Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo wasted no time having fun as a single man since his recent split from with Jessica Simpson. Life & Style first reported on Tuesday that Tony was at LA’s Key Club the night before partying with singer Ryan Cabrera and actor Dennis Haskins to the sounds of Steel Panther. Here are Life & Style’s exclusive photos from that night.

LOL!! You just KNOW that Tony and Ryan spent part of their night sharing war stories of dating a Simpson daughter. I have *no doubt* that overbearing Papa Joe Simpson is a nightmare to deal with when you are dating one of his daughters (for the life of me, I don’t know how Pete Wentz deals with it) so I’m sure the new BFFs had a lot to commiserate with one another. After the jump, check out two more photos of Tony Romo whooping it up at Key Club earlier this week …

I understand that Romo’s visit to Key Club this week was not his first … he and Jessica used to go to these heavy metal shows together all the time. Something tells me that she prolly won’t be showing her face there anytime soon. In any event, Tony Romo is a free man … and it looks like he is loving every second of being free.

[Source]

Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo have called it quits, sources tell Usmagazine.com. A source close to Simpson confirms they broke up the night before her 29th birthday July 10. She was supposed to celebrate with a Ken and Barbie-themed party. (On Simpson’s birthday, Romo spent the night at Los Angeles hot spot My House.) “She canceled her party because of this,” the source tells Us. “She’s doing OK.” Adds a close friend of Romo’s: “It’s been a long time coming.” Still, another source tells Us the volatile couple could always get back together. “They go from one fight right into another, without a second break,” the source tells Us. “It’s always something with Jessica.” Reps for both stars could not be reached.

I mean … yeah. When last we saw Jessimo together here on the blog they were enjoying happier times in NYC back around Valentine’s Day. I do not know Jessica Simpson but I imagine it is difficult to be romantically involved with her. It seems to me that she comes with a lot of baggage not the least of which is her meddling, overbearing father papa Joe Simpson. To be completely honest, I’m surprised that Tony Romo lasted this long. He endured a lot of grief during his tenure as Jessica’s boyfriend … I guess, in the end, being with her wasn’t worth it anymore. IMHO, he would do better to find himself a less high-profile girlfriend next. I honestly don’t know who would be a good match for Jessica. I guess it’ll, eventually, be up to Papa Joe to decide.

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo are more in love than ever – and are planning to spend a romantic Valentine’s Day a deux, a source tells PEOPLE. “They’re very much looking forward to spending Valentine’s Day together,” says the source close to Simpson. “[Tony] is the nicest guy. He adores her. They are so in love with each other.” Whatever their specific plans, the couple will be in Rochester, New York, for the romantic day where she is opening for Rascal Flatts. On Thursday night, Simpson strutted onstage in a sexy black mini-dress at Madison Square Garden and dedicated “You’re My Sunday” to her Dallas Cowboys quarterback beau, who was in the audience with some friends and Simpson’s parents. “There is something about being in love, right?” Simpson told the audience. “It just makes you appreciate everyday, right?… That’s kinda how I feel right now.” According to a source, Simpson waved at Romo before she started the song and he waved back. “He had the biggest grin,” says the source. “Then, Tony was singing along to the words.” After Simpson sang her tune “Angels,” Romo was equally enthusiastic. “He was like, ‘She nailed it! Awesome!’ ” says the source. During the show, Simpson, who is known for her self-deprecating humor, joked about previous wardrobe malfunctions she’s had at Madison Square Garden. “I’ve had times when my pants split right down the middle,” she told the audience. “That’s why I’m wearing a skort – not a skirt, not a short – just so they wouldn’t split.”

Heh. With a hottie boyfriend like Tony Romo, I bet it’s tough to let other, extraneous nonsense get you down … even still, I’m sure Jessica’s had a rough week to deal with and I bet she’s happy to be back with Tony and her family in NYC. I must admit, altho I really liked Tony when he was matched up with Carrie Underwood, I am pleased to see that things have been working out nicely for Jessimo. They seem well suited … and I wouldn’t at all be surprised if an engagement was forthcoming. Jessica is the marrying kind … it remains to be seen if Tony is as well.

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

I can’t even imagine how much fun it must be to hang out with Papa Joe Simpson … he looks like a hoot! I’m sure the thing that Nick Lachey misses most about being married to Jessica Simpson is all the male bonding time he had to endure with Papa Joe. But, it should be said, in Joe’s defense … he really has laid off on the creepy father/manager stuff in the past year or so. I was worried that his infamous meddling would interfere with Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz’s relationship and, surprisingly enough, Papa Joe has been pretty hands off. Here’s hoping he’s has really decided to stop interjecting himself so forcefully into his daughter’s lives … and here’s hoping that Tony Romo isn’t being forced to hang out with Papa Joe against his will just to keep enjoying Jessica Simpson’s goodies.

[Photo credit: Bauer-Griffin]

When Jessica Simpson announced plans to go country after her last pop album flopped, there was a collective eye roll in Nashville. To some skeptics, it appeared to be a calculated move to follow in the footsteps of other pop stars who have found success by crossing over to country radio. After lackluster album sales, acting disappointments and bad press over her high-profile romances, Simpson certainly needed a boost. But “Come On Over,” Simpson’s debut single from her upcoming country album, is not only winning over those same skeptics, it’s gaining ground on country radio. A flirtatious, steel guitar-laced slice of pop country, the song has cracked the top 30 on Billboard’s country singles chart. “The best way to sum this up is what program directors have been telling our promotions staff: ‘I really wanted to hate this record, and I don’t. I love this,” said Tom Baldrica, vice president of marketing for her label, Sony BMG Nashville. Despite her crossover potential, that’s not what the label or the Texas-born Simpson seem to have in mind with the single, which was co-produced by John Shanks, who’s also worked with Sheryl Crow, Michelle Branch and Melissa Etheridge. “If other folks want to play it, we’re not telling them not to,” Baldrica said, “but our focus is on country. We want to make sure she’s in this format because this is where she belongs.” John Hart, a Nashville-based marketing researcher, says the song appeals to young, active listeners who are more likely to call radio stations and attend concerts and events. It tested in the top five in his online sampling the past few weeks and also did well in random telephone surveys that reach country’s more traditional base. “I don’t think people were anticipating the song to be that good,” said John Paul, program director at KUPL in Portland, Ore. His station has been playing the song for two weeks in light rotation. “It’s a good song regardless of who sings it, but having her sing it — whether you like her or hate her, everybody knows who Jessica Simpson is,” he said. “And I think there’s a lot of credibility that she co-wrote the song … Simpson comes to country after her last pop album was a commercial and critical failure — it sold just 299,000 cop-ies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The album “Do You Know” is expected to be released in September; The title track was written by Dolly Parton, who sings background vocals. For her part, Simpson is promoting the song pretty much the same as any new country singer. She courted fans at last month’s Country Music Association festival in Nashville and will perform at state fairs and visit radio stations. “She’s done what a lot of newcomers and established stars have done by putting out fun, uptempo, put-the-top-down and cruise type songs,” remarked David Scarlett, senior editor of Country Weekly magazine. “It’s a great way to introduce herself. I think country audiences will be receptive based on the music they hear. If they like what they hear, they’re going to embrace her. And so far, she’s done very well.”

I may tease Jessica Simpson (incessantly) but for once I’m on board with her career plans. Jessica should’ve been a Country singer from the beginning … her vain attempt (mostly on her father’s part) to become the “next Britney Spears” back when Britney Spears ruled the world was doomed for failure from the get-go (I contend that Xtina Aguilera, who is a much stronger singer than both Jessica and Britney, couldn’t even topple Britney in when she was in her prime so what chance did Jessica really have?). This Country thing might actually work out for her very well. Teaming up with Dolly Parton is brills! I’m not a big Country fan (by any means) but I have a small place for it in my heart (living in Oklahoma gave me an appreciation for the stuff, I can’t lie) … I think it would be great if Jess found success at long last. Tho, she does have some stiff competition out there … Carrie Underwood is a force to be reckoned with (and you know there’s no love lost between Jessica and Carrie — who was Tony Romo’s last girlfriend) but, in the end, I guess I’m rooting for Jessica. Egads, I can’t even believe I’m saying this … but it’s true. Good luck, Jess, you may need it.

[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source]

Jessica Simpson isn’t avoiding her 28th birthday on Thursday – she’s already started celebrating. The singer – joined by close friends and family – indulged in her favorite cupcake flavor, red velvet, from Crumbs bakery. For dinner, Jessica and on-again beau Tony Romo went to Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas, where they met up with her pregnant sister Ashlee and husband Pete Wentz. At one point, Ashlee and Jessica got on stage to sing with The Copycats, a cover band that was playing. The band serenaded Jessica with “Happy Birthday.” Following dinner, Jessica and Romo hit Key Club in West Hollywood to see Steel Panther (formerly known as Metal Skool). The Dallas Cowboys quarterback even tried his hand at singing the Guns n’ Roses hit “Sweet Child O’ Mine” to Jessica and the crowd.

Actress Vivica A. Fox, Rage Against the Machine singer Tom Morello and Hancock director Peter Berg were all also in the Key Club audience last night for Tony’s performance. It really sounds like things are back on track and in full swing for Jessimo. It takes a lot for a guy to get up on stage and embarrass himself in front of a bunch of people with crappy singing just to impress a girl (twice — he sang to her at Key Club back in January, too) … I guess it must be love … lucky for Papa Joe Simpson ;)

[Photo credit: Jason Fisher; Source]

Yeah, there ain’t nuthin’ all that sexy to see here … just good ol’ Jessimo going about their biz like any happy and in love couple is wont to do. Steady as she goes, you two … just don’t rock the boat too much. I do think that Jessimo made a handsome couple together and I’d like Jessica to find happiness (despite how much I like to razz her). It’d be amazing if Papa Joe could just stay out of things and let his daughters be happy. So far, so good … here’s hopin’ it continues.

[Photo credit: X17]