Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson Announce Separation After 10 Years 'Navigating a Painful Situation

Jessica Simpson and her husband, Eric Johnson, are temporarily separating after 10 years of marriage, the 44-year-old singer and actress revealed exclusively to PEOPLE.

Eric and I have been living separately, navigating a challenging time in our marriage, Simpson shared in a statement. Our children remain our top priority, and we are focused on doing what’s best for them. We deeply appreciate the love and support we’ve received and kindly ask for privacy as we work through this as a family.

The announcement follows a recent Instagram post by Simpson, who shares three children with Johnson. In the sunny selfie, she reminded her followers, Life is short. SMILE while you still have teeth.

In November, Johnson was seen without his wedding ring, coinciding with Simpson hinting at her comeback to music through a cryptic Instagram post featuring photos of herself in a recording studio.

Interviews in my Nashville music room where I unearthed my singular magic, she captioned the images. This comeback is personal—an apology to myself for tolerating what I did not deserve.

Shortly after, a source told PEOPLE that the With You singer and her husband were very much living separate lives.

Simpson and Johnson, who began dating in 2010, married in July 2014 and share three children: daughters Maxwell Maxi Drew, 12, and Birdie Mae, 5, as well as son Ace Knute, 11.

Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson first connected through a mutual friend in 2010 and became engaged just six months later, in November of the same year.

The Open Book author and the retired NFL tight end welcomed their first two children, daughter Maxwell in May 2012 and son Ace in June 2013.

Their children played special roles in their wedding, serving as the flower girl and ring bearer, when the couple exchanged vows in front of over 250 guests in Montecito, California.

A true love will never make you question yourself or what's real, Simpson told PEOPLE in 2023. Thanks to my amazing soulmate, I can love passionately and without fear of being hurt.

That same year, Simpson shared with PEOPLE how Johnson fully embraces her career.

I’ve never found it hard to love anyone, but I always felt I was hard to love—that I was too much for people or that my schedule was too demanding, she revealed. He knows my heart and understands it better than anyone I’ve ever met in my life.

Simpson also described their relationship as always feeling easy and emphasized their efforts to keep the romance alive, even with three kids.

For Johnson's birthday in September 2023, she shared photos from their family celebration on Instagram, expressing her love in a heartfelt tribute.

My heart is so taken with this man, I can hardly call it my own... We love youuuu, she wrote.

In early 2023, the couple took a break from parenting with a getaway in March. Simpson posted vacation photos on Instagram, captioning them, I stole [my] lover for the weekend.

In 2022, Simpson reflected on the importance of communication in her marriage during an interview with PEOPLE. I feel like every moment with us, we're growing as long as we're communicating, and our love is only deepening, she shared. Eric and I learn from each other so much. I feel like we're stronger than ever, even more than we were at the beginning.

She also acknowledged the challenges they faced together in a 2021 interview with PEOPLE.

I think the takeaway is that it's not easy, and every day presents challenges and blessings, she said. Life is a blessing to be lived, and the more we overthink, the more we fall behind on our personal journey.

Simpson was previously married to Nick Lachey from 2002 to 2005.