"I got thrown a real twist of fate in the middle of making this record," the star tells PEOPLE Jessica Simpson’s first song from her new EP: Nashville Canyon: Part 1 drops this week and she reveals the story behind her very personal songs,

Jessica Simpson says Eric Johnson "will always be" part of her life after she announced their separation last month. The singer, who is releasing her new music this week, reflected on her former relationship with Johnson in an exclusive interview with People in this week's issue, and opened up about how music has healed her.

Jessica Simpson—who announced her separation from husband Eric Johnson in January—detailed the “intense yet enlightening” aftermath of their split.