Jessica Simpson Overcame This Huge Hurdle To Publish Her Memoir

From her days on Newlyweds to her 2020 memoir, Open Book, singer-turned-fashion mogul Jessica Simpson has always been candid about her life — both the ups and the downs. So it should come as no surprise to fans that, while discussing the critically-acclaimed audiobook version of her memoir, the business mogul and singer revealed another secret: She has dyslexia.

"I'm dyslexic and this was the first time I have ever read out loud without hesitation. I did it for the listener. I did it for my family. I did it for myself," she wrote on Instagram.

"Dyslexia is a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words (decoding)," according to the Mayo Clinic. "...People with dyslexia have normal intelligence and usually have normal vision."

Living with dyslexia isn't the only struggle that Simpson, 40, has opened up about since the publication of her No. 1 New York Times best-selling memoir. The book also details her experiences with alcohol and sleeping pill addiction, childhood sexual abuse, bullying, and negative body image, per The New Yorker.

Jessica Simpson isn't alone in her struggle with dyslexia. The disorder may affect between 5 to 17 percent of the population, according to the University of Michigan's DyslexiaHelp.com. In fact, there are many in the entertainment industry who've opened up about their own learning disabilities.

Actors including Vince Vaughn, Henry Winkler, Salma Hayek, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom, Tom Cruise, and Whoopi Goldberg have all publicly discussed dealing with dyslexia. TV personalities Anderson Cooper (pictured) and Jamie Oliver, as well as legendary musician Cher have also overcome the learning disorder. 

CNN anchor Cooper told Oprah.com about his early struggles with reading and what eventually helped him cope. "As a child, I had a problem reading. I had a mild form of dyslexia where I would see some letters backward, and I had to go to a special reading instructor. One way she helped was to encourage me to find books that I was really passionate about."

There's no doubt that Simpson's story will also serve as a source of inspiration for others contending with similar challenges.