Fergie (singer)

Stacy Ann Ferguson (born March 27, 1975), better known by her stage name Fergie (), is an American singer and rapper. She first achieved chart success as part of the hip hop group the Black Eyed Peas. Her debut solo album, '' The Dutchess'' (2006), saw commercial success and spawned three ''Billboard'' Hot 100 number one singles: "London Bridge", " Glamorous", and "Big Girls Don't Cry". Although she vocally incorporates rapping into some of her performances, she does not consider herself a rapper.

Fergie was originally a member of the children's television series '' Kids Incorporated'' and the girl group Wild Orchid. In 2001, she left the group and in the subsequent year joined the Black Eyed Peas. She worked with the Black Eyed Peas on two albums before releasing her debut solo album, ''The Dutchess'', in 2006. She continued her collaboration with the Black Eyed Peas and released a further two albums with them, '' The E.N.D.'' (2009) and '' The Beginning'' (2010). Her second solo album, '' Double Dutchess'', was released in 2017.

Fergie has additionally appeared in various films, including ''Poseidon'' (2006), '' Grindhouse'' (2007), and '' Nine'' (2009). She launched her first fragrance, ''Outspoken'', under Avon in May 2010 and has since released four more fragrances. Her footwear line, Fergie Footwear, was launched in 2009.

Early life

Ferguson was born in Hacienda Heights, California, to Terri (née Gore) and Jon Patrick Ferguson. Her father died in September 2021 at age 74. She has a younger sister named Dana Ferguson. Her ancestry includes English, Irish, Mexican, and Scottish. She was raised Roman Catholic and attended Mesa Robles Middle School and Glen A. Wilson High School. She was a cheerleader, straight-A student, spelling bee champion, and Girl Scout.

Career

1984–2002: Television, acting and Wild Orchid

Fergie studied dance and began to do voiceover work; she provided the voice for Sally in two made-for-television ''Peanuts'' cartoons, ''It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown'' (1984) and ''Snoopy's Getting Married, Charlie Brown'' (1985), as well as on four episodes of '' The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show''. From 1984 to 1989, she starred on the TV show '' Kids Incorporated'' and was the longest running cast member; she starred in the first six of the show's nine seasons. Fergie was a member of the female trio Wild Orchid, which she fronted with Stefanie Ridel and fellow ''Kids Incorporated'' star Renee Sandstrom. By 1992, the girls began meeting with record labels, but they still could not get a recording contract. They eventually signed a music publishing deal with Sony Publishing before signing a record contract with RCA Records in 1994. In April 2007, she gave an interview in which she admitted that she went on a sex and drugs spree when she turned eighteen, saying: "I have had lesbian experiences in the past. I won't say how many men I've had sex with—but I am a very sexual person."

Wild Orchid released their self-titled debut album in March 1997, which debuted at #153 on the ''Billboard'' 200. In September 1998, they released their second album, ''Oxygen'', which was a commercial failure, only selling 200,000 copies worldwide. From June 16 to August 28, 1999, they opened for Cher's Do You Believe? tour alongside Cyndi Lauper, which took them to 52 cities across the United States and Canada. They completed a third album, which their record label declined to release, and Fergie left the group in September 2001. In 2006, Fergie told ''Entertainment Weekly'' that both frustrations with the band's image and personal drug problems led her to leave Wild Orchid.

2003–2006: Success with the Black Eyed Peas

The Black Eyed Peas were recording their third album, '' Elephunk'' (2003), when will.i.am invited Fergie to try out for a song called " Shut Up". She secured the gig and instantly bonded with the trio, going on to record five additional songs on the album. The following spring, shortly before ''Elephunk'' came out, Interscope chairman Jimmy Iovine offered Fergie a permanent spot to take over vocal duties and fill the void left by background singer Kim Hill's departure in 2000. In a positive review of the Black Eyed Peas' new-found style, ''Rolling Stone'' noted that since 2002, when the group "hired a blond bombshell named Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson and gave up their pursuit of backpack-rapper cred, they have made a kind of spiritual practice of recording futuristic songs – a total aesthetic commitment that extends from their garish wardrobes to their United Colors of Benetton worldview." From ''Elephunk'' came " Where is the Love?", which became the Black Eyed Peas' first major hit: it peaked at number eight on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and topped the charts in several other countries. The album subsequently spawned "Shut Up", which topped the charts in many markets. The third single from the album, " Hey Mama", reached the top 10 in several European countries and later peaked at number twenty-three in the United States in 2004.

Their next album, '' Monkey Business'', was released on June 7, 2005, and debuted at number two on the U.S. ''Billboard'' 200 albums chart, selling over 295,000 copies in its first week and was later certified triple platinum by the RIAA. Their next and last commercially released single from the album was "Pump It", which borrows much of its sound from "Misirlou", specifically Dick Dale's version; it peaked at number 8 in Australia but 18 in America. The album's first single, "Don't Phunk with My Heart", was a hit in the United States, reaching number three on the U.S. Hot 100 and earned them another Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. " Don't Lie", the second single from the album, saw success on the U.S. Hot 100, reaching No. 14, although becoming somewhat more successful in the UK and Australia, reaching a peak of No.6 in both countries. " My Humps", another song from the album, immediately achieved commercial success in the U.S. and fairly substantial radio play despite the sexually suggestive lyrics, reaching number three on the U.S. Hot 100 and number one in Australia, making it their fourth Australian number one single. However, many mocked the song for its poor lyrical content; John Bush, writing for AllMusic, described it as "one of the most embarrassing rap performances of the new millennium". Later in 2005, the Black Eyed Peas toured with Gwen Stefani, as supporting act. In December 2005, they embarked on the "European Tour". In March 2006, the Black Eyed Peas toured again, as the featured headliner for the Honda Civic Tour.

2006–2008: ''The Dutchess''

Fergie's debut solo album, '' The Dutchess'', was released in September 2006. It was initially recorded in 2005. The songs on the album are "from a seven-year period, but nterscope CEOJimmy Iovine heard some racksand was like, 'This is great, let's put it out'. One of the album's executive producers and fellow Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am stated that she was "writing about her personal struggles and casting her demons away and feminine power. t'sher singing for young girls to be strong, and what they're going through in life, just growing up in this world of uncertainty." "London Bridge" was released as the album's lead single on July 18, 2006, to radio stations and on August 7, 2006, on the iTunes Store. The urban pop track caused controversy due to its double entendre title, but became a huge success, topping the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 (for three weeks) and New Zealand charts, while also reaching the top-ten in over twelve countries. The music video for the song features the Black Eyed Peas members as well as Fergie on the Tower Bridge, among other scenes.

The following single, "Fergalicious", was released on October 23, 2006. The track, which features will.i.am, managed to reach number two on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, the top-five in Australia and New Zealand, although it peaked lower than "London Bridge" in Europe. Its music video features Fergie as Willy Wonka in a candy factory. " Glamorous" was released as the third single from the album, on February 20, 2007. The track, which features Ludacris, became another number-one single for Fergie in the United States, and also reached the top-ten in over seven countries. The fourth single, "Big Girls Don't Cry", was released on May 22, 2007. The ballad became a huge success worldwide, topping the charts of ten countries, including Australia, Canada and the United States; it was also the album's most successful single in Europe. The music video for the song features American actor Milo Ventimiglia as her love interest. " Clumsy" was then selected to be the fifth and final single of the album. It was released on September 25, 2007 and became a top-ten hit in five countries, including in Australia and the United States, becoming her fifth consecutive top-five hit in the U.S.

In December 2007, ''Blender'' picked Fergie as their woman of the year. In 2007, the Black Eyed Peas embarked on the Black Blue & You World Tour and visited more than 20 countries. Fergie returned to acting in 2006, appearing as a lounge singer in the ''Poseidon'' remake. She later had supporting roles in 2007's '' Grindhouse'' and the 2009 musical film '' Nine''. Fergie and other members of the cast of ''Nine'' received a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture nomination for their performance in that film. On December 31, 2006, Fergie began hosting ''Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve'' on ABC for the pre-taped Hollywood segments after the New Year Ball came down in Times Square. In 2008, Fergie signed a deal with Brown Shoe

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