A Big Year for Jessica Simpson

Birthday girl Jessica Simpson celebrated the big two-eight yesterday ... by announcing the September 9 release of her first country album.

And, as is his way, proud papa Joe Simpson was on hand to chat up the new disc. "It's going to be a great year," he told UsMagazine.com while at a taping of son-in-law Pete Wentz's new show, FNMTV, in L.A. yesterday. The album is due on 9/9, says Joe: "[Jessica's] into nines this year. We hope it's a wonderful joy. It feels really good. She is extremely happy."

Joe said Jess, who's struggled on the pop music scene since her split with Nick Lachey in 2005, is perfect for the country crowd. "We forget on the East and West coasts that there is a whole country in between," Joe said. "That's our home, and that's Jessica's home."

"I'm a country girl," Jess herself has said. "I grew up in Texas, and country music was what I listened to. I think there is a strength in female country artists."

The video for her first country single, "Come on Over," debuts on Jessica's website on Saturday. Meanwhile, Jess will head to Lake Tahoe to continue her birthday celebrations with on-again boyfriend Tony Romo, who will be playing in a golf tournament in the area.

"We'll be here all week," Tony said. "We'll probably rent a boat and go out on the lake on Saturday."

But in the meantime, he's got some birthday shopping to do. "I have to buy her something!" But it won't be a set of golf clubs. "I don't know if she'd like that! I think I'll take her out to dinner, a nice restaurant."

The celebrations started Monday with a family dinner with sis Ashlee Simpson and her husband Pete Wentz at the Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas, California, where Tony serenaded his country crooner gal pal with Guns N' Roses's "Sweet Child o' Mine" before surprising her with her fave red velvet cupcakes from the Crumbs Bakery.

Aw, what a boyfriend! We say he's a keeper, Jess!

What was your favorite birthday surprise?