Simpson spent five months living between Los Angeles and Nashville, where she worked on the album with a live band. She said the process of recording five songs that blended country and rock had taught her who she was as a singer: “Nothing is a straightforward specific genre.”

Outside of music, Simpson has run her fashion line, the Jessica Simpson Collection, since 2005, at one point making over $1 billion in annual revenue. In 2021, the brand’s parent company filed for bankruptcy, and Simpson liquidated all of her investments to buy back the part of the label she didn’t own. In 2020, she published the bestselling memoir “Open Book,” which candidly discussed the ups and downs of her career, struggles with alcohol addiction and divorce from her first husband, Nick Lachey. Following her separation from her second husband, the former NFL player Eric Johnson, Simpson revealed that she was currently working on a second memoir.

Simpson lives with her kids, Maxwell, 12; Ace, 11; and Birdie, 5. Here, she discusses her daily dream analysis, not drinking coffee and the healing power of journaling.

What time do you get up on Mondays, and what’s the first thing you do after waking up?

I’m not a great sleeper. I try to get five hours, and I’m really lucky if I get seven. I’m horrible [at going to sleep] because I’ll get the kids down and then I’m so excited to have me time. Then I start to get inspired, and I’m up.

I’ll wake up between 5:30 and 6 a.m. Most of the time I have really vivid dreams that I have to write down or I’ll forget. Then I get out my dream dictionary, and I put it all together to understand my subconscious mind.

How do you like your breakfast and coffee? 

Since I was pregnant with Maxwell, I don’t really drink coffee anymore. In the morning, I’ll have a Yeti with water and a Yeti with a peach iced tea. For breakfast, oh, Lord, I’m eating literally half my kids’ Eggos. I’m one of those people who loves my kids’ food. I order off the kids’ menu, so I am not an expensive date in the food category.

Her new EP, ’Nashville Canyon, Part 1,’ is out March 21. Photo: Uncredited

What do you do for exercise?

The last time I was on stage, I was in my 20s. I have some surprise shows coming up, so to not be winded, I have to get on the treadmill and do my vocal warm-ups at the same time.

When I do work out, I have to really have a goal, like losing weight after my third child. I worked so hard to lose 120 pounds. I was 260 pounds with her. I was heavier than my husband who played in the NFL. Everything was cauliflower, from the rice to the pasta to the pizza. I cannot even look at cauliflower or smell it.

What about beauty and skin care? 

I’m a skin fanatic. I love masks. I like a brand called MBR and a brand called Biologique [Recherche]. Maxwell and I are very into pampering ourselves. She’ll make masks in the blender. She’s like, “Oh, I made rice and put it in.” I mean, the things they learn on TikTok.

What made now the right time for “Nashville Canyon, Part 1?” 

Eric proposed six months into our relationship and then I got pregnant not too long after that. We postponed the wedding and then—I didn’t know you could get pregnant while breast-feeding—I got pregnant again. I was like, OK, I think I’m supposed to be a mom right now. Clearly it’s not time to entertain. Luckily, I had the brand as a creative outlet, but I’ve missed entertaining.

You’ve talked about how you don’t care if any of the songs become hits. Why is that? 

It’s not about being on the radio or charting. It used to be about that, because it was like that for the label. When we were talking to the writers, we were like, “Whatever you do, don’t say the word ‘hit’ and don’t say the word ‘single.’” We just write whatever we want to write.

“Open Book” became a No. 1 bestseller when it came out. How did it change your life? 

I was in so much shock that first week. I think once I stopped drinking alcohol, I just had the courage to be myself. Once I gave it up, I went quickly into healing and I think I said after the first week of therapy, “OK, I’m ready to start my book now. I want to go get all my old journals, I’m ready to write a memoir.” I just fell in love with parts of myself I never knew I would. I gained a lot of confidence being honest with myself, and there was nothing I wanted to not share.

Would you ever write a sequel?

I’ve already started another one, because I have so many writings. Journaling for me is the best form of therapy.

In the book, you wrote about how much you learned about yourself after your first marriage ended. Have you been on a similar journey recently? 

I wasn’t expecting to be on a similar journey. I think anytime you write a record and confront yourself, you’re going to feel red flags. I was a little fearful to go back to music because of that confrontation. And if you have to leave for two weeks at a time and come back, you’re going to have to deep dive into certain areas that you know need fixing.

My kids don’t really want to talk about it, so I told them that I wouldn’t talk about it. The music is the way for me to not stay quiet, and it’s a way for me to get through things.

What’s one piece of advice you’ve gotten that’s guided you? 

[When recording this EP,] I would always stop when I would make a mistake and be like, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” I’m always saying I’m sorry, and it ruins the take. I learned in the last year to sing through my mistakes, and right on the other side of the mistake is the best note I’ve ever done or the best take I ever got.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.