Unexpected Encounter on a Flight
Jessica Simpson and her first ex-husband Nick Lachey have been making headlines recently due to an unexpected encounter. The 45-year-old clothing mogul and the 52-year-old Grammy nominee never had children before their 2006 divorce, so there have been no reports of a reunion… until now.
The two were found traveling on the same flight from Los Angeles to Kauai on March 29, which left them both feeling uncomfortable. According to TMZ, Simpson allegedly switched seats with someone in her group to distance herself further from Lachey, whose face turned bright red upon seeing her while 30,000 feet in the air.
The estranged exes were reportedly joined on their Hawaiian adventures by her second estranged husband Eric Johnson and his second wife Vanessa Minnillo, along with their three children.
A Seaside Snap and More
Last Thursday, the Filipino-born 45-year-old shared a seaside snap of herself basking under the full moon in Hawaii: “I see you and I’m fired up!” The Daily Mail has reached out to the reps for Simpson and Lachey, whose three-year marriage ended in 2006.
The 98 Degrees boybander and the early aughts pop star met through their manager in 1998, split for five months in 2001, and she remained a virgin until their 2002 wedding night. Lachey was featured in Simpson’s song Where You Are in 2000, and he served video hunk duties in her 2003 music video for Sweetest Sin.
A Rise to Fame
But the blonde Texan and the Kentucky-born presenter were launched into the stratosphere of fame after launching their MTV reality show Newlyweds (2003-2005) and subsequent 2004 special The Nick and Jessica Variety Hour.
As recently as January, Simpson was cashing in on her 2003 viral moment from Newlyweds where she pondered over a can of Chicken of the Sea tuna: “Is this chicken what I have or is it fish?” The All’s Fair guest star not only served as brand ambassador for the fishy brand, she also sang a funny jingle in the commercial.
Past Meetings and Current Life
Simpson and Lachey previously could’ve brushed paths when they both attended the 2006 MTV VMAs, the 2006 Teen Choice Awards, and the 2010 Golden Globe Awards.
The Jessica Simpson Collection founder filed for divorce from Johnson following a decade of marriage in January 2025. On May 1, Simpson and the 46-year-old retired NFL tight end will celebrate the 14th birthday of their daughter Maxwell, and they’re also co-parenting 12-year-old son Ace and seven-year-old daughter Birdie.
But since January, the Kiehl’s paid partner has reportedly been dating Nashville-based musician and sound engineer Thomas Eisenhood, who, at 33, is 12 years younger than her.
Upcoming Events and Projects
Simpson is scheduled to kick off her four-date spring tour at Hard Rock Live in Tulsa, OK on May 23. Meanwhile, the Lacheys have welcomed three children – son Camden, 13, daughter Brooklyn, 11, and son Phoenix, nine – during their 14-year marriage.
The Perfect Match host and Vanessa keep busy co-hosting Netflix dating competition Love is Blind for 10 seasons dating back to 2020. Lachey will next appear in Investigation Discovery’s four-part docuseries Boy Band Confidential – premiering April 13 – which was produced by NSYNC’s Joey Fatone.
