| Jessica Ann Simpson was born on July 10, 1980 in Texas.
Her parents, Tina and Joe Simpson, raised her and her sister, Ashlee Simpson,
in Dallas. Her love for the music emerged since she was a child and sang
in a Baptist church. She attended Richardson North Junior High and then
J.J. Pearce High School in Richardson, Texas, where she was a cheerleader.
She signed her first record contract with a Christian music label that
discovered her in summer camp. But the album never was released because
the company broke. Jessica abandoned high school in her senior year to
pursue her music career. Her grandmother helped Jessica to have a demo
album. She started playing alongside Christian musicians such as God's
Property, CeCe Winans, and Kirk Franklin.
Jessica drew the attention of Casablanca co-owner Tommy Mottola who signed
her to a record contract. In 1999, she released her first studio album
“Sweet Kisses,” which received double platinum. Her single
"I Wanna Love You Forever” placed #3 on Billboard Hot 100 songs
and made it into several European countries. In 2000, she was offered
a role in the movie "Coyote Ugly" but she turned it down.
At the beginning, Jessica remained close to her Christian roots and dressed
in a much more conservatively style than her fellows artists. With the
release of her second album “Irresisitible”, she displayed
her hot side. This twist in her image was propelled by Tommy Mottola,
who expected a greater success for her. A sexier and slimmer Jessica brought
the antipathy of her early fans that looked up to her as a Christian role
model.
In 2002 Jessica married her long time boyfriend Nick Lachey. The pair
met in 1998 while performing at a charity event. After the wedding, she
penned a book titled “I Do: Achieving Your Dream Wedding,”
in which she described details about her own wedding and advices for readers.
During the summer of 2003, Jessica and Nick agreed to star in a MTV reality
show "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica,” what was the skyrocket
to stardom. The show quickly became a smashing hit, making Jessica reached
household name. It averaged 1.4 million viewers per episode.
In the same year, she released her third album “In This Skin,”
which soon became a hit. It was also released a second version of the
album with new songs. Reaching #2 on the charts, the album sold more than
3 million copies in the United States alone. She appeared on "That
70's Show" three times between 2002 and 2003. In addition, Jessica
won three 2003 Teen Choice Awards.
In 2004, Jessica landed with ReJoyce: The Christmas Album, in honor of
her grandmother who had funded her demo album. In addition, Jessica and
Nick appeared on TV special, "The Nick and Jessica Variety Hour."
She launched with “Desser” her own beauty line which featured
lotions and body sprays in flavors such as "cupcake" and "candy."
She placed Maxim magazines "Top 100 Hot List."
In 2005, Simpson started filming "Newlyweds." She earned People's
Choice Award for Favorite Reality Show. Jessica performed Daisy Duke in
the movie “The Dukes Of Hazzard." It reached #1 in the United
States. She recorded a version of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are
Made For Walkin,'" which appeared on the soundtrack.
In November of 2005, Jessica split from Nick and one month later she filed
for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. Jessica bought a $3 million
house in Beverly Hills. The divorce ended in June of 2006.
The pair sold the house made famous in the "Newlyweds" series
to "Malcolm in the Middle" star, Justin Berfield. Despite the
sadness, Jessica did not let her divorce slow her down.
In August of 2006, she released her fourth album “A Public Affair”
on Epic Records, writing ten of thirteen tracks on it. Its video featured
a bunch of popular stars such as Eva Longoria, Christina Applegate, Ryan
Seacrest and Andy Dick. A second single “I Belong to Me" was
later included to her CD. Her second movie project, “Employee of
the Month” arrived on October from that year, co-starred by Dane
Cook and Dax Shepard. In November she began filming "Blonde Ambition"
opposite Luke Wilson, which debuted on theatres August 2007.
Jessica fuelled rumors she dated her co-stars Dane Cook and Luke Wilson.
Then she dated singer John Mayer. But her true love is her Maltipoo dog
Daisy, her loyal companion wherever she goes. Some of Jessica’s
passions include hop pink roses, Mexican fare, vanilla ice cream, chicken-fried
steak. She is huge fan of the film “Pretty Woman” starred
by Julia Roberts.
Jessica is very committed with charity work, serving as Operation Smile's
International Youth Ambassador. The named organization aims to help hildren
with facial deformities. She has also worked with the USO, which provides
entertainment to American troops stationed throughout the world. She has
visited troops in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Oman, Germany and Iraq, as well
as visiting several ships which were stationed in Southwest Asia. She
also travelled to military bases and featured “The Dukes of Hazzard"
to American militaries.
It is rumoured Jessica would record an album together with the actress
Liv Tyler. Jessica is also working in another movie project "Major
Movie Star," due 2008.
Jessica’s efforts all over the years have paid off, turning her
into one of the favorite female songstress in the US.
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