Jessica Simpson on "The Dukes of Hazzard"

her role in ?The Dukes of Hazzard.? She was also a fan of the television show ? in fact, she idolized the character that she now ? twenty years later ? has been give the opportunity to play.

?I love Daisy Duke,? she says bluntly. ?I grew up in Texas, I watched a lot of the re-runs. My cousins and I played ?Dukes of Hazzard? together and I was always Daisy. The Dukes were a really great family that fought for each other all the time and had a really cool bond. That?s something I?ve always loved about them.?

For her first-ever film role, the part of Daisy was a dream come true for the popular singer.

?I heard they were making the movie, and I simply knocked down Billy [Gerber]?s door for the role,? she recalls. ?This was about two years ago? then a rumor came out in the press that I had the role, but I didn?t yet. I had to audition. And I was so scared. I didn?t know what I was doing. But I knew I wanted to play Daisy.?

In a perfect blend of her existing career with her film role ? one of several new frontiers for the young artists including a clothing line and fitness equipment bearing her name ? she re-recorded ?These Boots Are Made For Walkin?? with Willie Nelson for the ?Dukes? soundtrack.

?It was my idea,? she says of the song. ?Willie and I had talked about doing something together, and we hope to do more together in the future. When I pitched the idea to him, Willie told me to come to Austin, and we made the song there.?

As she recorded the song and made the movie, Simpson found a brief respite from the rigors of her recording career.

?I don?t remember the last time I was in the same place for three months,? she sighs. ?I took a bath in the same tub, slept in the same bed, for weeks. And there was always some new creative work to do each day. I loved it.?

A self-admitted ?guys? girl,? Simpson also found comfort in the Texan nightlife.

?There were lots of karaoke bars,? she giggles. ?I learned to play pool too ? that was so much fun. All we did on this movie was have fun.?

It would seem that karaoke is a natural fit ? not so.

?Oh, I just sit back and watch,? she admits. ?I?m horrible at karaoke. I don?t know why, I think that?s in my head. When I was fourteen and signed a record deal, I went out to do karaoke, went up to sing a Shania Twain song, and they introduced me as ?Recording Artist Jessica Simpson.? Oh god, I totally messed it up. I dropped the microphone and walked offstage!?

It would also seem that Simpson is also the natural fit for Daisy Duke ? especially given her physique. But the moment she got the part, she got to work.

?The first thing I did was have a huge piece of chocolate cake,? she laughs. ?Then I said, ?I?m done, let?s go to the gym.??

She then spent months at the gym six days a week, almost three hours a day, with a personal trainer ? an experience that has helped her launch a treadmill line and a workout video.

?I spent a lot of time on the Jessica Simpson treadmill,? she cracks.

And, she admits, it was all for the clothes.

?There were times I?d look at my wardrobe on set and think, ?You?ve got the be kidding me,?? she recalls. ?Some days I didn?t want to put those clothes on and go through all the body makeup? but it is what it is. I did insist that I wouldn?t wear clothes right up my butt? unless it was a bikini, of course.?

And as for acting? Simpson was nervous as hell.

?My first day on set, I had a lot of butterflies. I only had one line, but I was so scared that I would mess it up. I thought I?d rip the shorts, or fall down, or do something stupid. But my first day was also with Seann and Johnny, and they were so encouraging the whole time.

?It turned out to be a ton of fun. Those two guys made everything fun ? it was never too serious on the set.?

She did not, unfortunately, get to play with the infamous 1969 Charger, the General Lee. But she didn't mind.

"Daisy drives a jeep," she states proudly. "I like driving bigger cars. That way I can hit curbs!"