Jessica Simpson Talks Healing Music Amid Estrangement from Eric Johnson

FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Jessica Simpson, 44, returns to music with her first single, “Use My Heart Against Me,” from her upcoming EP, “Nashville Canyon: Part 1,” releasing March 21. The single drops just a month after her separation from former NFL player Eric Johnson, with whom she shares three children.

In an interview with PEOPLE, Simpson opened up about her journey of healing through music. “I’ve grown up so much. I can handle so much,” she said. “Maybe I’m just meant to love a lot of people in my life.” Reflecting on her relationship with Johnson, she continued, “I don’t know why my heart gets tossed around, but I’m one of the lucky ones. At least I have my children and I still have Eric. He’s still very much a part of my life and will always be.”

Simpson and Johnson co-parent daughters Maxwell, 12, Birdie, 5, and son Ace, 11. While working on her EP, the family spent time together at their rental home in Franklin, a city located just outside of Nashville. Simpson described the EP as a collection of five soulful and rockabilly-infused songs that symbolize her artistic independence.

“Discovering this music is something I did on my own. Thank God I had Nashville; it was just a way for me to own myself and declare it,” Simpson explained. She emphasized her growth since her early days as a pop star, asserting, “I am a woman now and I can do what I want. To have freedom in music — I think that’s what you’re going to feel in Nashville Canyon.”

Simpson has navigated a public life filled with relationships, previously being married to Nick Lachey and engaged to Tony Romo, before marrying Johnson in 2014. Their marriage ended last year. “Eric and I have been living separately navigating a painful situation in our marriage,” she told PEOPLE in a statement. “Our children come first, and we are focusing on what is best for them.”

As she prepares for the EP’s release, Simpson is excited about sharing her new music, which she describes as a deeply personal expression of her experiences. The single “Use My Heart Against Me” captures the tumultuous emotions she has faced during this transitional phase of her life, touching on themes of love and desire.

For more insights and details on her musical journey, fans can read the full interview in the latest issue of PEOPLE, available on newsstands Friday.