Jewel To Jessica Simpson: 'Be True To Who You Are'

By Access HollywoodJuly 12, 2008, 11:35 am PDT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- "Nashville Star" judge Jewel has some sage advice for aspiring country singer Jessica Simpson - be yourself.

"I really like Jessica. She's always been such a sweet, sweet person," Jewel told People. "If I were going to give her any advice, I would say work hard and be authentic. Be true to who you are."

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Once a pop princess, Simpson's foray into country has been a success so far, with first single "Come On Over" spending five weeks on the country charts. She joins the ranks of other recent crossover artists, from Bon Jovi to Hootie & The Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker.

"The thing about country music is its fans have an excellent authenticity meter," Jewel added. "Anyone who comes to country music just to dabble in it, or who doesn't know it or respect it as a genre and respect its history and tradition, is not going to make it."

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Jewel, who broke through as a folk artist with 1995's "Pieces of You" and singles like "You Were Meant For Me" and "Who Will Save Your Soul," has gone Nashville herself with her recent album "Perfectly Clear." It went straight to number one on the country charts. Clearly, the singer has taken her own advice to heart.

"I was raised on country music," she said. "It's not as if I woke up one day and said, 'I think I'll be a country artist.' I'm doing the same kind of music now that I have always done. If 'You Were Meant For Me' was released today, it would be a country song, I'd be signed to a Nashville label and my music would be promoted on country radio."

[ All Access: Jessica Simpson - Country Music - Music - Celebrities ]

On Friday, Jessica's father, Joe Simpson, announced his daughter's country album will be released on September 9.

"We forget on the East and West coasts that there is a whole country in between," Joe told Us Weekly. "That's our home, and that's Jessica's home."

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comments

comments 1-10 of 17  | newest | < newer | older > | oldest
  • Victoria
    Jewel has always done country, if you would listen to all her albums you can find quite a few country songs on them, and to those of you who said she can't sing-you don't know what the hell you are talking about. She is awesome!
    report abuseposted August 8, 2008, 6:05 am PDT
  • Michelle G
    If Jessica was being true to who she really is, wouldn't she back in Texas workin' the pole? Sad who we put in the spotlight these days...
    report abuseposted July 14, 2008, 7:15 am PDT
  • Michelle G
    If Jessica was being true to who she really is, wouldn't she back in Texas workin' the pole? Sad who we put in the spotlight these days...
    report abuseposted July 14, 2008, 7:15 am PDT
  • mandyxx
    music is music regardless what it sounds like or what people have to label it as. there's a lot of people out there making music that they don't like. i like listening to all kinds of genres, so why is it hard to believe people like singing all kinds of genres? possibilities are endless, it's people who limit themselves & try to limit others. i applaud her for simpl
    report abuseposted July 14, 2008, 5:36 am PDT
  • Lindsay A
    Jessica is such a cuttie. Her photos were seen at millionaire persoanals site ******W e a l t h y R o m a n c e . c o m*****yesterday. It is said she is already in relationship with a young billionaire on that site now. ☆☆☆☆☆???☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
    report abuseposted July 14, 2008, 5:19 am PDT
  • kq
    How is "be true to yourself" snarky? It's good advice! It's not like she said "be true to yourself and stay the heck out of country music" ... Jewel might realize that country music IS being true to Jessica's self and wants her to stick with it rather than listen to the people who are criticizing her over it. She (Jessica) is a Texan,
    report abuseposted July 14, 2008, 3:44 am PDT
  • IzzieListening
    yeah, i agree with 'outspokenwoman' below. Jewel did do pop before this...
    report abuseposted July 13, 2008, 8:55 pm PDT
  • Kat
    Hmm...didn't Jewel do pop and club music before returning to her 'country roots'? She is no more 'country' than Jessica Simpson, so she has no room to speak. Hey I like Jewel, but getting snarky about Jessica doing country is a bit hypocritical. Give the girl a chance like everyone in Nashville is giving you Jewel.
    report abuseposted July 12, 2008, 10:26 pm PDT
  • Date Sites Are Scams ...
    EVERY SPAMMED DATE SITE IS A SCAM! THERE IN ASIA & RUSSIA. ONLY MEMBERS ARE CON ARTISTS WANTING $$ THROUGH WESTERN UNION WITH BS STORIES. SITES ARE LOADED WITH SPY-WARE & VIRUSES!!! ALL GARBAGE!!
    report abuseposted July 12, 2008, 9:52 pm PDT
  • Pearl Haggard
    Maybe Jessica and Joe Simpson can do a country duet just like Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus. Joe told her "I like the way you duet."
    report abuseposted July 12, 2008, 8:50 pm PDT
comments 1-10 of 17  | newest | < newer | older > | oldest

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