Ashlee Simpson reveals she never felt the ‘need to be like’ sister Jessica but says they’ve always been ‘very close’

Ashlee Simpson has made her own way as a singer and actor, but the 39-year-old is often best known as Jessica Simpson’s younger sister. 

While appearing on the podcast, Broad Ideas with Rachel Bilson & Olivia Allen, the Pieces of Me singer opened up about her relationship with the singer and clothing designer.

Ashlee explained she and the Irresistible hitmaker, 43, are extremely close, but have had their differences in the past. 

‘At times there were moments, maybe it was on tour, I was like, (waves her hands) “Hey, look at me over here,” but our relationship, as a whole, has always been very  close,’ she told listeners. 

‘We share friends,’ she said, adding that her pals were also ‘best friends’ with her older sibling. 

The Hot Chick actress said she ‘grew up dancing and theater and weird and entertaining,’ as a child.

She would often do younger sister-type stuff to ’embarrass and annoy’ Jessica when they were younger, but never felt she was in her shadow.

‘I felt like my own person,’ she stated, adding she never felt the ‘need to be like’ her sister, who signed with Columbia Records in 1997, aged seventeen.

Getting married, divorced, re-married and becoming mothers has also helped the two bond.

Ashlee is mom to Bronx, 13, whom she shares with her ex-husband Pete Wentz, 44. 

She is now married to Evan Ross, 35, and they share two children, Jagger, eight, and Ziggy, three. 

Jessica was married to 98 Degrees singer Nick Lachey, from 2002-2006, and married former NFL player Eric Johnson, 44, in 2014. 

They share three children, Maxwell, 11, Ace, 10 and Birdie, four. 

Ashlee revealed on the Broad Ideas with Rachel Bilson & Olivia Allen podcast that she and Jessica were very different growing up but never felt she was in her sister’s shadow.  ‘I felt like my own person,’ she stated and she ‘never felt ‘I need to be like my sister’  (Pictured in New York in May 2004)

Becoming wives and mothers has also helped the sisters maintain their bond. ‘I think there’s a strength there, there’s a comfort,’ she said

Ashlee credits their mother, Tina, 64, for seeing their differences and giving each what she needed.  ‘Now that we’re all parents,’ she explained, ‘we finally get like, the other side’ 

‘I think my sister’s a really strong person and she, as well, has been through so much,’ she said admiringly.

‘I think there’s a strength there, there’s a comfort, there’s something no one would understand but us, and I’ve been so lucky to have that.’

Ashlee credits their mother, Tina, 64, for seeing their differences and giving each what she needed.

‘My mom really would pay attention and see me, like, if I needed something different or like she would make that time, you know…now that we’re all parents we finally get like, the other side,’ she said.