Singer Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson Announce Separation
Singer Jessica Simpson and her husband Eric Johnson have revealed they are separating. Simpson stated on Monday night that she and her spouse of ten years have “been living apart” while working through “a challenging situation in our marriage.”
A Painful Situation
“Our children are our priority, and we’re focusing on what’s best for them,” Simpson’s statement, provided to CNN, read. “We appreciate all the love and support that has been sent our way, and we ask for privacy as we deal with this together as a family.”
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A Decade-Long Relationship
Simpson, a singer, and Johnson, who retired from the NFL, began dating in 2010 and married in 2014 in Santa Barbara. They share three children: Maxwell “Maxi” Drew, 12, Ace Knute, 11, and Birdie Mae, 5.
Hidden Hills Mansion Listed for Sale
Jessica Simpson’s Hidden Hills mansion is on the market, according to a source, amid her separation from Johnson. PEOPLE confirmed on Tuesday, January 14, that the couple is splitting after a decade of marriage.
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Simpson’s Previous Marriage
Simpson was previously married to singer Nick Lachey, with whom she starred in the popular MTV reality series “Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica” before they divorced in 2005. Lachey has been married to actress and former MTV personality Vanessa Lachey since 2011.
Family Home Since 2013
Simpson, 44, and Johnson, 45, have lived in the Hidden Hills, California home with their three children since 2013. The singer confirmed exclusively to PEOPLE on January 14 that they are separating after ten years of marriage.
“Eric and I have been living separately as we navigate a painful situation in our marriage,” Simpson shared in a statement to PEOPLE. “Our children come first, and we are focusing on what is best for them. We are grateful for all the love and support we’ve received and appreciate privacy as we address this issue as a family.”
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Real Estate Details
Their 13,274-square-foot estate was listed for sale at $17.9 million on January 11, just three days before news of the couple’s separation went public. The property had previously been listed in September 2023 for $22 million, then removed from the market in August 2024 after failing to sell.
Situated on 2.3 acres, it boasts seven bedrooms, six full bathrooms, seven partial baths, and a four-car garage. Outdoors, the estate features a large pool, a separate shallow pool, a hot tub, a barbecue island, and an outdoor shower. Brett Harrison of Coldwell Banker holds the listing but did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Summer in Tennessee
The earlier listing in 2023 came shortly after Simpson spoke about being “so happy” spending the summer in Tennessee with Johnson and their children. “Being in Nashville, even my kids say, ‘You laugh the whole time. You’re so happy,’” Simpson told E! News in August 2023. “It’s because I’m not on guard. I’m surrounded by like-minded people. It’s not about fame; it’s really about music, the heart, and genuine conversation.”
Eric Johnson Without His Ring
Johnson was spotted without his wedding ring in November, around the same time Simpson teased a “comeback” to music with a cryptic Instagram post that showed photos of her in a recording studio.
How They Met
The pair first met through a mutual friend in 2010 and were engaged that November after six months of dating. They tied the knot in July 2014 after four years together.