Jessica Simpson’s American Idol performance marks first TV appearance in 15 years

Jessica Simpson has returned to the small screen for the first time in 15 years.

The With You singer, 44, took to the stage during the American Idol final, marking her first TV appearance in more than a decade.

During the May 18 final, Simpson performed two tracks – her upcoming new song Blame Me, and her 2005 cover of Nancy Sinatra’s These Boots are Made For Walkin’.

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The performance drew a standing ovation from Idol judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan.

Given she once starred in her own TV show, it’s hard to believe Simpson has been away from screens for so long.

In 2003, the pop star – who rose to fame in the late ’90s with songs including I Wanna Love You Forever – appeared alongside her then-husband, 90 Degrees singer Nick Lachey, in the reality series Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica.

It ran for three seasons.

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The Idol appearance comes two months after another big ‘first’ for Simpson as her music comeback shifts into gear. 

In March, she performed live for the first time in 15 years at the Recording Academy’s Austin Chapter Block Party at SXSW.

Posting on Instagram after the show, she described the moment as ’emotional’.

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”It was an emotional coming back home to the best part of myself,” she wrote.

“Thank you for embracing me. You know that I have so much to say, but this lucky voice gets to soar again tonight. I love y’all. More to come…”

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Last year, Simpson made headlines for very different reasons when she confirmed her split from former NFL star Eric Johnson after 10 years of marriage.

”Eric and I have been living separately navigating a painful situation in our marriage,” she told People.

“Our children come first, and we are focusing on what is best for them.

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