Jessica Simpson Quits Hollywood To Be Taken Seriously

Jessica Simpson has stepped out of the Hollywood limelight in an effort to be taken seriously as a music artist.

The star - who arguably has a way to go before being accepted as a country music artist - has returned to her native state Texas to concentrate on work and feels that she can be herself instead of putting on a front for the paparazzi back in L.A.

"I think people forgot that I actually work. That I don't just go to Starbucks and pump gas...I've tried to stay out of L.A. as much as possible," she says.

"I think that without paparazzi you can be yourself, because you don't feel like they're trying to get the shot like you have gas or something - or like in that very moment you hate everybody."

See Jess show off her assets to unflattering affect here!