NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Famous singer and actress Jessica Simpson and her husband, former NFL player Eric Johnson, have announced they have separated.

The couple has been married since July 2014 and have three children together.

“Eric and I have been living separately navigating a painful situation in our marriage,” Simpson told the Today Show in a statement. “Our children come first, and we are focusing on what is best for them. We are grateful for all of the love and support that has been coming our way, and appreciate privacy right now as we work through this as a family.”

In November, 44-year-old Simpson announced on Instagram that she was releasing new music with a vague caption on social media.

“Interviews in my Nashville music room where I unearthed my singular magic. This comeback is personal, it’s an apology to myself for putting up with everything I did not deserve,” she wrote.

Last week, she made another post sharing a selfie.

“Life is short. SMILE while you still have teeth,” she wrote.

In a 2023 interview with People, the singer said things clicked instantly between her and the 45-year-old.

“He knows my heart and understands my heart more than anyone I’ve ever met in my life,” she said. “I knew the instant we met that I could see my future in his eyes and with a lot of people, I hope for a future in their eyes, but with Eric, I saw it.”

Johnson, who played collegiately at Yale, was selected in the seventh round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. He played for the team through 2006, then spent a season with the New Orleans Saints.

He finished his career with 240 receptions for 2,178 yards and nine touchdowns.