Jessica Simpson made a high‑glam entrance at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, arriving at New York’s UBS Arena in a black, cut‑out corseted tulle gown by Christian Siriano.
The dress, from Siriano’s Resort 2025 collection and reported to retail for $7,900, left little to the imagination and was paired with dazzling drop earrings and a tousled ponytail. Simpson was on the red carpet as a presenter; she is not nominated for any awards this year.
Simpson’s appearance marked her first VMAs attendance in 19 years; she last attended the ceremony in 2006 and last won a VMA in 2004. She teased the return on Instagram earlier this week with the caption, “Back to where it all began!”
The outing comes after a busy year for the singer and actress. In May she returned to the stage for the first time in 15 years, performing four songs from her new album, "Nashville Canyon," on "American Idol." Simpson has also been visible during album promotion season, emerging in looks ranging from a curve‑hugging leather bodysuit to a sparkling, sheer dress at a birthday celebration at the Chateau Marmont.
The VMAs ceremony on Sunday also featured a familial return: Simpson’s sister, Ashlee Simpson, attended the show for the first time in 17 years, arriving in a slinky sequined gown. Presenters for the evening included Brittany Snow, Ciara, Drew Barrymore, Ice Spice, Latto, Livvy Dunne, Paris Hilton, Nikki Glazer and Meg Stalter.
Simpson’s choice of Christian Siriano — a designer known for red‑carpet eveningwear and couture detailing — aligned with a broader pattern of stars selecting statement looks for the 2025 awards season. The tulle gown’s cut‑out corseting echoed recent runway trends that blend voluminous fabric with fitted silhouettes.
Simpson, who rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s with pop hits and a later pivot to country and lifestyle ventures, has maintained a public profile through occasional performances, television appearances and her new music. Her presentation slot at the VMAs underscored the return to a stage she has not frequently occupied in recent years.
The 2025 VMAs continued into the night with performances and awards across genres, offering a moment for legacy artists and newer acts to share the same stage. Simpson’s red‑carpet moment highlighted both a personal milestone and a polished example of the event’s attention to fashion as well as music.