Jessica Simpson Opens Up

Ever since she went totes cowgirl -- check out that big hair and belt she's workin' on the cover of September's Elle magazine -- Jessica Simpson sure is feeling chatty.

In fact, the Texas-born singer talked at length with the magazine about break-ups, her "dadager" Joe, and performing for the president.

"I was singing '9 to 5' and I choked and forgot the words in front of the president and in front of Dolly Parton, who's like the president to me," she told Elle. "And the last time I sang in front of the president , I had messed up the lyrics to 'God Bless America' so its kind of a thing I have with George W. Anyway, I broke down and said I'm sorry in front of the whole audience. My dad was there. I looked him in the face and said, 'I will never sing again.'"

Speaking of proud papa Joe, she steams at the way he's portrayed by the media -- especially the allegation that he's a total control freak. "That's ludicrous. He just wants me to be happy," she told Elle. "Our whole family gets beaten, but that just brings us closer ... So many people want to bring me down, and I can't wait to prove them wrong. If they believe what they read about me, they automatically persecute and torment me."