Jessica Simpson Gets Candid About Childhood Sexual Abuse (Video)

Jessica Simpson is getting candid about her past.

The 39-year-old singer and entrepreneur sat down for an interview with Hoda Kotb for TODAY Wednesday (January 29) about her memoir Open Book, out on February 4.

PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Jessica Simpson

“At the time I didn’t really understand what was happening. I knew something was wrong. I knew it was wrong what was going on. This was a very close person, and she was being abused. It happened throughout a long time in my life,” she said of being abused by a family friend at the age of six.

“I was a preacher’s daughter. I was taught to be a virgin until I got married, and so I never wanted to share these sexual things that were happening because I didn’t want to hurt anybody.”

She went on to explain how she finally worked up the courage to say something.

“My parents’ reaction — they did the best that they could. That’s a heavy thing to hear from your child. They ignored it with their words, for sure, but they took action, and I never had to do the sleepovers again. I never had to go back.”

READ MORE: Jessica Simpson Shares Photo Near Kobe Bryant Crash Scene

Watch Jessica Simpson speak out inside…