‘Absolute trainwreck': Jessica Simpson's first live TV appearance in 15 years slammed
Not everyone is here for Jessica Simpson's music comeback.
American Idol viewers bashed Simpson, 44, for her performance on the show's Season 23 finale Sunday night.
Simpson made her first TV appearance in 15 years and sang her 2005 version of Nancy Sinatra's These Boots Are Made for Walking with former contestant Josh King.
She also performed her new track Blame Me.
But many fans didn't enjoy watching Simpson take the stage on the long-running show.
'Jessica Simpson was an absolute train wreck on American Idol tonight!!' one viewer wrote on X.
'Now Jessica Simpson is struggling and fighting for her life singing her biggest hit 'these boots were made for walking,'' another fan said.
A third viewer shared a photo of judge Luke Bryan and wrote, 'Luke's face during that Jessica Simpson performance is the epitome of cringe.'
On YouTube, one fan quoted former judge Randy Jackson and said, 'Um. It's a no from me Dawg … this is not a comeback.'
'This poor woman doesn't know when it's time to give it up,' someone else said.
'She would never ever get a ticket to Hollywood had she auditioned,' another comment read.
But some fans defended Simpson and her performance.
'Why are so many people giving her s**t? I truly don't understand,' one YouTuber wrote.
'So good to have u back Jessica,' another fan said.
'Love JS, she still sings the same after all of these years,' added a different fan.
Simpson returned to music after 15 years with the release of her 2025 EP, Nashville Canyon, Part 1, which she wrote amid her split from husband Eric Johnson.
'I got thrown a real twist of fate in the middle of making this record,' she told People in February.
'My heart was completely broken. I had to continue to focus on the music. Thank God, I had Nashville.'
The With You singer continued: 'Having this creative outlet, it's like your heart breaks and you go into a songwriting session — like going straight into therapy. I have always said it was cheesy when people said the music saved my life but it truly saved mine.'
Simpson confirmed her split from Johnson, 45, after 10 years of marriage in January.
The Newlyweds star and the former NFL player have three children: Maxwell 'Maxi' Drew, 12, Ace Knute, 11, and Birdie Mae, 5.
'Our children come first, and we are focusing on what is best for them,' she said in a statement. '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.'
The pair's marriage was subject to break up rumours for months after eagle-eyed fans noticed that Johnson hadn't made an appearance on his wife's Instagram since 2023.
Simpson's fans also noticed that she hadn't been wearing her wedding ring since January 2024, and Johnson followed suit.
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