Jessica Simpson’s “Heart was completely broken” in the middle of split from Eric Johnson (exclusive)

Jessica SimpsonS first song from her new EP: Nashville Canyon: Part 1 Drops this week and she reveals the story behind her very personal songs, exclusively in this week’s people.

“I was thrown a real fate of fate in the middle of making this record,” says the star, 44. “My heart was completely broken. I had to continue to focus on the music. Thankfully, I had Nashville.”

In January announced his split.

“Eric and I have lived separately navigated in a painful situation in our marriage,” Simpson said in a statement to people. “Our children come first, and we focus on what is best for them.”

“I have gone through the darkest time and is held by the most light in an odd way,” she says about their separation. “I’ve grown up so much. I can handle so much. It wasn’t easy.”

Still, she adds, “I’m strong – maybe I’m just meant to love many people in my life.”

The singer and fashion mogul found healing by making music in Nashville, where she started working in the fall of 2023.

“With this creative outlet is what your heart breaks down and you go into a song writing session – like going straight into therapy,” she reflects. “I’ve always said it was cheesy when people said the music saved my life but it really saved mine.”

The new EP, 15 years ago her last album, consists of five soul and rockabilly-infused songs. The first single ”Use my heart toward me“dropped Friday.” The was a sexy song to write“Simpson tells People.” I had many things written in my magazines that I screened on my phone and would only give to my co-authors and they weaved it together. ”

The result is her most personal music yet. Of the whole EP, March 21, she says, “I could never come back to music if I didn’t come to it from a soulful place. I knew to me, it considered my roots.”

And Simpsons is excited by what is forward. “I’ve taken a very long break from being in the music industry,” she says. “The story’s story is really what I serious about the most. The songs speak for themselves. The music is really talking.”

For more from Jessica Simpson, pick up the latest issue of people, at newspaper kios everywhere now.