family.'
Simpson sparked speculation in November that she was getting divorced with a cryptic post on social media, as she wrote: 'Interviews in my Nashville music room where I unearthed my singular magic.
'This comeback is personal, it's an apology to myself for putting up with everything I did not deserve.'
Nashville Canyon: Part 1 is scheduled for release on 21 March.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time Out
3 hours ago
- Time Out
Leave Me Alone
Located at the edge of trendy Shimokitazawa, Leave Me Alone is a space of esoteric contradiction. The softly lit venue is sparsely yet tastefully decorated, with a custom smiling flower portrait from the iconic Takashi Murakami, plus dolls created by Mr., the noted Kaikai Kiki artist. The venue is the latest venture from corporate-bigwig-turned-bar-owner Hirohisa Tamonoki. The forty-something former tech VIP from Akita prefecture opened the bar at the end of 2024, finally fulfilling 'a dream he'd left behind' after decades in the corporate world. A self-proclaimed introvert, Tamonoki aimed to create a space for people like himself who never quite fit in. He also wants to attract individuals with a passion for the music genre that reigns supreme at his bar: noise. From the disorienting percussive sounds of Japanese noise legend Merzbow to the abrasive vocals of American experimental rock band Swans, you'll get your fill of sonic brutality through track after track of harsh noise, industrial noise, noise rock and so on. The harshness of the bar's soundtrack is in contrast to the intimate nature of the space, but somehow it works. 'It's not for everybody,' says Tamonoki. 'But if you get it, you get it.' The bar's drink options are less eclectic (but no less tasty), and feature various kinds of whiskey and gin – think classics like Hakushu, Hibiki, Sakurao and Kanomori. A speciality cocktail menu is in the works and currently features mezcal negronis and seasonal fruit gin and tonics. Invitations to Leave Me Alone are strictly through DM only. If noise music is your thing and you're thinking of stopping by, request the location by contacting the bar via Instagram @leave_me_alone_bar.
Metro
a day ago
- Metro
Bruce Springsteen gives his opinion on Stephen Graham's portrayal of his father
Bruce Springsteen has commented on Stephen Graham's portrayal of his late father in the upcoming biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere. The film, based on Warren Zanes's acclaimed 2023 book Deliver Me From Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska, chronicles the emotionally fraught creation of Springsteen's 1982 album Nebraska. Liverpool-born actor Stephen Graham, known for This Is England and Adolescence, takes on the role of Douglas Frederick 'Dutch' Springsteen, while The Bear star Jeremy Allen White plays a young Bruce at a career and personal crossroads. In a recent interview with The Times, Springsteen, 75, spoke sparingly about the project, which is set for an October theatrical release. But he didn't hold back his admiration for Graham's performance, which he experienced with a deep personal resonance. 'Watching Stephen portray my dad was a little otherworldly, and also quite touching,' he said. The music legend has been closely involved with the film, though he admitted stepping away from certain scenes during production due to their emotional intensity. Earlier this year, Graham revealed how moved he was to receive a text message from Springsteen after a private viewing of the film. In it, Springsteen reportedly wrote: 'Thank you so much. You know, my father passed away a while ago and I felt like I saw him today and thank you for giving me that memory.' The moment was deeply affecting for Graham, 51, who called the message 'beautiful' and referred to Springsteen as 'a working-class hero' and 'an icon to thousands, to millions.' Springsteen has also spoken about his on-set visits, praising Jeremy Allen White for his patience and professionalism during filming. More Trending 'Jeremy was very, very tolerant of me the days that I would appear on the set,' Springsteen told Rolling Stone earlier this month. 'I said to him, 'Look, anytime I'm in the way, just give me the look and I'm on my way home.'' He added with a laugh, 'It was just fun. It was enjoyable.' While Springsteen is keeping further details about the film under wraps for now, he is currently promoting Tracks II: The Lost Albums, a new compilation project set to accompany his decades-spanning discography, which includes 21 studio albums, over 300 songs, and 20 Grammy Awards. As anticipation builds for Deliver Me From Nowhere, it's clear that, for Springsteen, the project has already delivered something priceless. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Every single Glastonbury headliner by year – including last minute drop-outs MORE: I was cabin crew for 26 years — here's how we handle emergencies at 30,000 feet MORE: Stephen Graham 'couldn't stop trajectory of blood' during terrifying health emergency
Metro
3 days ago
- Metro
The 'best horror film of 2025' has arrived on Amazon Prime's Shudder
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A Japanese horror film dubbed 'unnerving' and 'sinister' is now available to stream on the scariest streaming service out there. Best Wishes to All, directed by Yûta Shimotsu, follows a nursing student (Kotone Furukawa) who visits her grandparents (Masashi Arifuku and Yoshiko Inuyama) in their rural Japanese town. She appears distressed to learn her parents' arrival at the home is delayed, leaving her alone with her elderly relatives. As the visit winds on, the young woman uncovers dark secrets that seem to point to a mysterious presence lurking in the house. Best Wishes to All boasts a 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and you can witness the eerie spectacle for yourself from the, uh, relative comfort of your own home. The film is now streaming on Shudder via Amazon Prime Video, which specialises in horror films from across the globe, both big releases and indie gems. Rolling Stone had high praise for the film in their review, writing: 'It is, hands down, the best Japanese horror movie in decades, and quite possibly the single best horror movie you'll see this year, period.' IGN Movies said: 'Brimming with misanthropy and feel-bad vibes, the social commentary doesn't sustain the film for its full runtime. Director Yûta Shimotsu's command of uncanny atmospherics only takes him so far — even if it is, admittedly, pretty far.' Variety added: 'The thinly veiled commentary on aspects of modern Japanese society may fly over offshore viewers' heads streaming on Shudder, but genre fans will appreciate the bizarre story's sinister, twisty progress.' 'The type of unsettling, high-concept horror film that knows exactly what it wants to be and executes it with unforgiving verve,' concluded. There are two ways you can kickstart your Shudder subscription – either directly through Shudder or Amazon Prime Video. With the latter, it means Shudder is added as a channel to your Amazon Prime Video account, and you can access its content through there. To do this, you need to have an active Amazon Prime membership and search for the channel on there. Whether you subscribe directly or through Amazon Prime Video, you can enjoy a seven-day free trial of the service. After this, Shudder costs £4.99 per month and can be cancelled at any time. You can also subscribe to Shudder annually, which costs £47.88. This works out at £3.99 per month, saving you £12 a year overall. Best Wishes to All is the feature debut of director Shimotsu, who explained the themes and enduring popularity of Japanese horror films in an interview with Asian Movie Pulse. 'Well, in Ju-on or Ring it is more about ghosts, whereas US horror films, for example, rely more on jump scares,' he said. 'Japanese horror is much more subtle and works with atmosphere, with the actual 'scare' often happening in the background even. 'The audience gets the feeling there is some kind of presence, but you cannot figure out where the danger might be coming from. This is real dread, and what makes J-horror so unique in my opinion.' He shared that Ju-On director Takashi Shimizu had offered him some advice when making Best Wishes to All, adding: 'When he saw the film for the first time, he remarked I should explain things a bit more or at least give the audience some subtle hints, for example, through editing or music.' Best Wishes to All is streaming now on Shudder via Prime Video . Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Escape this weekend's heatwave to binge all 8 episodes of 'tear-jerking' Amazon Prime thriller MORE: 28 Years Later director reveals 'nightmare' of shooting naked zombie scenes MORE: 'I beat the system and proved I didn't need a TV licence'
