Jessica Simpson gets booed at first country concert

Jessica Simpson isn't exactly Grand Old Opry material yet.

And Carrie Underwood has nothing to worry about.

Audiences both booed and clapped as the singer, 28, opened for Sara Evans at the 15th Annual Country Thunder USA Festival in Randall, Wis., this past weekend.

"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," Simpson told the crowd, according to Us Weekly. "I'm just like you. I'm doing what I love and dating a boy."

Hey, wait just a movie-going minute. Isn't that a lot like Julia Roberts' "Notting HIll" character's speech to Hugh Grant: "Don't forget, I'm also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love me."

She dedicated the tune "You're My Sunday" to beau Tony Romo, sitting in the audience, and performed a slew of covers — including Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again" — as well as her new single, "Come On Over."

Us says that one concertgoer told the local paper: "I'll have to drink a lot of beer to sit through her concert."

Better get a keg.

Frankly, I hope this country-western experiment works out for Jessica. 'Cause i can't really see her flourishing in another genre. Opera's out. So's hip-hop, punk, classical, rock 'n' roll.

She could always do Vegas clubs for a few years.

Or months.

Photos: WireImage

Comments

[Nina Hernandez]

Honestly Jessica Simpson tried her best but just ended up with a huge disappointment. She needs to get a couple big country hits before she performs again. I think her singin other peoples songs is what left you wanting to forget about her performance.

[Liz]

"Isn't that a lot like Julia Roberts' "Notting Hill" character's speech to Hugh Grant?"

No, not really.

There's a weird crossover between country and pop, but it looks like country fans aren't willing to let people like Jessica cross back.

[Angie]

Well- I have to say that I like her singing country better than I liked her singing pop. Her "Come on Over" song is way better than "Take my breath away" that she tried a few years ago...

[Packerbacker]

Well I guess most of you folks haven't figured it out yet why she got booed. Its not her singing its that she mentioned that she's a "Texas girl" dating Tony Romo! Packer football fans hate the Dallas Cowboys and coming up on stage in Wisconsin and making that statement would have got you booed even if you're Jessica Alba. Just thought I'd throw that in there for discussion. Go Pack!

[Tom]

I think the Daisy Duke outfit fits her well, pun intended! Maybe she's finally found her true calling in country.

[AW]

Obviously, ya'll aren't country-music fans. EVER_BODY knows that cute girls sell tickets.

[Sue Willson]

You people are fools. She's as much Countruy as any act out there, and her song "Come on Over" has been setting sales records for the Country genre. The song is of course being played on Country radio and it's a huge hit.

You haters are in the minority. The Country market decides what's Country and what isn't. You may not like it, but you don't make the rules.

[Sue Willson]

She was NOT booed. That's a lie that was started by a blogger, and grabbed by the media without verification.

[Anna]

Ok everyone here is crazy! I was at Country Thunder... The reason that she was booed was because she does not belong at a country music festival!! A lot of people did not even watch her performance for that reason. She can sing anything she wants... she is a good singer but not at something like that her first time out of the gate. especially in the slot that they put her in... bad idea!

[Jared]

You need to earn your way to the top of country music, not buy your way. Ask her to record, produce and write her own country album for $10,000 and lets see what she comes up with (without anyone's help).

[kris]

She was infact booed. I was there. She had a strong vocal performace, but did not sound country. I am suprised that Joe would let her do a venue like this for her first performance. Her songs had too much serious content for that croud. She still has a lot of "pop" in her performace which was not well recieved. I will sum the experiance up with, "Painfully awkward."

[Calstang]

Vegas clubs? Oh yeah - like Cheetahs or Glitter Gulch. She might last a while there.

[Stroker Ace]

I was at the Country Thunder show and did not hear anyone boo!
the journalist who wrore the review was looking for an opportunity for coverage outside of Wisconsin. ala Perez, etc..

[Joe Brownbag]

I thought in Texas they done did things up real big.
Couldn't they of at least hung her skank ass or set her on fire or something?

[mimi]

I think she can't sing period and she doesn;t belong in country but than again she does need daddy permisson

[Ryan]

Cute girls are not what sell tickets....Cute girls that can SING sell tickets.

Country music is not about strutting around in Cowboy boots. Shoot there is talent that comes with it.

Just because Jessica is dating a Cowboy doesnt make her a cowgirl

[Kesh]

Her outfit is probably what got her booed. (oh but of course they didn't... pffft.) Sorry, when your stylist cut off the legs to your jeans five minutes before you took the stage, the authenticity is painfully and obviously lacking.

It barely worked for Shania ten years ago, it's gonna take more to pull that off than the Simpson marketing team.

In all truth, she is the plastic image that Country Music has been rejecting as a corruption of American Values for the last 30 years and more. A sell out of the first degree.

In a genre where barbie doll types aren't taken seriously, she just proved that her interest and understanding of Country Music is as shallow as her relationship.

The little speech about 'a boy' is just another way she can attempt to 'win' Tony Romo in her jealousy over his ex-relationship with Carrie Underwood.

Were his ex to be a Rapper, she would probably be trying to launch herself there instead.

No professionalism, no authenticity, not country.

[Todd]

She was booed. I was there. Country fans can see that she is not a country singer.
She couldn't make in pop, so now she's gone country. What a slap in the face for country fans and the same can be said about Jewel.

[Chloe]

What a shame she didn't leave the short-shorts at home. She seems to think she has to use her body to be a hit. Just like the bomb movie, The Dukes of Hazard...her washing and sliding all over that car changed my mind about her. She just fits in with all the other women that show more of their bodies than their minds. She would no way step in front of the classy Carrie Underwood!!

[Whoa-Hum]

Would you see Carrie Underwood dressed in an outfit like that? I don't recall ever seeing Kellie Pickler or Sara Evans in that stuff, either. If she simply let the booing roll off her, the crowd would more than likely have let it slide. Let it never be said that plain simple logic is a Jessica Simpson trademark.

[Bluegrassboy]

What a garbage performance by Jessica Simpson on the Grand Ole Opry September 6. What`s worse is the fact that she was even invited there in the first place. What once was a great musical institute of the elite in country music has now become an attraction to amateurs and bar bands thanks to poor management seeking younger audiences.

[Reklaw]

It doesn't get anymore country than here in Texas! We have a bigger than life herd of brass Longhorns running through downtown Dallas complete with bigger than life cowboys herding them. Ah, Dallas! Home of the Cowboys and of Jessica Simpson, undebatably the most powerful female vocalist in the world and stunningly beautiful to boot. The Wisconsinites disrespect for country's next rising star says a lot more about them than Jessica.

[caitlin cassel]

hi my nme is caitlin cassel.jesseca simson tried her best and thats all that matters.if i were u i would stop booing her.shes nice,pilot,and awsome!