MTV VMAs 2025: Ashlee Simpson on Diana Ross Advice

VMAs 2025: Ashlee Simpson Reveals Advice Mother-in-Law Diana Ross Gave on Returning to Stage

Ashlee Simpson loves every piece of her mother-in-law Diana Ross. 

So naturally as the “Piece of Me” singer prepared to hit the stage for her Las Vegas residency, she turned to her husband Evan Ross’ mom for some advice, which she detailed during an appearance at the MTV Music Video Awards 2025. 

“She’s like, ‘Be yourself, trust yourself. Do you.’” Ashlee explained in an exclusive E! News interview Sept. 7 outside of UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. “She’s got my back.”

And while Ashlee, 40, has performed with her husband—with whom she shares kids Jagger, 10, and Ziggy, 4—as duo Ashlee + Evan, she admitted it’s been a “blast” to perform her old hits by herself at The Venetian Resort’s Voltaire nightclub. (See here for Ashlee, Evan and every couple who stepped out at the MTV VMAs 2025.) 

“Just for me to get up there and perform these shows and songs that I haven’t played in so long,” she explained. “And then to understand for me what it’s like to play them again feels the same for my fans has been just incredible.”

As she put it, “Just to feel that love has been super nice it’s been a blast.”

Even offstage, the “La La” singer—also mom to Bronx, 16, with ex Pete Wentz—is feeling like she has got her groove back, adding, “All of a sudden my kids think I’m cool. I’m like, ‘Oh my god.’”

Meanwhile, Ashlee also noted it’s been an added bonus to have her husband of 11 years to see her onstage Autobiography. 

“Evan’s never seen me play a show,” she gushed. “We’ve played shows together but he’s never actually seen me in action and he was like, ‘Wow you’re so good,’ I was like, really touched. It was like the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen. I was like, ‘Aw.’”

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Now that Ashlee is back on the stage, she also teased the idea of joining forces with older sister Jessica Simpson at some point in the future. (For Jessica’s rare MTV VMAs appearance and more on the red carpet, see here.)

“That could be in the works for sure,” she posited. “That’s something I think we’d love to do. It’s been fun, both of us in these places revisiting it and supporting each other and loving each other.”

Keep reading for every star who hit the MTV VMAs red carpet… 

—Reporting by Emily Curl 

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for MTV

Lady Gaga

In Marc Jacobs.

Noam Galai/Getty Images for MTV

Sabrina Carpenter

In custom Valentino.

Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock

Ariana Grande

In custom Fendi and Swarovski jewelry.

Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock

Jessica Simpson

In Christian Siriano.

Noam Galai/Getty Images for MTV

Doja Cat

In Balmain.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Ice Spice

In Ralph Lauren.

Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock

Paris Hilton

In The Blonds.

Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock

FKA twigs

Noam Galai/Getty Images for MTV

Conan Gray

In Erik Charlotte.

Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock

GloRilla

In Helen Anthony.

Noam Galai/Getty Images for MTV

Lenny Kravitz

In Saint Laurent.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Ciara

In Schiaparelli.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Taylor Momsen

Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic

Alix Earle

In Tom Ford.

Noam Galai/Getty Images for MTV

Tyla

In vintage Chanel.

LEONARDO MUNOZ/AFP via Getty Images

Ricky Martin

Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty Images

Tate McRae

In custom Ludovic de Saint Sernin.

Noam Galai/Getty Images for MTV

Nicky Hilton

Noam Galai/Getty Images for MTV

Yungblud

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Ashlee Simpson

Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock

Malin Akerman

Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock

Brittany Snow 

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Summer Walker

With a Simitri bag.

Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock

Megan Moroney

Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic

Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi

Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic

Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino & Lauren Sorrentino

Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock

Sexxy Red

Noam Galai/Getty Images for MTV

Nikki Glaser

In Ludovic de Saint Sernin.

Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock

KATSEYE

In Dolce & Gabbana.

Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty Images

Ty Dolla $ign

For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App