Jessica Simpson reveals she was dying during 'American Idol' performance: 'My feet were sweating'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Jessica Simpson made a striking return to live television during the 'American Idol' Season 23 finale, performing for the first time in 15 years.

While she appeared confident on stage, she later revealed just how nervous she was.

Jessica Simpson reveals she used hairspray on her feet to combat nerves during performance

Jessica Simpson, 44, opened up about her emotional state during the performance and how meaningful it was to her, especially with her children watching from home.

“Oh, my God, I was dying,” Simpson told Extra on Monday, “I can’t even tell you how long it’s been since I’ve been that nervous."

Simpson added, "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 added that she was trying hard to hold back tears as she performed.

“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,’” Simpson said.

During the Sunday, May 18, 'American Idol' finale, Simpson performed her new track 'Blame Me' along with her rendition of Nancy Sinatra’s 1966 hit 'These Boots Are Made for Walkin.’

She was joined on stage by contestant Josh King, who had previously performed 'Blame Me' before his elimination earlier in the season.

Jessica Simpson calls new music ‘bare and raw’ as she teases second EP release this summer

Host Ryan Seacrest noted during the show that Jessica Simpson’s appearance marked her first live television performance in 15 years.

“That’s a really long time, and, like, the last time was a Christmas song, so that’s easy,” Simpson said in her post-show interview with Extra.

Simpson said her EP 'Nashville Canyon, Pt 1', whose second part "comes in the summer," is deeply connected to her soul.

She said, "And so to sing a song off of that I felt naked, to be honest, like, it was very bare and raw and very vulnerable.”

Jessica Simpson released 'Nashville Canyon, Pt 1' in March and earlier performed at the Recording Academy’s Austin Chapter Block Party during SXSW that same month.

Jessica Simpson reveals her children FaceTimed family to celebrate her performance

Jessica Simpson shares three children—Maxwell, 13, Ace, 11, and Birdie, 6—with her estranged husband, Eric Johnson.

The couple announced their separation in January 2025 after 10 years of marriage, though they have not filed for divorce.

Even though her children weren’t in the audience, they cheered her on from home.

“I had my kids FaceTiming everybody to tell me I did a good job,” Simpson said. “And I haven’t gotten to talk to them yet, but I’m so excited to talk to them because they’ve never seen me sing live like that.”