Jessica Simpson continues to follow in Carrie Underwood’s footsteps.

Proving that she’s really serious about this country thing, the 28-year-old Texan joined the Country Music Association last week, E! News has learned.

“She was very sweet and seemed happy to join the organization,” a Simpson source said. “Being a member makes you part of the industry. It’s great for networking. “

Along with SAG-style privileges, such as special-rate health insurance, her membership makes her a voting member of the CMA, meaning she could have a say in upcoming CMA Award nominations.

The flirtatious “Come on Over,” her first twangtastic single for Columbia Nashville, peaked at No. 18 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart after debuting at No. 41, despite a whole bunch of radio play.

The tune itself received a pretty warm “Howdy!” from critics, but a better test of Simpson’s down-home staying power will be the performance of her sixth studio album, Do You Know, which is due out Sept. 9. Dolly Parton duets on the title track, ensuring some street cred right off the bat.

The CMA’s roster boasts more than 6,000 artists, songwriters, recording execs, producers, radio personalities and other prominent country figures.

That lineup includes Underwood, a CMA member, winner of four CMA Awards and the ex-girlfriend of current Simpson flame Tony Romo.

“It’s definitely media-driven,” Simpson told country-music website TheBoot.com last week, referring to Underwood’s recent comments to Allure about still getting calls from Romo. “People are just trying to make a story out of nothing. I respect her and hopefully she respects me. We’ve just dated the same guy—that’s it!”

“I don’t understand why she would say that,” Simpson added. “I respect Carrie, and I would never say anything like that.”

As far as Underwood’s musical success is concerned, however, Simpson had nothing but respect for the 25-year-old hit machine.

“I think it’s impressive how many No. 1s Carrie Underwood has,” the country newcomer said graciously. “Her choice in songs is really great, and she has an incredible voice. As far as new people, she has one of the strongest voices out there.”

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WENN

Jessica Simpson has lashed out at country singer Carrie Underwood for insinuating she still keeps in touch with her American football star boyfriend Tony Romo.

Underwood admitted she was having a hard time moving on after her split from Romo in 2006 – when the pair broke it off and he moved on to Simpson.

In September’s issue of Allure, she insisted Romo was equally keen to keep in touch, adding: “The phone will ring and it’ll be him, and I’ll maybe not answer.”

But Simpson is now taking a swipe at Romo’s former flame – insisting the sports star has never called her.

She snaps: “I looked at his call log. Tony and I both laughed at that. We got a chuckle out of it.”

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WENN

Jessica Simpson can add another job to her resume: selling beer.

The singer, 28, is the new face of Dallas-based Stampede Light Plus, it was announced Tuesday.

In addition to appearing in ads, Simpson will also take a 15 percent stake in the brewery.

“As an entrepreneur, I am always looking for ways to diversify my portfolio with good ideas and good people,” Simpson said in a statement, as reported by the Dallas Morning News.

The brew is touted as being packed with vitamins to support an active lifestyle.

“Yes, I work out and take care of myself, but I also like a cold beer once in a while,” Simpson said.

Add Stampede Light Plus to the long list of products Simpson is involved with.

She has an eponymous shoe line, and was once sued for not promoting her clothing lines, JS by Jessica Simpson and Princy collections. Her scent, Fancy by Jessica Simpson, hit stores Aug. 15.

Simpson has also been recording a country album. She was booed during her first performance in the genre at the Country Thunder USA festival in Randall, Wisconsin, in July — but then later got a standing ovation.

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Jessica Simpson made headlines earlier this month when she talked about being abused in a interview for the September 2008 edition of Elle Magazine. The star refused to elaborate despite some gentle prodding, but the truth behind Jessica’s painful abuse secret lies in the bullying she experienced as a shy high schooler growing up in Texas, a new tabloid report claims.

“Most people believe Jessica is talking about being abused by a former boyfriend…..Jessica was abused as a teenager while attending J.J Pearce High School in Richardson, Texas-long before she met Nick Lachey or any of her ex-boyfriends,” an Enquirer source reveals.

Jealous cassmates reportedly bullied the busty Jess because they were jealous of the showstopping figure that would one day propell the singer’s image as an international sex symbol.

“Jessica was well-developed, and every guy in high school wanted her and practically every girl hated her,” an insider explains. “Jessica put on a brave face, but it was a campaign of terror that just devastated her. A nasty clique of girls constantly spread rumors about Jessica, and one that spread like wildfire was that she was gay.”

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WENN

WENN

Pamela Anderson has sent Jessica Simpson an information pack from PETA in a bid to turn her into a vegetarian.

The former Baywatch babe lashed out at Simpson during a recent appearance on an Australian radio show, branding the singer/actress a “b**ch and a whore” after she wore a T-shirt with the slogan ‘Real Girls Eat Meat’.

Anderson’s representative later claimed the comments were meant in jest.

But the 41-year-old, a vegetarian and prominent animal activist, insists she is not sorry for her harsh joke – because Simpson should think twice before wearing clothes featuring such controversial slogans, according to MSNBC.com.

She says, “It was a very funny radio show, like a funny banter going back and forth, and that’s what came out of my mouth. Obviously I’m joking. Still, I don’t believe in what the T-shirt said. I didn’t say sorry…”

“I sent her some information and I sent her a letter from PETA saying how the meat industry is horrible for the environment, horrible for your health and sent her some information about it… I don’t know what her intentions were but she definitely wanted to be photographed in that T-shirt and I thought, you know, put a smarter T-shirt on.”

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WENN

Jessica Simpson has admitted she was once a victim of abuse.

The pop star/actress makes the startling admission in the September issue of Elle, where she reveals a song written for her forthcoming country album was based on her own experiences.

Simpson refuses to go into further detail about the painful memory or even confirm whether she was attacked herself – but insists she has experienced the affects of abuse.

When asked by the interviewer if she has ever been physically abused, she replied: “I don’t want to talk about it, but I have definitely experienced abuse in a way that I would tell people to take their heart and run.”

In one of the tracks, Remember That, the star can be heard singing: “It doesn’t matter how he hurts you / With his hands or with his words / You don’t deserve it / It ain’t worth it / Take your heart and run.”

Simpson’s first country album, Do You Know?, is slated to hit shelves on September 9th.

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WENN