Jessica Simpson Sings for 'GMA'

Aug. 5, 2005 — -- On the morning of the opening day of her big screen debut as Daisy Duke in "The Dukes of Hazzard," Jessica Simpson arrived at New York City's Bryant Park to perform for "Good Morning America's" Summer Concert Series.

"I can't even believe it," Simpson told Diane Sawyer, referring to the movie's opening. "Today is so surreal for me. I could barely sleep last night. I'm so nervous."

Simpson has opening-night jitters, but said she is in a great place right now.

"I just turned 25, I just feel so much better in my shoes, I'm just more confident. I have the best fans and support in the world."

Simpson said she was thrilled to have the opportunity to play Daisy Duke.

"I grew up in the South. I looked up to Daisy Duke. I played Daisy Duke as a kid," she said.

Her dog is even named Daisy. Simpson brought Daisy to "GMA" to meet Diane's dog, Lila.

"Daisy's got some poodle in her," Simpson said. "She's very smart."

She Wears Short Shorts

Some have complained about the skimpy attire Simpson dons in the movie.

"Her shorts were even shorter than mine," said Simpson, comparing the tiny shorts she wore to the original Daisy's.

Those "Daisy Dukes," as Simpson refers to the short shorts, inspired her to get her body in awe-inspiring shape.

"My goal was to be able to be on the screen and the only thing that bounced was my boobs," said Simpson, adding that she was filmed running in slow motion and didn't want anything else to jiggle.

These Boots Are Made for Walkin'

Simpson wowed some 6,000 fans in Bryant Park by singing "These Boots Are Made For Walkin," the Nancy Sinatra song she re-recorded for "Dukes."

She also performed "With You" from her last album "In This Skin," which went triple platinum, selling more than three million copies.

Simpson just finished recording her next album, "And the Band Played On." Due out in November, this album will mark her first time as executive producer. It consists of mix of genres, some country and some club music.

She's come a long way since she was rejected by the Mickey Mouse Club (which gave Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera their starts) at age 12. That following summer, she signed by a small Christian music label. It wasn't until 1999 that she released her first Sony album, "Sweet Kisses," which included the hit "I Wanna Love You Forever."

Jessica and Nick

Aside from her recording career, Simpson is also known for her reality TV show, MTV's "Newlyweds." Simpson and Nick Lachey, formerly of 98 Degrees, were married on Oct. 26, 2002. By the end of their honeymoon in Fiji, Simpson's father had convinced the couple to turn their marriage into a reality show. He believed that if people got to know Jessica and love her, they would buy her music.

This MTV series, which showed Simpson and Lachey adjusting to married life in amusing vignettes, completed its third and final season last March. Father knew best -- Simpson's career is now white hot.

Whether Simpson's relationship with Lachey as fared as well as her career has been a subject ripe for debate in the tabloids. Lachey appeared as a guest host on ABC's "Regis & Kelly" earlier this week and said he "absolutely, positively want to set the record straight."

"We've been saying for months now we're alright, we're OK," Lachey said.

Simpson echoed these sentiments today on "GMA."

"We're great," she said. "We are together. We are looking for a new house."

Simpson called the rumors "hard to deal with."

"But at the end of the day, they're talkin'," she said of the tabloids. "If they weren't talking at all we'd be a little concerned."

Jessica the Businesswoman

America fell in love with Simpson as a ditzy housewife trying her best to reconcile domestic life. But she's actually a shrewd businesswoman. In April 2004, she launched Dessert Beauty, a makeup and bath product line that tasted "deliciously kissable." Earlier this year she came out with less expensive brand, Dessert Treats, aimed at a younger audience with flavors such as cupcake and banana split.

Her next venture is clothing -- she is coming out with a line of clothing called Princy (short for "princess," which she says she is) that will be sold at department stores.

Simpson already has plans to star in her next movie called "Room Service," a comedy in which she'll play a disowned heiress who works as a hotel maid.

Simpson loved filming her first movie.

"The big bar fight at the begining of the movie was the best to shoot," Simpson said. "All those people, all that fake blood. It was so fun, I loved it."