Jessica Simpson is an American pop singer and actress who have delivered many hit singles and chart topping numbers in the late 1990s. She also has three gold and two multi-platinum RIAA-certified albums to her credit. Besides this, this crooning diva has tried her hands at acting too and lent her name to many television shows and a handful of movies like ‘TheDukes of Hazzard’. In fact she starred with her then-husband Nick Lachey in the MTV reality show Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica.
Born as Jessica Ann Simpson on July 10 1980 in Dallas, TX, she had her heart set out on entering the show biz since early childhood. In fact, she began singing in the church choir at the age of 12 which boosted her confidence and she went on to audition for the Mickey Mouse Club. But as luck would have it, she failed to get the part which later went to Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Never one to lose hope, Jessica pursued her dream of singing with passion and in the summer of 1993, while at a church camp she got discovered by the head of a Contemporary Christian music label and spent the next three years crafting her debut album. The label, however, folded before the record could be released, although a small pressing was eventually funded by her grandmother. Nevertheless, the teen became a hit on the Christian Youth Conference circuit, also sharing bills with Kirk Franklin, God's Property, and CeCe Winans.
Simpson attended Richardson, Texas public schools, including Richardson North Junior High and J.J.PearceHigh School. Her business is managed by her father, Joe Truett Simpson. Her older sister is Ashlee Simpson, who is also a pop rock singer.
Career in Music and Movies
Jessica’s talent got recognized when she was signed on by Sony, with whom she released her first single, "I Wanna Love You Forever," which peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Followed closely was her album, Sweet Kisses. Soon after, she began her album’s promotional tour with the boy band, 98 Degrees. Jessica also starred in one of their music videos alongside Nick Lachey, one the band members whom she started dating seriously for 2 years before getting married in 2002.
With the release of her second single, “I Think I'm In Love With You” in 2001 became Simpson's biggest radio hit at that point, her debut album went on becoming a double platinum and sold 2 million copies worldwide. She was however, still a mile short of her contemporaries, Aguilera and Spears whose debut albums came out in the same year.
Her second album Irresistible with Columbia records saw her going in for an image make and music make over with radio-friendly, up-tempo tracks. The new sound and image helped make "Irresistible" one of the biggest hits of her career; it peaked at # 15 on the Hot 100. "Irresistible" debuted at # 6 in June 2001 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart, and has sold 825,000 copies to date.
Simpson got a chance to first handedly experience the world of teledom when she started starring in MTV’s reality show, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica and her new husband Nick Lachey in the summer of 2003. Simpson's third album, In This Skin, was released in August of 2003 to coincide with the series premiere of Newlyweds. It contained singles like “With You” and was declared quadruple platinum. The show proved to be huge hit making Simpson a household name.
On May 30, 2004, Simpson was chosen to sing the National Anthem at the Indianapolis 500 and also won three Teen Choice Awards: Female Fashion Icon, Choice Hottie Female, and Female Reality/Variety TV Star for Newlyweds.
The couple later also starred in the television special The Nick and Jessica Variety Hour, which aired in 2004. In the same year, Simpson released ReJoyce: The Christmas Album which peaked at # 14 on the album chart and was later certified gold.
In 2005, Newlyweds won a People's Choice Award for Favorite Reality Show before wrapping shortly after. Later part of the year, saw her debuting on the movie circuit with the remake of The Dukes of Hazzard playing the role of Daisy Duke. The film was #1 at the box office its opening weekend and grossed $110.5 million world-wide. She also appeared on the film's soundtrack, releasing "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'", a cover of the 1966 Nancy Sinatra hit winning a People's Choice Award for Favorite Song from a Movie in 2006
Simpson's second film, Employee of the Month, was released October 6, 2006 which earned much but was not taken well by the critics. Her fourth album A Public Affair, was released on August 29, 2006 via Epic Records selling 101,000 copies in its first week. The music video for "A Public Affair" featured Eva Longoria, Christina Applegate, Christina Milian, Maria Menounos, Andy Dick and Ryan Seacrest. At the Kennedy Center Awards while paying tribute to the famous Dolly Parton, she botched up the lyrics for a song and later regretted it very much.
Simpson has launched her own line of hair and beauty products just like her many counterparts. Besides this, she has appeared in various commercials, namely for Pizza Hut and Proactiv Solution and Ice Breakers, where she appeared alongside her sister, Ashlee.
Her future projects include Blonde Ambition, a movie opposite Luke Wilson due to release in 2008, another movies called "The Witness" For whom she will began filming and a country album that is still in consideration. In addition, Jessica will also be publishing a book containing selections from her personal journal and photographs, titled "Look Up To the Sky".
Her marriage to Nick Lachey ended in 2005, with the couple filing for divorce in December16, 2005. Simpson dated John Mayer for over 9 months staring August 2006 but the couple soon split up in May of 2007.
Simpson is Operation Smile’s International Youth Ambassador and in the year 2007 had donated a new Chrysler minivan to the Elim orphanage in Nuevo Laredo.
The lady is raring to go with her new plans to graze the international pop and movie scene once again.
