Jessica Simpson Inspired by a Redheaded Stranger

He was once her acting mentor, now Willie Nelson is playing musical mentor to Jessica Simpson. Simpson says the Redheaded Stranger had a big influence on her decision to move from pop to country.

"You can't not sit in front of Willie and just be in complete awe," Simpson tells Dial-Global. "Every time I would sit with him, he would play Patsy Cline and Waylon Jennings, just some really great music. And he would pick up the guitar and we would sing 'Will The Circle Be Unbroken,' and it just felt like my voice was at home."

Simpson co-starred with Nelson in the 2005 'Dukes of Hazzard' movie. She says she looked to the living legend for acting advice.

"I was trying to memorize my lines and he was just like, 'Try to think of it as a melody. Think of it like a song, that's how I memorize all my lines in movies.'" Simpson says of Nelson. "I took his advice and when you put a melody to it, it's pretty amazing, because it does become a song."

Simpson's first country album, titled 'Do You Know,' is due in stores September 9.

Jessica Makes Our 'Gone Country' Countdown

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Filed Under: Jessica Simpson, JessicaSimpson, Willie Nelson, WillieNelson

Categories: Legends