Jessica Simpson
Jessica Simpson is an American pop star, actress, fashion designer, and author. Jessica's father was a Baptist minister, and young Jessica grew up attending nightly services, going to church camps, attending bible schools, and doing mission work with youth groups.
Young Jessica Simpson
In 1993, after the attendees at a church camp sang hymns, the pastor announced 'There's somebody here who's going to use their voice to change the world. They will use their voice to minister to others.' Thirteen-year-old Jessica was sure he meant her. The singer started her career with gospel albums, and went on to become a mainstream star. It wasn't an easy journey though, and Jessica tells her story in 'Open Book.'
Jessica grew up in Texas, with her parents Joe and Tina, and a loving extended family nearby.
Joe and Tina Simpson
As a child, Jessica sometimes stayed at the home of family friends, and an older girl in the house molested her for years. Jessica was afraid to tell her parents, and when she did, they said nothing - though her visits to that family stopped. Unfortunately, the abuse haunted Jessica, and when she confided in a fellow cheerleader in middle school, the girl spread rumors and the bully machine went into high gear, calling Jessica a lesbian and making her life miserable.
Jessica Simpson was a cheerleader in middle school
Perhaps serendipitously, Jessica's music career began soon afterwards, and she was often in Nashville with her parents, recording songs for her first gospel album.
Jessica Simpson's music career began when she was a teenager
Jessica's father gave up his ministry to become her manager, and Jessica' mother accompanied her to concerts and organized her wardrobe. It was during Jessica's teen years - when her career was gearing up - that the singer's substance abuse started, with Tylenol PM (and then Ambien) to help her relax and sleep.
Jessica Simpson with her parents, Joe and Tina
Once Jessica went mainstream with her music, her career skyrocketed. The young singer became the breadwinner of the family, a huge responsibility that weighed heavily on her shoulders.
Jessica was (and is) a devout Christian, and had little experience with men. Thus 18-year-old Jessica was bowled over when she met handsome, 25-year-old singer Nick Lachey, a meeting that was essentially love at first sight for both of them.
Nick Lachey
Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey
Jessica told Nick AND the media that she meant to remain a virgin until she married, and this was fodder for talk shows and interviews for years. (Imagine the whole country discussing your self life! Regrettably, this was a self-inflicted wound.)
Jessica was 22 when she wed Nick, and the couple became the stars of a reality show called 'Newlyweds.'
Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey's wedding
The constant presence of film crews and the public scrutiny (and ribbing) put pressure on the marriage, and the couple started to grow apart. Moreover, Jessica filmed 'The Dukes of Hazzard' during this period, and had an 'emotional affair' with her costar Johnny Knoxville.
Johnny Knoxville
Jessica Simpson and Johnny Knoxville
Nick was also rumored to be unfaithful, and the couple divorced soon afterwards. Jessica is very open about her relationship with Nick, and the mistakes they both made. Jessica's drinking and use of prescribed medication ramped up during this period, and became a decades-long coping mechanism.
Jessica wore racy shorts as Daisy Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard, and this escalated her status as a sex symbol.
Jessica Simpson as Daisy Duke
As often happens with female stars, the public became obsessed with Jessica's weight and appearance. The scrutiny caused Jessica much suffering, particularly after she gained a few pounds and appeared in 'mom jeans' at a chili cookoff in 2009.
Jessica Simpson in 'mom jeans'
The subsequent public hazing went on for over a decade, and though Jessica tried to shake it off - and love herself at any weight - she admits she prefers her public image when she's thin.
After Jessica split from Nick, she had a long relationship with football player Tony Romo.....
Tony Romo
Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo
.....and then dated musician John Mayer.
John Mayer
Jessica Simpson and John Mayer
Both men were controlling and difficult, but Jessica felt compelled to please them, and maybe even 'save them' (in the Christian sense). Mayer was especially diabolical, repeatedly breaking up with Jessica to inspire his songwriting. In 2010, after Jessica and Mayer split for good, the musician gave an explosive interview to Playboy, calling Jessica 'sexual napalm.' This embarrassed Jessica, and heightened Mayer's reputation as a bad boy.
It was during this time that Jessica's father Joe announced he was divorcing his wife Tina. Joe told Jessica that her decision to divorce Nick Lachey years before (unusual for a devout Baptist) emboldened him to take this step.
Joe and Tina Simpson's divorce was finalized in 2013
Jessica hints that her dad later had a boyfriend, but this remains unconfirmed (as far as I know). In any case, Joe and Tina's divorce split the family, and Jessica fired Joe as her manager. The singer remained close to her mother, and still sees her father, but irreparable damage was done.
In the meantime, Jessica's fashion company, which launched in 2005, took off. The business, run largely by Jessica and her mother, soon became worth over a billion dollars.
Jessica Simpson's fashion company took off
Jessica Simpson and her mother Tina head the Simpson fashion business
The success of Jessica's fashion line is due to the fact that it carries a diverse array of goods, is reasonably priced, and caters to women of all sizes. Jessica wants all females to have access to comfortable clothing that looks good. Jessica's singing career waned when she became a fashion mogul, though she remains active in the music business.
Jessica models for her fashion line
In 2010, after her failed relationships with Nick Lachey, Tony Romo, and John Mayer, Jessica met her future husband, former football player Eric Johnson.
Eric Johnson
Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson
Jessica writes about her romance with Eric, their 'Great Expectations' themed wedding, and the birth of their children - who were almost miracles since Jessica had one of her fallopian tubes removed when she was young.
Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson's wedding
Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson with their children
Jessica is candid about her excessive drinking during this time, which would begin before breakfast. The crisis point came when Jessica was too drunk to attend her own Halloween party, a gala affair for children, neighbors, relatives, and friends. It was then that Jessica (and Eric) vowed to stop drinking, and Jessica entered therapy and got help.
There's entertaining name-dropping in the book, and Jessica describes meeting Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, and Ryan Gosling as adolescents, when they all tried out for the Mickey Mouse Club.
Jessica Simpson met budding young stars when she tried out for the Mickey Mouse Club
Jessica is good friends with Willie Nelson, got encouragement from Celine Dion, got moral support from Dolly Parton, and was compared to Beyoncé, who was a teenage celebrity at the time.
Jessica Simpson and Willie Nelson
Celine Dion
Dolly Parton
Young Beyoncé
Jessica also alludes to secret dates with Hollywood celebrities, but doesn't mention their names. To hide from the public, these assignations involved back doors, rented cars, hiding in the rear seat, and other measures to remain under the radar.
There's much more in the book, about the tragic death of Jessica's teenage cousin and best friend Sarah; Jessica's talented sister Ashlee; Jessica's singing gigs and albums; Jessica's USO trips to entertain the troops; Jessica's ongoing Christian faith; Jessica's current happiness with her husband and children; Jessica's tummy tuck after childbirth; the many people who assisted Jessica's career; and so on.
Jessica Simpson with her sister Ashlee
Jessica Simpson having fun with her family
Jessica is very open in the narrative, relating numerous anecdotes about her life, warts and all. I listened to the audiobook, read by the author, and when Jessica talks about difficult times you can hear the tears and emotion in her voice. The audiobook also has some of Jessica's songs at the end, which is a nice bonus.
One of Jessica's aims in this book is to empathize with people who are tortured by bullies; criticized for their appearance; in unhappy relationships; or otherwise suffering. She feels their pain, and uses herself as an example of someone who learned to cope....someone who gained strength through adversity.
This is a good book, highly recommended to fans of celebrity memoirs.
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