Jessica Simpson Reveals Why She Felt Outmatched by Britney Spears

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Jessica Simpson knows the other pop stars of her time were irresistible. 

Because they were already dominating the music scene, it seemed like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, both in their mid-40s, had an insurmountable lead when trying to break into the industry during the early 2000s, making “Britney Spears” and “Christina Aguilera” believe they would never succeed.

In an interview with Rolling Stone (published on March 21), Jessica stated that she knew she wouldn’t win due to singers like Britney and Christina being ahead of her in terms of record sales. She also expressed disinterest in dancing and wearing a head microphone.

She went on to explain, “I had taken on the task as I was employed by Sony, not wanting to disappoint them. Additionally, I often felt as though I was failing others, including myself, perhaps due to not singing lyrics that were my own composition.

Yet, it was only after she started composing her own songs that she tasted success, achieving her initial number one single, “With You,” in 2004.

Twenty years on, the artist famed for “Irresistible” has resumed penning her own tunes, this time in the musical hub of Nashville. On March 21st, Jessica unveiled her latest five-song EP titled “Nashville Canyon: Part 1“, marking her first fresh compositions in almost fifteen years.

Instead of sticking with the style of her contemporaries from the early 2000s pop scene, she’s drawing inspiration from a diverse range of artists such as Patty Griffin, Alabama Shakes, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and notably Brandi Carlile.

Jessica exclaimed with enthusiasm, ‘Brandi’s performance at the Grammys left me inspired! It felt like a long-awaited moment, showcasing just what women can do!’

Apart from releasing new music, the singer has also experienced another significant change in her life. In January, Jessica, who’s been married to Eric Johnson for 10 years, announced their separation. They share three children: Maxwell Drew (age 12), Birdie Mae (age 5), and Ace Knute (age 11). However, as stated in her interview with TopMob news, the well-being of their children is their top priority, and they are focusing on what’s best for them.

However, even as she ventures into a fresh phase of life, Jessica maintains her resilience during challenging periods and finds solace in the positive aspects, such as spending quality time with her three children.

She shared with People magazine in February that she’s unsure about the reasons for the turmoil in her heart, but she considers herself among the fortunate ones. At least she has her kids and Eric remains an integral part of her life, someone who will forever be by her side.

Plus, she has her music to lean on.

She mentioned, “I found this music all by myself.” Fortunately, Nashville was there for me, serving as a means to embrace who I am and make that known.

For more of Jessica over the years, read on.

In 2007, a year after her divorce from Nick Lachey (her co-star on “Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica”), Simpson assertively expressed to Elle magazine that she was content with doing the show, being married, and having him in her life. She stated emphatically that she had no regrets about any of it, not a single one.

From my fervent perspective as a die-hard admirer, shelling out such a substantial parting gift felt like the sweetest closure on that tumultuous phase of her life, a truth she candidly shared in her memoir Open Book.

Simpson was taken aback when, years after she moved on with John Mayer following her breakup with Lachey, the musician unexpectedly praised her in a candid manner during an interview with Playboy, which later gained notoriety due to Mayer’s blunt and colorful language.

But Simpson was super cool about it, admitting that she was surprised but, hey, his loss.

Speaking candidly, I acknowledged his apology, yet at this juncture, it seems irrelevant. To be honest, I had always viewed the breakup as a sign of his naivety, if you will. This insight came from my appearance on The View.

The news spread that Simpson aimed to shed pounds, and Weight Watchers supported her endeavor by signing her to an endorsement contract in 2012 following the birth of her daughter Maxwell.

Simpson’s weight has sparked numerous headlines, ranging from derisive to admiring, with many coming directly from her, reflecting her own struggles with weight gain and loss (as evidenced in her 1999 journals where she often mocked herself for being overweight, as noted in her book Open Book). Despite this, her successful business venture in women’s clothing and accessories, generating approximately $1 billion annually, remains undeterred.

At the 2014 Forbes Power Women summit, she stated her goal: making every woman feel self-assured about their clothing choices. She added that they are trendy in fashion yet always attentive to what consumers desire.

Simpson went on, expressing, “I have been every size globally, and I’m familiar with women. I simply know how to style them appropriately. I comprehend that there are various types – not just those in L.A. and New York. I am acquainted with the mentality of Middle America.

Simpson’s honesty often brings forth laughter, surprise (raising eyebrows), and even amazement (gasps). Yet, it’s her innocence that truly defines her character, and she recognizes that this trait has played a significant role in her success in business as well.

In 2015, Simpson expressed that she’s deeply rooted as a Southern woman, stating, “My friends and family mean everything to me. They shape every aspect of my life. I strive to be relatable and honest with everyone, which might sometimes come across as too much. This openness makes me non-judgmental. I hope you’d enjoy spending time with someone like me. Excessive judgment in the design world can hinder creativity, but I’m a daredevil at heart.

It might have been the assumption of some people when Jessica Simpson, known as the Dallas Cowboys fans’ favorite target for blame during her relationship with Tony Romo, started dating retired NFL player Eric Johnson, but it quickly became apparent that their relationship was not plagued by any sort of curse.

Simpson started keeping journals since her teenage years for various purposes; one was for the conclusion of her first marriage, another for the prospect of a romantic relationship, and yet another when she desired to concentrate on her career and songwriting. During their early relationship, Johnson, an avid reader, motivated her to resume journaling as a method to release in the morning any thoughts that might hinder her from approaching each day with enthusiasm.

All of those thoughts, feelings and anecdotes became fodder for her best-selling memoir.

Simpson’s pursuit of what some call the ideal figure is remarkably familiar to us. In 2019, she confessed that she shed 100 pounds the traditional way: through regular exercise, maintaining a balanced diet (not one that was overly strict and caused her stress), and being firm with herself about not giving up.

She mentioned during her September 26, 2019, appearance on HSN that it has taken a great deal of effort. To be honest, I’ve put in a lot of hard work. Mostly everything I eat these days is prepared using cauliflower.

In her book, she traced back the day that marked her realization of needing to get sober to Halloween 2017. On this particular day, her usually bustling house was exceptionally active, making it feel overly hectic. Struggling with an increasing dependency on alcohol and Ambien to manage each day, she broke down in tears.

The following day, her friends staged an intervention for her, and since then, Simpson has maintained sobriety through therapy and the unwavering support of her close-knit group of supporters.

In February 2019, following another bustling day, Simpson – who was pregnant with her daughter Birdie at the time – penned down what would later become the prologue of her book. She expressed that although she was physically quite uncomfortable, she was still fully engaged in her life. “I had made a promise to myself more than a year ago to be present,” she wrote. “To experience things, whether they were born from painful memories or joyful ones yet to come…I had to let go of all my self-soothing methods to truly feel the pain and understand its cause…The awareness that I needed to confront something was a positive sign for me.

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2025-03-24 22:20