Jessica Simpson did some major soul searching while recording her new music in Nashville and a source exclusively tells Life & Style she has her sights set on meeting a musician when she’s ready to bounce back and start dating again post-divorce from ex Eric Johnson.
“Music is her love language, and she wants a partner she can share that with,” the source says. Fifteen years ago, the “Irresistible” singer, 44, began dating NFLer Eric, 45, while he was still legally married to Keri Johnson. He finalized his divorce from her in October 2010, just a month before he announced his engagement to Jessica.
The couple married in 2014 and welcomed three children: daughter Maxwell Drew, 12, son Ace Knute, 11, and daughter Birdie Mae, 5. Though, as In Touch reported in October 2024, a different source said their marriage was “pretty much over” and “it was just a matter of time” until they divorced.
A source also dished to Life & Style the same month that the two had been distant for over a year by then, saying the former pro footballer “has had it with her crazy mood swings,” and adding, “Jessica feels like their marriage has lost its romance. Everyone’s wondering how long they can go on like this.”
In January 2025, Jessica decided to pull the plug. “Eric and I have been living separately navigating a painful situation in our marriage,” she said in a statement to People on January 13. “Our children come first, and we are focusing on what is best for them. We are grateful for all of the love and support that has been coming our way, and appreciate privacy right now as we work through this as a family.”
The first source says that once Jessica’s back looking for love after the divorce is wrapped up, “What she wants is to find someone that she can share the music with who’s also capable of having a healthy relationship,” which means no more athletes, at least.
“As bad as things got in the end with John Mayer, she admits that in a lot of ways that was her most thrilling relationship ever because they were so musically in sync,” the insider explains. Jessica had an on-again-off-again relationship with the notorious “Gravity” singer, 47, from 2006 until she met Eric in 2010.
“They’d spend hours playing songs together, in between their bedroom romps, it was like foreplay for them. When things were good with John, they were beyond her wildest dreams.” While Jessica looks back on their tumultuous romance fondly now that her marriage has gone up in flames, it wasn’t so rosy back then. “The issue of course was John’s fear of commitment, he’d always sabotage things. He really hurt her so she’s not looking to get him back.”
“She’s convinced a music man is what she needs next and preferably someone who’s even more famous than she is,” the source adds. “She’s realized that’s a turn on for her and sees no shame in it.”
