Jessica Simpson’s split from her husband, Eric Johnson, has inspired the singer to write and record her first album in 15 years, Page Six has learned.
“Jessica has been working on new music for a while, but with everything going on now, she feels it’s the perfect time to go full force with it,” a source tells us exclusively.
“She’s always journaling, and a few entries have evolved into songs about heartbreak and resilience. It’s been a very creative, albeit heartbreaking, time for her.”
Page Six has reached out to Simpson’s reps for comment.
The “Dukes of Hazzard” star — who memorably dropped her 2006 breakup ballad “I Belong to Me” on the heels of her divorce from Nick Lachey — last released an album in 2010, titled “Happy Christmas,” which featured covers of holiday classics in addition to a few original songs.
Prior to that, she tried her hand at country music on 2008’s “Do You Know,” a departure from the pop genre that made her a household name in the late ’90s and early aughts thanks to hit singles including “I Wanna Love You Forever,” “Irresistible” and “With You.”
Simpson briefly returned to music in 2020 when she included six new songs on the audio edition of her memoir, “Open Book,” though they were never released on streaming services and therefore received little fanfare.
However, the fashion designer teased last year that she was ready for a “comeback,” writing on Instagram that she was going back to the studio after “putting up with everything [she] did not deserve.”
The cryptic post sparked rumors that Simpson and Johnson, 45, were headed for divorce, which the couple subsequently fueled by ditching their wedding rings.
The actress finally confirmed the news of their separation Monday, telling People that she and the former NFL player have been “living separately” while “navigating a painful situation” in their 10-year marriage.
A source told Page Six exclusively Tuesday that Simpson and Johnson had “trust issues” and were “no longer on the same page.”
The pair — who re-listed their Hidden Hills, Calif., mansion for $17.9 million over the weekend — wed in 2014 and share three children: daughters Maxwell, 12, and Birdie, 5, and son Ace, 11.
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