Jessica Simpson is thanking her guitar player Stanton Edward after her first TV performance in 15 years.
“Had a blast with @jessicasimpson on @americanidol season finale,” the Nashville-based guitar player captioned an Instagram post on Tuesday, May 20. Simpson, 44, shared the post, adding a sweet message.
“Thank you @stantonedward because Lord knows I wouldn’t have held my cool without you!!!” Simpson wrote via Instagram Stories on Tuesday.
Simpson took the stage during the American Idol season 23 finale on Sunday, May 18, singing her new song “Blame Me” and her iconic rendition of “These Boots Are Made for Walkin,” which was originally released in 2005.
American Idol host Ryan Seacrest confirmed that Sunday’s performance was Simpson’s first “TV appearance” in 15 years. She took the stage alongside former season 23 contestant Josh King, who had been eliminated earlier in the season.
Simpson admitted to having some major nerves before taking the stage.
“Oh, my God, I was dying,” the singer told Extra on Monday, May 19. “I can’t even tell you how long it’s been since I’ve been that nervous. Like, I had to put hairspray on my feet to stand still, like, not that it actually keeps me put, but, like, my feet were sweating. I’m like, ‘My feet don’t sweat.’”
She continued: “I just kept telling myself, ‘Do not cry. Do not cry. I know this is a big moment … do not cry.’ And then I see my dad [Joe Simpson], like, up in the corner and I’m like, ‘Ah, I’m going to cry. I’m going to cry. Do not cry. Just sing your songs. Just sing your songs.’”
During the same interview, Simpson acknowledged that 15 years is “a really long time” to take a break from performing on TV.
“The last time was a Christmas song, so that’s easy,” she added, explaining why this was the perfect moment for her return to a televised stage.
“So, this is my new EP Nashville Canyon, Pt. 1, I mean, Pt. 2 comes in the summer, but it is so much a part of my soul, and so to sing a song off of that I felt naked,” she explained. “To be honest, it was very bare and raw and very vulnerable.”
Simpson returned to music with the release of Nashville Canyon, Pt. 1 in March. That same month, she appeared on stage for her return to live music after 15 years, performing at the Recording Academy’s Austin Chapter Block Party during SXSW in Austin, Texas.
