Jessica Simpson Returns to Stage for First Time in 15 Years, Debuts Song 'Breadcrumbs'

Jessica Simpson Returns to Stage for First Time in 15 Years, Debuts Song 'Breadcrumbs': 'Needed to Remember Who I Was'

The musician/business mogul is set to release her first project in 15 years, 'Nashville Canyon Pt. 1,' on March 21

Updated on March 13, 2025 06:55PM EDT

Jessica Simpson Performs for the First Time in 15 Years at SXSW — Jessica Simpson in Austin on March 12, 2025. Photo:
Recording Academy / GRAMMYs/Instagram

Jessica Simpson performed live for the first time in 15 years!

On Wednesday, March 12, the "Irresistible" singer, 44, played a gig during the Recording Academy's Austin Chapter Block Party at SXSW in Austin, Texas.

Per Rolling Stone and Instagram Stories shared by the Recording Academy, Simpson opened up about her decision to return to music ahead of her first song, "Breadcrumbs," which happened to be its live debut.

“This time, I needed to remember who I was and why I wanted to sing in the first place and all the music that inspires me,” she told the crowd. “And I needed to forget who they told me to be.”

According to Rolling Stone, she also performed a new song called “Blame Me," in addition to her recent singles “Use My Heart Against Me” and “Leave.”

Per the Recording Academy's Instagram Stories, Simpson also covered Nancy Sinatra's 1996 classic “These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" and Dusty Springfield's 1969 hit "Son of a Preacher Man."

Hours before her appearance at SXSW, Simpson teased the performance in an Instagram Reel.

"Which way to #SXSW ? 🚘" she captioned the post, which features the "I Wanna Love You Forever" performer in a blue fur coat and sunglasses in an airport.

"Hey everybody, it's Jessica Simpson. We just landed in Austin, and right now I'm gonna wait in line at Enterprise. This is not an ad but I'm getting a rental car," she quipped in the clip.

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While Simpson dropped a cover of Nothing but Thieves' "Particles" in 2021, after sharing six songs when her 2020 audiobook was released, her EP Nashville Canyon, Part 1 will be her first proper project in 15 years

In February, the "With You" performer told PEOPLE that her daughter Maxwell, 12, was the inspiration for her return to her roots since she wanted to go to Nashville for her 11th birthday,

“She said, ‘You know that song by Hank Williams, 'I Saw the Light?' It’s my favorite song and I want to go where the light is. I want to be there on my 11th birthday, it just feels like that’s what I’m supposed to do," said Simpson.