At just age 2, when most toddlers are reciting nursery rhymes, Jessie James Decker was belting out country music with the confidence of a seasoned star. Long before she graced the music charts or became a familiar face on television, her powerhouse voice was already turning heads.
“My dream was always to be a country singer-songwriter and to perform at the Grand Ole Opry,” Decker says. “When I was 9, I even drew a picture of myself performing on the Opry stage. Now, I’ve played there at least 10 times.”
At 37, Decker has surpassed her childhood dreams. Her first album, “Jessie James,” was released in 2009 and reached No. 23 on the Billboard 200. Her second album, 2017’s “Southern Girl City Lights,” debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, followed by her Christmas album, “On This Holiday,” in 2018.
While she has always believed in the power of manifesting, Decker admits her life has grown in ways she never could have imagined.
This summer she celebrated 12 years of marriage to retired NFL wide receiver Eric Decker, 38, and today she’s juggling life as a mom of four with running a thriving lifestyle empire. She has launched a cookware collection with Walmart and QVC; created a fashion brand, Kittenish; and authored three cookbooks, with a fourth coming out next fall.
“I’ve always loved cooking, but I don’t pretend to be a trained chef,” Decker explains. “I’m a home cook who loves making nightly meals for my family.”
Decker began sharing recipes and cooking demos on Instagram, where fans quickly took notice. The enthusiastic response inspired her to write “Just Jessie: My Guide to Love, Life, Family, and Food,” published in 2018. She followed it up in 2020 with “Just Feed Me: Simply Delicious Recipes from My Heart to Your Plate.” In 2023, she released her third cookbook, “Just Eat: More Than 100 Easy and Delicious Recipes that Feel Just Like Home.”
“I never imagined having a cooking collection, but now it feels like such a big part of who I am,” Decker says. “It really grew out of me being a mom and cooking for my family every day.”
One of Decker’s most requested family meals is her signature seafood gumbo.
“When we came back from visiting Italy this summer, the kids were maxed out on pasta,” Decker explains with a laugh. “The first thing they asked me to make when we got home was seafood gumbo.”
In addition to Southern staples, Decker, who lives in Nashville, loves whipping up hearty one-pot meals based on whatever is in the kitchen.
“Whether it’s a chicken and rice or a comfort dish like chili, I’m constantly coming up with new recipes based on the ingredients I have on hand,” she says. “I’ve always been a creative cook, and I love feeding my family healthy meals.”
That creativity seems to have paid off. None of her four children — Vivianne, 11; Eric Jr., 10; Forrest, 7; and Denver, 1½ — are picky eaters.
“They eat anything and everything and are very brave about trying new foods,” Decker says proudly. “I think it’s because I introduced them to great food early on. Vivianne had her first bowl of gumbo at 8 months old.”
Decker credits her upbringing for her flavor-first parenting style.
“That’s how I grew up,” she says. “I have pictures of me as a baby eating a bowl of Cajun red beans and rice. If you start kids off with lots of flavors, that’s what they’ll grow to love. Thankfully, all of mine have a great palate.”
A Star Is Born
This year, Decker is stepping into a brand-new spotlight — this time on the big screen. The singer, entrepreneur and TV personality is making her first appearance as an actor in “Karen Kingsbury’s The Christmas Ring,” which opens in theaters Nov. 6.
“It’s a great way to make my acting debut, and I just feel so fortunate,” says Decker, who plays the role of Leigh, the supportive best friend of Vanessa (played by actress and fellow country singer Jana Kramer), a military widow who falls for a charming antiques dealer. The movie also stars Kelsey Grammer, Benjamin Hollingsworth and Debbie Winans.
While Decker and her husband previously shared their lives on the E! reality series “Eric and Jessie: Game On,” this film marks her first venture into scripted acting.
“I’ve never acted before, but it’s a great role, and I’m really excited,” she admits.
Decker isn’t one to shy away from a new challenge. In addition to her music career and cooking ventures, she’s the founder and creative force behind the fashion brand Kittenish. Decker isn’t just the face of the brand — she’s hands-on with the creative process.
“I’ve been designing and sketching since I was in high school,” she says. “I love fashion so much, and my earliest designs were pieces I wanted to wear on stage.”
That personal style resonated with her fans.
“Girls would come to my shows dressed like me, and I didn’t realize that I had a ‘look’ until I saw all these girls in cutoff jeans, flannels and bandanas and cowboy boots,” she recalls. “And I remember thinking, ‘Wow, I have a look.’”
Decker began re-creating her signature style and sharing it with the world, starting small but quickly growing into a fashion line now sold at Kohl’s and her clothing boutique in Nashville. Her brand has become known for fun, feminine designs that aim to boost confidence and celebrate personal taste.
Her latest summer collection for Kohl’s included six dresses, three matching sets, one romper and a versatile jumpsuit — each in fresh colors and vibrant prints.
“I want women to feel pretty in my designs,” Decker says. “That’s my goal when I’m creating each piece.”
She’s also pleased that her brand’s swimwear line has been featured in Miami Swim Week, which showcases the best beach fashions from designers around the globe.
Decker credits her success, in part, to a mindset instilled by her mom: If you set your mind to something and truly believe in yourself, you can make it happen. It’s a lesson she and Eric have passed on to their own children.
“I always knew, even as a little girl, that I was going to be on stage performing,” she says. “But life also throws surprises. I didn’t have any idea I’d have four children or that I would be launching these other businesses.”
She advises women who want to start their own business to take their time.
“Don’t rush the process,” Decker says. “I’ve made my share of mistakes, just like any founder, and I’ve learned a lot of lessons along the way. Timing matters, but it’s also important to have a clear strategy, a solid game plan and the right team beside you.”
Eric has been her biggest fan as she has pursued her dreams.
“I couldn’t do any of this without him,” Decker says. “He’s my partner in life and my biggest supporter. Eric also manifested his dream of becoming an NFL player — he got to play at the highest level and even go to the Super Bowl.”
Now that Eric has retired, Decker says he’s embracing life’s quieter moments.
“He enjoys working in the garden. He helps with the babies and plays a big role in operating Kittenish,” she says. “He lived out his career dream, and now he gets to be a husband and dad. I couldn’t do it without him — he’s the one who keeps everything balanced.”
The family also treasures their time off together, with South Florida ranking among their favorite getaway destinations.
“I’ve been vacationing in Florida since I was a little girl. It’s our second home, and we go there often,” Decker says. “Anyone who knows me knows that Florida and the beach are my happy place.”
Looking To The Future
In addition to co-starring in a movie with fellow country queen Kramer, Decker recently released a single with her, “Do It in Heels.”
“I’m going to be putting out more music this year,” Decker says. “I’ve got a Christmas project and some really exciting things in the works.”
While music remains a top priority, she’s hitting pause on touring — for now.
“I’m taking this time just to be with the kids, but I’ll eventually go back on the road again,” she says. “They’re only little for such a short time, and I feel like they really need me. I can’t imagine being on the road and away from them right now.”
Photos Courtesy Of Cupshe