Jessica Simpson is up in the air whether she’ll be able to stick it out with husband Eric Johnson and make it work, and her sister, Ashlee Simpson Ross, is keeping her grounded and helping in any way she can in the meantime.
“Jessica’s needing advice and support, and Ashlee’s being there for her, picking up the phone when Jessica calls, taking Jessica shopping, and volunteering to look after the kids,” an insider exclusively tells Life & Style. “Ashlee has that street-smart edge, and she knows a few things. Ashlee is listening but she’s also reminding Jessica of Eric’s good qualities and giving Jessica a lot of food for thought.”
The source adds, “Jessica respects Ashlee and Evan’s [Ross] relationship and thinks they’ve got it figured out. The hard part is how they’re all going to spend the holidays without Eric, but Jessica’s in good hands. She has her sister.”
Jessica and Eric met in 2010 and got married four years later. They welcomed son Maxwell in 2012, Ace in 2013 and Birdie in 2019. However, Life & Style reported in September that their marriage seemed “to be hanging on by a thread.”
“They’ve drifted apart and come closer together many times over. There have been a lot of ups and downs that they’ve worked through privately,” a second insider shared in a story published on September 18.
The family matriarch fueled speculation when she didn’t acknowledge her hubby’s birthday. Instead of swooning over the former NFL star, the Dukes of Hazzard actor shared a message about forgiveness.
“Forgiveness doesn’t change that person. Forgiveness changes you. Guess what forgiveness does not do?” a pastor said in a clip shared to the entertainer’s Instagram Story. “Forgiveness does not mean you forget. One of the most crazy theories is that you forgive and forget. You don’t forget, but you do have the opportunity to forgive every time you remember.”
Things took a turn for the worst in October when Life & Style reported that Jessica and Eric’s marriage was “pretty much over” and “it’s only a matter of time before she files for divorce.”
“They tried couples counseling, which worked for a while, but then things went back to the way they were,” a third insider revealed in a story published on October 31. “They don’t spend nearly as much time together as they used to, and they’ve just grown apart.”
One month later, Jessica teased her new music via Instagram by posting a sultry photo while recording music and sitting in a chair. Her caption, however, is what had fans talking.
“Interviews in my Nashville music room where I unearthed my singular magic,” the “Take My Breath Away” musician captioned the November 11 post. “This comeback is personal, it’s an apology to myself for putting up with everything I did not deserve.”
Fans chimed off in the comments section, with one person asking, “Is this j simp saying she’s single?”
Meanwhile, a second sent well-wishes to Jessica and Eric, writing, “Hopefully this is her comeback with her husband and children who need her most. Nothing else matters in the end.”
Neither Jessica nor Eric have addressed the rumors about the status of their relationship, but one week later, a fourth insider exclusively told Life & Style that Jessica and Eric “have a ton of unresolved issues.”
“Jessica and Eric have been butting heads and living separate lives for an extremely long time,” insider No. 4 dished in a story published on November 19. “They have a ton of unresolved issues in the marriage that have been simmering for years and now seem to be reaching a boiling point.”
The fourth source continued, “Jessica clearly wants Eric to get his act together, but she won’t stick around in limbo forever.”
