Jessica Simpson just made me feel stupid.

“I’m not related to Al Gore,” she laughs. “That’s funny. You hear all these things. It’s kinda crazy.” As I make a mental note to move a certain fact-finding intern’s workstation to the median on Fremont Street, I realize we’ve hit upon a theme.

“People say so much stuff and make up so much stuff, it’s like, ‘Did I do that, did I say that?’ ” she says. “You start to second-guess yourself, and it’s kind of sickening in a way.” (But she’s sure about ol’ cataclysmic cousin Al.)

The interview won’t hit on everything that is bugging Simpson, however, because her publicist is ready to pounce should I stray from my orders: No asking about ex-hubby and “Newlywed” co-star Nick Lachey. No Tony Romo talk. No asking about sister Ashlee. And stay away from the upcoming Elle article where she essentially admits that her new song about an abusive lover is based on her recent experience.

It will, however, hit on time travel to talk to herself, the pain of the paparazzi and what is making her happy: the fact that a recent Jewel-esque shift from pop to country (and an assist from the aforementioned publicist) has people actually talking about her music.

On what would she would tell herself as a Texas high schooler:

(Laughs.) Ummm, gosh, I’m stumped. I think I would just remind myself that God is preparing me for my life as a woman. In high school I went through a lot with gossip and rumors and some really hurtful, hurtful things. I thought that was the end of the world, I thought that my life was over because of how people would talk about me. But really I was being prepared for the world talking about me. Going through it in steps has helped me not go crazy.

On the paparazzi:

There’s been so many crazy incidents. Once in a parking lot they were trying to get in front of me and behind me as I was trying to park. This woman and her baby were crossing the lot, and a paparazzi had to slam on the brakes– the woman just started chewing him out. It’s unbelievable how relentless they are and how selfish– running red lights six cars at a time just to see what store you’re going to go to.

On swapping pop for country:

It’s really been an amazing process for me. I feel like there has been so much healing and so much growing just as a person, and country music really allowed me to sit down with my thoughts and tell a story. I am going to have to prove myself, and that to me is a fun challenge that I enjoy taking on because I believe in myself and this genre of music. To have country music fans would be the best thing I could possibly think of, because they are dedicated and loyal and with you till you die.

On Friday’s show:

It’s like a big listening party in a way because people are listening to material that they don’t know. The shows that I’ve done so far, the response has been awesome. It’s me just kinda up there telling my story and singing it, and it’s very stripped down. I have an unbelievable band and just being up there and being myself again. It’s nice to be on stage and being able to sing. It’s such a free feeling.

On where she is:

It’s really a refreshing place to be in right now, that people are actually asking about the music and why I write the songs and it means a lot to me to be back in the place I started.