Simpson Sad While Promoting Last Album

The singer was still devastated from her marriage split and felt recording upbeat numbers like Push Your Tush and the album's title track would make the media think she was doing fine - when, in reality, she was heartbroken.

Meanwhile, her ex-husband, Nick Lachey, poured his heart out on his What's Left of Me album.

Simpson says, "I was extremely hurt, and I felt like people were wanting me to put out a record like Nick had put out. It was an honest record... but, listening to it, I was so sad.

"That's why I tried to record stuff to convince people that, no, I'm happy-go-lucky. I found myself in a very weak place when I was promoting A Public Affair and I couldn't put up with the scrutiny.

"I tried to make everybody think that I wanted to dance around on roller skates. I'm not a good liar."

Simpson has since found that country music has helped her "tell my story" - just like pal Willie Nelson told her on the set of their film Dukes of Hazzard.

She adds, "(He said) 'If you ever want to tell your story, start writing country music.'"