Jessica Simpson opens up about addiction struggles and life after alcohol

Jessica Simpson has spoken candidly about her past battle with alcoholism, revealing that her addiction left her feeling like “someone she was afraid of” during the darkest period of her life.

The 45-year-old singer, who celebrated eight years of sobriety in November 2025, shared her reflections while speaking to fans during a live performance in Highland, California, ahead of performing her new song Give It All Away.

Simpson told the audience that her struggles were deeply tied to unresolved trauma, explaining that she did not initially understand the emotional weight she was carrying.

“I didn’t understand all of the traumas that I was holding onto,” she said, adding that the process of self-reflection was painful but necessary.

The singer said her addiction gradually changed her sense of identity, leaving her disconnected from herself and her responsibilities as a mother.

“I became somebody that I was afraid of, somebody I did not know and understand,” she said.

Simpson admitted she felt she was not setting a positive example for her children during that time, describing alcohol as a “crutch” that ultimately worsened her emotional struggles rather than easing them.

“It was a crutch that wasn’t working,” she said, reflecting on how her drinking intensified her pain instead of numbing it.

Now describing herself as a “work in progress,” Simpson said she is grateful for her sobriety and focuses on living each day with gratitude and awareness.

“I celebrate each and every day that I feel alive and in my body,” she told fans, encouraging self-compassion and emotional healing.

The singer also shared a message of encouragement for others facing personal struggles, urging them to have “grace” for themselves and trust that healing is possible.

Simpson has previously spoken publicly about her journey to sobriety, which she began following a turning point in 2017, when she decided to confront her dependency and commit to recovery.