Early life
Simpson was born in Abilene, Texas, the daughter of Tina and Joe Truett Simpson, who was a minister and psychologist.As a child, she began singing at her local Baptist church. At age twelve, Simpson unsuccessfully auditioned for The Mickey Mouse Club.[2] While attending J.J. Pearce High School, she recorded a gospel music album with Proclaim Records. The record company went bankrupt and the album was never released. Simpson left high school at age sixteen (she later earned her GED), and toured the Christian music circuit. After Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola heard one of Simpsons' independent releases, she was signed to the label.Jessica Simpson will have more time to focus on her upcoming reality series, "The Price of Beauty," now that she's single again.
Tony Romo broke up with Simpson last Thursday, the night before her 29th birhtday, according to People magazine.
But Simpson, who had planned to celebrate her birthday with a Barbie and Ken-themed party, already appeared to be bouncing back after the breakup.
"Barbie party didn't happen, but I turned 29 and feel like I am on top of the world yelling I LOVE GETTING OLDER!" she wrote on her Twitter page last Saturday.
The Dallas Cowboys quarterback also wasted no time lamenting the busted relationship. According to People, Romo spent Simpson's birthday at Hollywood hot spot MyHouse with 14 of his boys.
By Sunday, Simpson was waxing philosophical about love. "Everyone needs to know that hope floats ... grab the strings and pull it back to you," she Tweeted.
Three hours later, she wrote, "Falling asleep with my mom and the dogs. Please lord give all of my beautiful fans, friends, enemies, and family rest. Bring all of us peace."
A People source said that even though Simpson still loves Romo and is heartbroken over the breakup, their careers got in the way of their relationship. "He's busy with his career and she's getting ready to shoot her show ("The Price of Beauty"). They decided to part ways," the source told People.
Notwithstanding her recent breakup, Simpson seemed to be riding high after a spate of bad publicity.
The pop singer-turned-country-singer turned into a tabloid target in January when she donned the wardrobe "don't" of the year: a pair of high-waist jeans and a leopard print belt that showed off curves unseen during her "Dukes of Hazzard" days of short shorts and belly-baring shirts.
"Clearly, since we saw her last, she slayed that dragon named dignity and just spooned frosting into her mouth full time," wrote the blog "What Would Tyler Durden Do?" at the time. "Honest to God, her appearance couldn't have been any more shocking unless she had grown glow-in-the-dark tentacles."
Mean-spirited? Sure. But when Simpson's critics pulled out their claws, they also threw her more publicity than she'd seen in years.
Now, thanks to the column, inches devoted to the "fit or fat?" discussion that ensued in the weeks following her fateful appearance at a Florida country radio station's chili cook-off, the 28-year-old's got a new gig headlining VH1's upcoming reality series, "The Price of Beauty," which will follow her as she travels the world in search of what people find beautiful and why.
"I have always believed that beauty comes from within and confidence will always make a woman beautiful, but I know how much pressure some women put on themselves to look perfect," Simpson said in a statement to ABCNews.com. "I am really looking forward to discovering how beauty is perceived in different cultures and participating in some of the crazy things people do to feel beautiful."
While Simpson didn't specifically reference the weight debate that played into her scoring her new job, Jeff Olde, the executive vice president of VH1's original programming and production, made the connection clear.
"Perhaps more than any other pop culture figure on the radar today, Jessica Simpson has been the target of our obsession with beauty on both sides of the equation," Olde said in a statement to reporters. "She is a woman who can set trends and create firestorms with a single photo."
Criticism and controversy
Simpson received criticism from a Christian group calling itself "The Resistance", for the sexualized image she used in the music video for "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'".In response, Simpson stated, "It didn't really surprise me because I grew up with a lot of that backlash. That's why I didn't end up going into the Christian music industry. I think that if they're really good Christians the judgment wouldn't be there."
Simpson, who endorsed George W. Bush for president in 2004,was later said to have "snubbed" him by canceling an appearance at a 2006 Republican fundraiser in Washington, D.C. Manager Joe Simpson said that even though he and Jessica are "big supporters" of the president, who had invited them, they felt it was inappropriate to attend a political fundraiser.
In June 2008 Simpson was seen with boyfriend Tony Romo wearing a shirt that said "Real Girls Eat Meat". It was seen as a slam at Romo's ex girlfriend Carrie Underwood who is a vegeterian. Simpson received heated criticism from PETA. PETA issued a statement regarding the incident stating that, "Jessica Simpson's meaty wardrobe malfunction makes us thankful that no one is looking to her for food advice. Chicken-of-the-Sea, anyone? The woman who thought that Buffalo 'wings' came from buffaloes would benefit from some good veggie brain food."
PETA spokeswoman Pamela Anderson also commented by making a vulgar comment regarding Simpson.
On July 19, 2008, Simpson performed at the Country Thunder Festival in Wisconsin. She was booed by the crowd and received a poor reception from country music critics.She responded by saying “I don’t know what your perception is of Jessica Simpson or what tabloid you buy, but I just want you to know that I’m just a girl from Texas; I’m just like you. I’m doing what I love and dating a boy
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