Jessica Simpson Returns to Stage After 15 Years, Debuts New Music at SXSW

The singer's emotional performance marks a comeback with four new songs and a forthcoming EP following her recent separation from Eric Johnson.

Jessica Simpson performed live for the first time in 15 years at the Recording Academy’s Block Party during SXSW in Austin, Texas, on March 12, 2025.
Her six-song set included four new tracks—'Breadcrumbs,' 'Leave,' 'Blame Me,' and 'Use My Heart Against Me'—from her upcoming EP, 'Nashville Canyon, Part I,' set to release on March 21.
Simpson also performed covers of 'Son of a Preacher Man' and 'Boots Are Made for Walkin',' the latter of which she originally recorded for the 2005 'Dukes of Hazzard' soundtrack.
The singer shared that her return to music was a personal journey to reconnect with her passion and identity, describing the process as therapeutic following her separation from husband Eric Johnson in January.
Simpson’s new music explores themes of heartbreak and empowerment, with lyrics in 'Leave' hinting at infidelity and emotional struggles in her marriage.