the buzz log

Last month, when Jessica Simpson put on a few pounds, the Web went absolutely wild. A stampede of folks sought out pictures. Bloggers wondered why the formerly svelte starlet was rocking a curvier figure. And friends and relatives rushed to her defense, calling "weight-gate" a ridiculous farce. Now, just as the hubbub was dying down, Jessica has spoken out.

Well, kind of. On CBS's "Early Show," Jessica performed her new single "Pray Out Loud" and answered a few "delicately asked" questions from interviewer Maggie Rodriguez. Simpson said that she appreciates the support she has received from fans and that "everything's really great." In other words, she's happy with the way she looks, and she's in no danger of having a Britney-like breakdown anytime soon.

Fair enough, but what about her trainwreck of a performance last week when she opened for Rascal Flatts? Jessica flubbed lines, forgot lyrics, and "fought back tears." A loyal rep says the crooner simply had an "off night" and, because she's a perfectionist, she "wanted to start some of the songs over."

That sounds like a glossed-over answer, but many commenters within the Buzz write that Jessica is beautiful and talented just the way she is. Queries on everything from "jessica simpson weight gain" to "jessica simpson hot" are soaring. No reason those two searches have to be mutually exclusive, right?