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Jessica Simpson makes country debut

Country Thunder 2008
Shadow Hill Ranch
Twin Lakes, WI
July 16 - 19, 2008

Carrie Underwood (TM)

Jessica Simpson (PB)

Miranda Lambert (TM)

Story by Robin Mayer
Photos by Phil Bonyata, Terry Mayer, Jeannette Vankanegan & Anne Synove

Country Thunder 2008 came and went this past weekend to Twin Lakes, Wisconsin in a wave of storms that left festival campers stuck in ankle high mud. While it seems to rain at least one day every year at Country Thunder, this year's downpours continued throughout the 4-day festival. The rain couldn't dampen the spirits of attendees who faithfully return year after year to the country music festival. Revelers made the most of it and walked around muddy, frequenting the local YMCA for a shower when it just got to be too much.

This year's lineup brought the return of country mega-star Carrie Underwood along with appearances by heavy hitters Sugarland, Dierks Bentley and Sara Evans and continuing up and comer Taylor Swift. American Idol finalist Kellie Pickler also made an appearance but perhaps the biggest surprise was the addition of Jessica Simpson to Saturday night's lineup as the opening act for Sara Evans.

Saturday evening's event began with an upbeat performance by Kellie Pickler. Pickler is set to release her second album on September 30th. She sang her new single "Don't You Know You're Beautiful" during an hour-long set that included songs from her freshman album Small Town Girl including "One of the Guys" and "Things That Never Cross A Man's Mind." Her infectious giggles and on-stage banter seemed an attempt to channel some of Dolly Parton's on-stage repartee. However, Pickler doesn't yet have Parton's vocal range or strength, which was evident during her cover of Parton's song "Nine To Five." In the end, though, she presented an entertaining set of music and came across as a friendly small town girl.

After a three-year absence from the stage, Jessica Simpson made her first country appearance ever on the Country Thunder stage. Dressed in Daisy Duke shorts, a white shirt and modestly heeled boots, Simpson was given a polite reception as she strutted on stage to the intro of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made For Walking." I was skeptical as to how Simpson would put together and perform a set of country songs when she is known as a pop artist. My skepticism only increased when she opened her set with "Boots" and then followed it with a mediocre cover of Willie Nelson's "On The Road Again." I was wondering if her set was going to consist of only cover material. However, Simpson went on to dedicate a pretty version of "You're My Sunday" to beau Tony Romo, who good-heartedly signed autographs for fans before Simpson took the stage. She peppered her performance with a few veiled jabs at the tabloids and her ex-husband, Nick Lachey. She ended her cover of Shania Twain's "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under" with a snarky "Don't you just hate guys who cheat?" The remainder of her set included quite a bit of new material from her forthcoming country album Do You Know including the new top-20 single "Come On Over" and title track "Do You Know." She also sang her pop hit "With You" from 2003's In This Skin.

Overall, her performance on Saturday night made it quite clear that she is not going to just dabble in country music. She has co-written quite a few of the songs for Do You Know, and collaborated with country great Dolly Parton on the title track. In an emotional appeal to the Country Thunder audience, she reminded them that she is really "just a girl from Texas; I'm just like you. I'm doing what I love and dating a boy."

Simpson's new album is set to debut on September 9th.

Jessica Simpson (PB)	Jessica Simpson (PB)	Jessica Simpson (PB)
Jessica Simpson (PB)	Jessica Simpson (PB)	Dallas Cowboy's quarterback Tony Romo (PB)
Jessica Simpson (PB)	Jessica Simpson (PB)	Jessica Simpson (TM)

Jessica Simpson (TM)

Carrie Underwood (TM)	Carrie Underwood (PB)	Carrie Underwood (TM)
Carrie Underwood (PB)	Carrie Underwood (PB)	Taylor Swift (PB)
Taylor Swift (PB)	Taylor Swift (PB)	Taylor Swift (PB)
Taylor Swift (PB)	Taylor Swift (TM)	Taylor Swift (TM)

Taylor Swift (PB)	Taylor Swift (PB)
Taylor Swift (TM)	Miranda Lambert (PB)

Miranda Lambert (PB)	Miranda Lambert (PB)	Miranda Lambert (PB)
Miranda Lambert (TM)	Miranda Lambert (TM)	Miranda Lambert (TM)
Country Thunder & The Air National Guard refueling ru (TM)	Country singer Laura Byrna (TM)	Country Thunder & The Air National Guard refueling ru (TM)