Jessica Simpson Ready to Revisit Reality TV Roots After ‘Blazing the Trail’ With ‘Newlyweds’

Jessica Simpson has revived her singing career post-divorce, but that’s not all. An insider tells Star the 45-year-old, who rose to fame with first husband Nick Lachey on Newlyweds, also wants to revisit her reality show past. “Jessica loved what came along with being in a groundbreaking reality TV smash,” explains the source. “The magazine covers, the movie roles, the endorsement deals.”

The source adds that Jess has been quietly reaching out to reality royalty, the Kardashians matriarch Kris Jenner, for tips on getting back in the game. After all, says the source, “There would be no Kardashians reality franchise without Jessica blazing the trail with her early-2000s hit.”

One piece of advice the star seems to have taken to heart: Playing nice with ex-husband Eric Johnson. (The two were spotted together at her sister Ashlee Simpson’s Las Vegas residency Aug. 29.) During an interview with E! News, she called the dad of her three kids part of her “happy family,” but the source says she may have ulterior motives.

“This is a classic Kris Jenner move,” explains the insider. “Keep the boys around and keep the family drama going!”