Jessica Simpson’s recent reemergence on the music scene after more than a decade away is both a powerful personal triumph and a nostalgic return to form for fans who have followed her since the late ’90s and early 2000s. Known for her bubbly personality, powerhouse vocals, and an array of memorable pop hits, Simpson once ruled the charts and red carpets. Then, after years in the spotlight and a well-publicized transition into fashion, motherhood, and business, she stepped away from music. Now, at 45, she’s taking the stage again with a refreshed perspective, new music, and a willingness to show vulnerability both in her art and in her personal life.
On July 23, she performed as part of the “Today” show’s Citi Concert Series, bringing her voice and signature charm back to the live stage. Fans were treated to a medley of classics like “I Think I’m in Love with You” and “With You,” tracks that instantly call back to an era when Simpson was one of the reigning queens of pop. The setlist also included her 2005 rendition of “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’,” a cover that once accompanied her role in The Dukes of Hazzard and became a hit in its own right.
Despite the excitement of being back in front of an audience, not everything went off without a hitch. Mid-performance, Simpson experienced a minor wardrobe malfunction: her pale pink, satin corset-style top slipped slightly on the left side, momentarily revealing a hint of her matching bra. It was a blink-and-you-miss-it moment, but true to her unfiltered and honest nature, she didn’t let it slide unnoticed. Afterward, she addressed it with humor, telling the hosts, “Of course, I have, like, a malfunction here and everywhere. But it’s OK. I think my boob stayed in, so that’s good.” It was a quick, self-deprecating comment, but one that reinforced what fans have always appreciated about her: Jessica Simpson keeps it real.
The performance wasn’t just a nostalgic act or a greatest-hits showcase. It was a clear statement that Jessica is creating again. Earlier this year, in March, she released Nashville Canyon, Part 1, the first half of a two-part EP series. Her return to the recording studio was more than a career move—it was a personal catharsis. During a conversation on the Today show, Simpson revealed just how deeply meaningful this project was for her. “It was incredibly healing to write these songs,” she said. “I was in Nashville; it was a crazy time for me. My life literally flipped upside down, and I really just had to focus on my purpose.”
That sense of upheaval is something she’s been candid about. In January, Simpson confirmed that she and her husband of a decade, Eric Johnson, were living separately. The couple, who married in 2014 and have three children together—Maxwell Drew, 13; Ace Knute, 12; and Birdie Mae, 6—have been quietly navigating a painful transition in their relationship. Simpson didn’t dive into all the details, but her openness in sharing that they are “navigating a painful situation” is indicative of the new place she’s operating from: one of honesty, self-reflection, and emotional growth.
Returning to music during such a vulnerable chapter was no small task. Simpson admitted that the process of making music again required courage, especially when facing so much emotional upheaval behind the scenes. She told Today co-host Jenna Bush Hager that she was “trying to inspire myself to get back up there, have the courage to do it in the face of heartbreak and the face of life completely changing.” It wasn’t just about finding the right lyrics or melodies; it was about rediscovering the strength to perform—to be seen and heard again as a musical artist, not just a celebrity or entrepreneur.
“Nashville saved my life,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “Music saved my life. All the songwriters, my band, everybody.” The sense of community she found in Nashville, among people who shared her love for music and storytelling, was evidently a lifeline during a time when her personal world was shifting. And what she created out of that period of change is something deeply personal, raw, and resonant. The first EP features new songs like “Fade,” which she performed during the concert and which will also appear on Nashville Canyon, Part 2, scheduled for release in September.
The Jessica Simpson of 2025 is still recognizable, but there’s a different energy to her now. She’s not just a pop singer with a reality TV past and a billion-dollar fashion line. She’s a woman who has walked through heartbreak, motherhood, reinvention, and public scrutiny, and come out on the other side still willing to stand in the spotlight—sometimes even when the corset slips—because the music means that much to her.
In many ways, Simpson’s journey mirrors the arc of many women who grow up in the public eye and then have to rediscover themselves in adulthood outside of it. When she burst onto the scene in the late 1990s with her debut album Sweet Kisses, she was marketed as the girl-next-door with a big voice and an even bigger heart. Her early years were marked by comparisons to contemporaries like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, and though she may not have topped the charts as frequently, she carved out a loyal fan base and made herself a household name—not just through music, but through her reality TV show Newlyweds, her acting roles, and eventually her wildly successful fashion brand.
After her 2010 Christmas album, Simpson largely stepped back from music. She focused on building her empire and raising her family. Her brand grew into a fashion juggernaut, pulling in over a billion dollars in sales at its peak, and her personal life became relatively private compared to her earlier years. But behind the scenes, the urge to return to music never completely faded.
The timing of her return now seems less coincidental and more serendipitous. With her children growing older and her marriage going through significant changes, Simpson seems to have turned inward, examining the pieces of herself that once burned brightest—her creativity, her emotions, her voice—and found new ways to express them. She isn’t trying to chase trends or relive past glories. Instead, she’s tapping into who she is now, at 45, and letting that woman write the songs.
And while there’s something deeply satisfying about hearing her revisit older hits like “With You,” it’s the new material that feels especially powerful. It’s filled with lived-in emotion, moments of pain and hope, and a deep reverence for the songwriting process. In returning to Nashville, Simpson didn’t just find collaborators; she found kindred spirits who helped her shape her new sound. The result is music that feels authentic and mature without losing the sincerity and warmth that have always defined her voice.
What sets this phase of Simpson’s career apart is her willingness to show the unvarnished reality. The wardrobe mishap during her Today show performance might’ve flustered another performer, but Simpson brushed it off with a laugh and a comment about wardrobe malfunctions being par for the course. It was a moment that revealed her comfort in her own skin and her readiness to be seen again—on her own terms.
She knows that not everyone will understand her evolution or embrace her new music in the same way they once did with her early pop ballads. But that’s not the point. This isn’t a comeback driven by nostalgia or commercial ambition; it’s a comeback driven by necessity. For Simpson, making music again isn’t just about career—it’s about survival, about rediscovery, about pouring the chaos and clarity of recent years into songs that mean something real.
There’s an inherent bravery in that. To step back into a music industry that’s changed significantly since her last major release, to put her heart into songs during one of the most emotionally challenging times of her life, and to perform live with vulnerability, humor, and honesty—it’s no small feat. But Jessica Simpson has never done things halfway. She’s always been all in, whether it was on stage, in business, or in love.
With Nashville Canyon, Part 1 already out and Part 2 on the horizon, Simpson is steadily crafting a new chapter that fuses the old and the new. She’s singing the songs her younger self couldn’t have written, informed by the experiences her older self couldn’t have imagined back when she was wearing Daisy Dukes in a music video or navigating newlywed life on reality TV. There’s power in that. There’s artistry in that. And most of all, there’s truth in that.
As she continues to balance motherhood, career shifts, and personal transformation, Jessica Simpson is once again proving that she’s more than just a headline or a throwback playlist favorite. She’s a storyteller. A survivor. A singer-songwriter who’s found her voice again—maybe stronger than ever.
