Jessica Simpson thinks of herself as a “work in progress” as she continues to maintain sobriety.
On Tuesday night (June 2), the pop vocalist performed at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino in Highland, California, and delivered a speech about her past struggles with alcoholism. After speaking to the crowd, Simpon debuted an unreleased song, titled “Give It All Away,” which was written by songwriter and musician Linda Perry.
In the video below, Simpson explained that it took her a year to realize that drinking wasn’t “numbing” her pain but was “causing more pain.”
“I'm a work in progress. And I celebrate each and every day that I feel alive and in my body and myself,” she said. “And so it felt right to share this song with you. And I want all of you to know that you should have a little grace for yourself. And everything is gonna be okay if you just give it all away. And that's what this song is about. I just pray that I can do this without crying.”
Simpson also explained that she "didn't understand all of the traumas" that she held onto. "And it was really painful once I started searching in myself to find what I could reveal, because I became somebody that I was afraid of, somebody that I just did not know and did not understand," she continued.
The mother-of-3 also believed that she wasn't "being a good role model." to her family. "And I felt really alone," Simpson said. "And it was just a crutch that wasn't working."
Simpson, who separated from former NFL player Eric Johnson in 2025 after 10 years of marriage, has been sober since late 2017, which she detailed in an Instagram comment in August 2024. At the time, a troll suggested that she needed to “stop drinking.”
"I haven’t wanted or touched alcohol since October 2017 and it has been the best decision I’ve made for myself and for my family," Simpson replied.
In her 2020 memoir, Open Book, Simpson said that her period of alcoholism and pill addiction went into full throttle while she dated musician John Mayer from 2006 to 2007. During the short-lived relationship, Simpson faced issues with her body image. Before dating Mayer, Simpson was married to 98 Degrees member and media personality, Nick Lachey, from 2002 to 2006.
