Jessica Simpson Reflects on Choosing Sobriety: ‘Drinking Wasn’t Numbing My Pain, It Was Causing More’

Angel SaundersWed, June 3, 2026 at 9:31 PM UTC

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Jessica Simpson poses backstage at Foxwoods Resort Casino on December 07, 2025
Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty -

Jessica Simpson shared a new song inspired by her sobriety, "Give It All Away"

The singer and mother of three has been sober for nearly nine years

“I didn’t understand all of the traumas that I was holding onto,” she said of her past struggles with drinking

Jessica Simpson is opening up about her sobriety journey in a new song.

In fan footage obtained by TMZ, the 45-year-old singer gave the crowd a little insight into what inspired the new track "Give It All Away" while onstage at Yaamava' Resort & Casino in Highland, Calif. on Monday, June 1.

“I didn’t understand all of the traumas that I was holding onto,” the “Take My Breath Away” singer, who has been sober for nearly nine years, said. “It was really painful, and once I started searching in myself to find what I could reveal, because I became somebody that I was afraid of.”

Jessica Simpson attends the World Premiere of Hulu's 'All's Fair' on October 16, 2025 in Los Angeles
Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty

Simpson told her fans that she’d become “somebody that I just did not know, and did not understand, and I was a mother and I felt like I wasn’t being a good role model.”

The “I Wanna Love You Forever” singer shares three kids — Maxwell Drew Johnson, 14, Ace Knute Johnson, 12, and Birdie Mae Johnson, 7 — with her estranged husband, former football player Eric Johnson.

Still, the former reality star said she “felt really alone.”

“It wasn’t until a year later that I realized that the drinking wasn’t numbing my pain, it was actually causing more pain,” Simpson said. “It was just a crutch that wasn’t working.”

Before introducing the new song, she added, “And in all honesty, I’m just a work in progress, and I celebrate each and every day that I feel alive in my body and I’m very proud of myself and so it felt right to share this song with you. I want all of you to know that you should have a little grace for yourself and everything is going to be OK if you just give it all away. That’s what this song is about.”

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The All’s Fair actress has been vocal about her sobriety, and celebrated the life-changing decision in a November 2025 Instagram post.

“[Eight] years ago today I made the choice to confront, to confess and to let go of the self-sabotaging parts of my life that I was choosing,” she wrote at the time, pairing the caption with a single selfie. “Making that decision allowed me to fully live in the pursuit of God’s purpose for my life. Alcohol silenced my intuition, blocked my dreams and chased my circulating fears of complacency.”

Jessica Simpson attends Jessica Simpson Collection Presentation, Spring 2016 New York Fashion Week
Credit: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

“Today I am clear. Today I am driven by faith,” she continued. “Both fear and faith are something that we feel and may not see, I’m so happy I chose faith over fear. It was not in the fight that I found my strength, it was in the surrender.”

She’s also spoken out against people who accused her of reverting to her old ways.

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In August 2024, the Dukes of Hazzard star corrected a commenter who wrote under Ace’s 11th birthday post that Simpson should “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. “Thank you for your concern, but you have me very misunderstood. Sending love your way.”

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”