Nick Lachey: Opens up about split with Jessica, life with Vanessa, 'Idol' duet

Nick Lachey: Opens up about split with Jessica, life with Vanessa, 'Idol' duet

Although the former 98 Degrees singer Nick Lachey is perhaps still best known for his ill-fated marriage to Jessica Simpson and their reality show, "Newlyweds", the singer spoke out in an interview and in the "The Billy Bush Show" there was no big secret behind their famous split.

As Lachey was asked by Billy as to why his relationship with Jessica ended, he said, "It's life, man."

"Why does any marriage end? There are probably more reasons than either one of us will ever understand or want to talk about," he said. "Sometimes people are in your life for a period of time for a reason and... that situation changes."

Nick Lachey's ex has been a hot topic in recent weeks thanks to a fuller figure in her latest public appearances, but Nick thinks there are important things to talk about.

"That that is front-cover news, to me that's sad and... really kind of shocking," he said, adding that he hasn't talked to Jessica about it. "I wish her absolutely nothing but the best but she and I are not involved in each other's lives. We don't communicate."

Lachey also spoke out on a recent rumor that Jessica's father, Joe Simpson, had squeezed Nick out of a deal for a workout video with Jessica.

"It has to be possible on some level but I will not comment on that," he said, laughing.

And as for his current girlfriend, Vanessa Minnillo , he said things are just fine despite his solo appearance in Tampa for the Super Bowl.

"She had work," he said. "She loves sports...she would have loved to have been there."

Though the couple's been together for years, he said there's "no timetable" on their relationship.

"We love each other and we'll see where it goes from there," he said.

First, he has an "upbeat" new album, "Coming Up For Air," due later this year.

One track on the release is "Temporary" - on which he duets with new "American Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi .

"She and I wrote it together," he said. "Initially, just in the studio, we thought, 'All right, let's sing it together and then we'll maybe find someone else to be on it' but she did such a great job on it."

"They've touched on it quite a bit on the show," he added. "People have caught a glimpse of what a great artist she is."