Jessica Simpson
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Jessica Ann Simpson (born July 10, 1980) is an American singer, actress, entrepreneur and philanthropist. After performing in church choirs as a child, Simpson signed with
Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. It was founded on January 15, 1889, evolving from the A ...
in 1997, aged seventeen. Her debut studio album, ''
Sweet Kisses ''Sweet Kisses'' is the debut studio album by American singer Jessica Simpson, released in the United States on November 23, 1999, by Columbia Records. Its lyrical and visual representations carry the common theme of virginal innocence, a continu ...
'' (1999), sold two million copies in the United States and saw the commercial success of the single "
I Wanna Love You Forever "I Wanna Love You Forever" is the debut single of American recording artist Jessica Simpson. The song was released on August 30, 1999, by Columbia Records as the lead single from Simpson's debut studio album, '' Sweet Kisses'' (1999). Written an ...
". Simpson adopted a more mature image for her second studio album, '' Irresistible'' (2001), and its title track became her second top 20 entry on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, while the album was certified
gold Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from la, aurum) and atomic number 79. This makes it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. It is a bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile ...
by the
Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/ ...
(RIAA). '' In This Skin'' (2003), Simpson's third studio album, sold three million copies in the United States. Jessica’s memoir, Open Book, debuted at #1 on three categories of the New York Times bestseller list, and became an instant global bestseller, receiving many accolades including the Time’s“100 must-read books of 2020.” The book is sold in over one hundred and twenty-one countries. Jessica signed a multi-media deal with Amazon that includes a scripted coming-of-age series based on Open Book, now in post-production. She has also penned a series of essays through Amazon Original Stories. During her earlier career, Simpson became known for her relationship with and later marriage to Nick Lachey, with whom she also appeared on the
MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
reality television series '' Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica'' between 2003 and 2005. Following the release of her first
Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year ...
album '' ReJoyce: The Christmas Album'' (2004), which was certified gold, Simpson made her film debut as Daisy Duke in '' The Dukes of Hazzard'' (2005). She also recorded a cover of " These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" for the film's soundtrack. In 2006, she released her fifth studio album ''
A Public Affair ''A Public Affair'' is the fifth studio album by American pop singer Jessica Simpson. The album was released on August 26, 2006 in the United States by Epic Records. The album is Simpson's first effort following her divorce from Nick Lachey. Th ...
'' and appeared in the romantic comedy film '' Employee of the Month''. With the release of her sixth studio album '' Do You Know'' (2008), Simpson moved into the
country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...
genre. An enthusiastic philanthropist, Jessica serves as Operation Smile's International Youth Ambassador. She joined the Operation Smile international medical mission in Nakuru, Kenya where she assisted the volunteer team with the medical evaluations of the more than 280 children who visited the remote region with the hopes of receiving life-changing corrective surgery for their facial deformities. Aside from her musical pursuits, Simpson launched The Jessica Simpson Collection in 2005, a fashion focused line with 34 product categories. To date, the brand has earned over $1 billion in revenue and is the most successful celebrity licensing brand in history. She also starred on the reality television series '' The Price of Beauty'' in 2010, judged clothing designs on two seasons of '' Fashion Star'' between 2012 and 2013.  Simpson is married to Eric Johnson, with whom she has three children.


Life and career


1980–1998: Childhood and career beginnings

Simpson was born on July 10, 1980, in Abilene, Texas. She is the first child of Tina Ann Simpson (née Drew), a homemaker, and Joseph Simpson, a psychologist and
Baptist Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only ( believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul c ...
youth minister. Simpson's parents married in 1978; they divorced in 2013. Simpson has stated that she grew up in
Dallas Dallas () is the third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 million people. It is the largest city in and seat of Dallas County ...
and
Waco Waco ( ) is the county seat of McLennan County, Texas, United States. It is situated along the Brazos River and I-35, halfway between Dallas and Austin. The city had a 2020 population of 138,486, making it the 22nd-most populous city in the s ...
, but her parents now live in McGregor, Texas. Simpson has a younger sister, Ashlee. In her preteens she briefly attended Amelia Middle School while her father did outreach in
Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line w ...
. After moving back to Texas 20 months later, she attended
J. J. Pearce High School J. J. Pearce High School is a high school located in Richardson, Texas, United States. It is named after Joseph Jones “J.J.” Pearce, the superintendent for the Richardson Independent School District (RISD) from 1946 to 1977. In 2018, it had a ...
in
Richardson Richardson may refer to: People * Richardson (surname), an English and Scottish surname * Richardson Gang, a London crime gang in the 1960s * Richardson Dilworth, Mayor of Philadelphia (1956-1962) Places Australia * Richardson, Australian Capi ...
during her teenage years, though she had to drop out in 1997 as her career began to take off; a year later she later earned her GED via distance learning through Texas Tech High School. Simpson was raised in the Christian faith, and was given a purity ring by her father when she was twelve years old. Jessica and her family moved frequently due to her father's job as a minister, though they remained in Texas for the most part; however, they did live in
the Midwest The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of the United States. I ...
for a few years. She began singing in the church choir as a child. When she was eleven, she dreamed of success as a singer while at a church retreat. Simpson auditioned for ''
The Mickey Mouse Club ''The Mickey Mouse Club'' is an American variety television show that aired intermittently from 1955 to 1996 and returned to social media in 2017. Created by Walt Disney and produced by Walt Disney Productions, the program was first televised ...
'' at the age of twelve, auditioning with a performance of " Amazing Grace" and dancing to " Ice Ice Baby" (1990). She advanced through multiple rounds, eventually being a semi-finalist for the show alongside artists such as
Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the " Princess of Pop", she is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. After appearing in stage producti ...
, Christina Aguilera, and Justin Timberlake. Simpson claimed that she became nervous about her final audition after seeing Aguilera perform, and she was not selected for the show, ultimately. Simpson resumed performing in her church choir, being discovered by the head of a Christian music label eventually. He asked her for an audition initially and signed her immediately after she performed " I Will Always Love You" (1973) by
Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, known primarily for her work in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album ...
. She began working on her debut album with Proclaim Records and touring to promote the project. Jessica's father later claimed that she had to quit touring as the size of her breasts led to her being deemed too "sexual" for the genre. Her debut album, ''Jessica'', remained unreleased after Proclaim Records went bankrupt; despite this, her grandmother funded a limited pressing of the album personally. Shortly after this, Simpson landed several auditions as ''Jessica'' was sent to numerous labels and producers. Ultimately, she caught the attention of
Tommy Mottola Thomas Daniel Mottola (born July 14, 1948) is an American music executive, producer and author. Mottola is currently the Chairman of Mottola Media Group and was previously the Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment, parent of the Columb ...
, then married to
Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Referred to as the " Songbird Supreme", she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the w ...
and the head of
Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. It was founded on January 15, 1889, evolving from the A ...
. He went on to sign her to the label, claiming "She had a great little look and a great attitude, a fresh new face, and something a bit different than Britney and all of them; she could actually sing." Simpson began working on her debut album in
Orlando, Florida Orlando () is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures re ...
. Mottola hoped to market Simpson as a contrast to Spears and Aguilera, both of whom had launched successful careers focused on dancing and sexuality. While working on her musical debut, Simpson enlisted her father Joe as her manager; her mother became her stylist. While at a Christmas party in 1998, Simpson met 98 Degrees singer Nick Lachey, and the two began dating; Lachey claimed that he left the party and told his mother that he would marry Simpson someday.


1999–2001: Breakthrough with early musical releases

Simpson began working on her debut studio album in 1998. Mottola wanted Simpson to embrace an "anti-sex appeal" image while promoting the record, in contrast to those of highly successful artists
Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the " Princess of Pop", she is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. After appearing in stage producti ...
and Christina Aguilera. He believed the image would make Simpson more "relatable" to listeners, therefore aiding in sales. Simpson went on to announce her plans to remain abstinent until marriage as a result of Mottola's decision. Her debut single, "
I Wanna Love You Forever "I Wanna Love You Forever" is the debut single of American recording artist Jessica Simpson. The song was released on August 30, 1999, by Columbia Records as the lead single from Simpson's debut studio album, '' Sweet Kisses'' (1999). Written an ...
" (1999), was released on September 28. The single became a success in numerous territories, most notably reaching number three on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in the United States. The song earned a platinum certification from the
Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/ ...
(RIAA) for sales exceeding one million copies in the country. The album had some success in other territories as well, most notably in several European countries. Simpson's debut studio album, ''
Sweet Kisses ''Sweet Kisses'' is the debut studio album by American singer Jessica Simpson, released in the United States on November 23, 1999, by Columbia Records. Its lyrical and visual representations carry the common theme of virginal innocence, a continu ...
'' (1999), was released on November 23. The album sold 65,000 copies in its first week of release, debuting at number sixty-five on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart in the United States. To promote the record, " Where You Are" (2000) was released as the second single from the album; Simpson's boyfriend Nick Lachey was featured on the track. "
I Think I'm in Love with You "I Think I'm in Love with You" is a song written and produced by Cory Rooney and Dan Shea for Jessica Simpson's 1999 debut album, '' Sweet Kisses''. It contains a sample of singer-songwriter John Mellencamp's "Jack & Diane" (1982) and was rele ...
" (2000) served as the album's third and final single and achieved success in territories such as the United States. With the success of the album's third single, ''Sweet Kisses'' rose to a new peak of number twenty-five on the ''Billboard'' 200 in August 2000. "Jessica Simpson – Chart history" ''Billboard'' Hot 100 for Jessica Simpson The album sold over two million copies in the United States, earning a double platinum certification from the RIAA.Jessica Simpson
Recording Industry Association of America
Simpson embarked on the Heat It Up Tour with her boyfriend's band, 98 Degrees, as their opening act to promote ''Sweet Kisses'' throughout 2000.Jessica Simpson - Biography & History
AllMusic
Work on her second album began in 2000, opting to record more "radio-friendly" and upbeat songs for the record. During the recording of the album, Simpson adopted a more mature public image, a decision Simpson and her record label made in hopes to achieve the success of artists such as Spears. While working on the record, Simpson ended her relationship with Lachey to focus on furthering her career; however, the two reconciled romantically that September. In a July 2001 interview with ''Coventry Newspapers'', Simpson explained "I recorded 'Sweet Kisses''when I was seventeen years old and I'm twenty-one his monthso there is four years of growth involved." Simpson released the record's title track, " Irresistible" (2001) as the lead single from the project in April. The single received a generally mixed reaction from critics due to its sexual themes, though it became her second top twenty hit on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. Simpson released her second studio album, '' Irresistible'' (2001), in May. The album sold 127,000 copies in the United States during its first week of release, debuting at number six on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart. Though the album's first week sales nearly doubled those of her previous effort, ''Irresistible'' failed to match the success of her debut album; the record earned a gold certification from the RIAA for sales of 500,000 copies. "
A Little Bit "A Little Bit" is a song recorded by American recording artist Jessica Simpson. It was written by Kara DioGuardi, Steve Morales and David Siegel, and was produced by Morales along with Ric Wake. The song was released as the second and final si ...
" (2001), the album's second and final single, failed to achieve much success. To promote the record, Simpson embarked as a co-headliner on the Total Request Live Tour (2001) alongside artists such as
Destiny's Child Destiny's Child was an American girl group whose final line-up comprised Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. The group began their musical career as Girl's Tyme, formed in 1990 in Houston, Texas. After years of limited ...
and Nelly. She later left the tour to launch her own
DreamChaser Tour ''Irresistible'' is the second studio album by American recording artist Jessica Simpson, released on May 25, 2001, through Columbia Records. Simpson, who began working on the project in July 2000, contacted already established w ...
(2001), for which Simpson added choreography and backup dancers to her performances; the tour was canceled following the
September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. That morning, nineteen terrorists hijacked four commer ...
.


2002–2005: Marriage to Nick Lachey and heightened success

Simpson announced her engagement to Nick Lachey in February 2002, with the two holding their wedding ceremony on October 26 in
Austin, Texas Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most-populous city ...
. Simpson also began working on her third studio album in 2002. The album's lead single, " Sweetest Sin" (2003), dealt with the topic of Simpson losing her virginity to Lachey lyrically. The song failed to achieve commercial success. Simpson's father pitched an idea to
MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
about a reality show starring the couple, resulting in the creation of '' Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica''. The series focused on the marriage between
Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the " King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over ...
and Lisa Marie Presley initially, but the two backed out, allowing Simpson and Lachey to replace them. The show, which focused on the couple's marriage and the recording of Simpson's third studio album primarily, premiered on August 19, 2003. The show became a pop culture phenomenon instantly, with Simpson's perceived "dumb blonde" antics on the show helping to make the couple a household name.Levy, Ariel (2004)
"Queen of the Boob Tube"
Blender.com (Retrieved January 30, 2007)
The series was a ratings success for MTV and aired for three seasons until 2005. Simpson's third studio album, '' In This Skin'' (2003), was released the day that ''Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica'' premiered, with the show serving as a promotional tool for the record. ''In This Skin'' debuted at number ten on the ''Billboard'' 200, selling 64,000 copies in its first week of release. The album's opening numbers served as the lowest of Simpson's career at the time. ''In This Skin'' quickly declined the chart, and by December 2003 had sold just over 565,000 copies in the United States. Simpson released " With You" (2003) as the second single from the album in October. The single became a hit, reaching the top twenty of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and topping the Mainstream Top 40 chart based on radio airplay. Simpson appeared in the halftime show of the
Super Bowl XXXVIII Super Bowl XXXVIII was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Carolina Panthers and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League (NFL) ch ...
. She recorded new material for a re-release of ''In This Skin'', which was released in March 2004. The re-release aided in album sales dramatically; ''In This Skin'' went on to sell three million copies in the United States. Both " Take My Breath Away" (2004) and " Angels" (2004) were released as singles from the re-release. Simpson and Lachey starred in the ABC special ''The Nick and Jessica Variety Hour'' in April, which featured guest appearances by celebrities such as Jewel and Mr. T, among others. That same month, she launched her Jessica Simpson Desserts by Jessica Simpson cosmetics line along with Randi Shinder; all of the products in the line were edible. Simpson embarked on her Reality Tour (2004) throughout North America beginning in June; the tour was a financial success, and ended in October. During this time, Simpson and her husband began making guest appearances on '' The Ashlee Simpson Show'', chronicling the start of Jessica's sister's music career. Simpson's fourth studio album, a collection of
Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year ...
themed songs titled '' ReJoyce: The Christmas Album'' (2004), was released on November 23. The album reached a peak of number fourteen on the ''Billboard'' 200, and was certified gold by the RIAA for sales exceeding 500,000 copies. Also in 2004, Simpson filmed a
sitcom A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ...
pilot for ABC, which the network did not pick-up. In February 2005, Simpson and Shinder launched the Dessert Treats edible cosmetics line, similar to their prior line but targeted towards a younger audience. Both lines were canceled following a string of lawsuits. Simpson performed "
The Star-Spangled Banner "The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States. The lyrics come from the "Defence of Fort M'Henry", a poem written on September 14, 1814, by 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key after witnessing the ...
" at the Indy 500 in 2005. Simpson launched The Jessica Simpson Collection in 2005, initially partnering with Tarrant Apparel Group to release the Princy and JS by Jessica Simpson clothing lines. The company has continued to grow throughout the years, and in 2014 was reported to earn $1 billion in annual sales. Simpson made her film debut as Daisy Duke in the film adaption of '' The Dukes of Hazzard'' (2005). While the film was met with negative reviews from film critics generally, it grossed over $111 million worldwide. Simpson recorded the song " These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" (2005) to promote the film; it both samples and shares the title of a Nancy Sinatra song. The song entered the top twenty of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, becoming one Simpson's most successful singles to date. The music video, which featured Simpson in character as Daisy Duke, was controversial for featuring Simpson in "revealing" outfits and washing the General Lee car in her bikini. The controversy resulted in the music video being banned in some countries. In November 2005, Simpson and Lachey announced they were separating. Simpson filed for divorce in December 2005, citing "irreconcilable differences." Their divorce was publicized worldwide and finalized on June 30, 2006. Reportedly, she had to pay Lachey $12 million in their divorce since she had not signed a pre-nuptial agreement before they wed. In a 2015 interview, Simpson called her marriage to Lachey her "biggest financial mistake".


2006–2009: ''A Public Affair'', other movies, and ''Do You Know''

Simpson began working on her fifth studio album in 2005. March 2006 saw her parted ways with Columbia Records, with whom she had worked since the launch of her career, and had signed a new recording contract with
Epic Records Epic Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. The label was founded predominantly as a jazz and classical m ...
. Simpson and stylist Ken Pavés launched a line of hair and beauty products on the
Home Shopping Network HSN, an initialism of its former name Home Shopping Network, is an American free-to-air television network owned by the Qurate Retail Group, which also owns catalog company Cornerstone Brands. Based in the Gateway area of St. Petersburg, Flo ...
in 2006. Simpson released her new single, "
A Public Affair ''A Public Affair'' is the fifth studio album by American pop singer Jessica Simpson. The album was released on August 26, 2006 in the United States by Epic Records. The album is Simpson's first effort following her divorce from Nick Lachey. Th ...
" (2006) on June 29. The song entered the top twenty of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, and earned a gold certification from the RIAA for sales exceeding 500,000 copies in the United States. The single, an upbeat breakup song, was released the day before her divorce from Lachey was finalized. Most notably, the song entered the top ten of the
iTunes Store The iTunes Store is a digital media store operated by Apple Inc. It opened on April 28, 2003, as a result of Steve Jobs' push to open a digital marketplace for music. As of April 2020, iTunes offered 60 million songs, 2.2 million apps, 25,00 ...
at the same time as her sister's single " Invisible" (2006), marking the first time that two siblings had appeared in the store's top ten simultaneously. Her fifth studio album, ''
A Public Affair ''A Public Affair'' is the fifth studio album by American pop singer Jessica Simpson. The album was released on August 26, 2006 in the United States by Epic Records. The album is Simpson's first effort following her divorce from Nick Lachey. Th ...
'' (2006), debuted at number five on the ''Billboard'' 200 with first-week sales of 101,000 copies. The album failed to match the success of ''In This Skin'' (2003), selling just over 500,000 copies in the United States. The empowerment anthem " I Belong to Me" (2006), which served as the album's second and final single, failed to achieve commercial success. Simpson starred alongside Dane Cook and Dax Shepard in the comedy film '' Employee of the Month'' (2006), released that October. The film received a negative critical reaction and failed to achieve commercial success. Simpson performed a cover of the
Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, known primarily for her work in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album ...
song "
9 to 5 Working(laboring) time is the period of time that a person spends at paid labor. Unpaid labor such as personal housework or caring for children or pets is not considered part of the working week. Many countries regulate the work week by law, s ...
" (1980) as a tribute to the artist at the Kennedy Center Awards in December 2006. Simpson forgot the lyrics to the song and the performance received harsh criticism; she also received a chance to redo the song for the cameras, though her performance was cut from the broadcast ultimately. Critics noted the underperformance of both Simpson's fifth studio album and her second film as her sister Ashlee experienced a similar decline in success. Simpson had an on-again, off-again relationship with singer-songwriter John Mayer from August 2006 to May 2007. Long after their breakup, Simpson described her relationship with Mayer in her 2020 memoir, ''Open Book''. In November 2007, Simpson began dating
Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East divis ...
quarterback Tony Romo. Cowboys fans considered the relationship controversial, as some blamed Simpson for Romo's poor performance in games after the pair got together. Some fans dubbed Simpson "Yoko Romo," a reference to Yoko Ono, to whom many fans of
The Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...
attributed the quartet disbanding in 1970. Even then-president George W. Bush commented on the pair's relationship, blaming Simpson implicitly for Romo's lackluster performances. Reportedly, Simpson and Romo ended their relationship in July 2009. During the relationship, Simpson also appeared alongside Luke Wilson in the film ''
Blonde Ambition ''Blonde Ambition'' is a 2007 American romantic comedy film directed by Scott Marshall and starring Jessica Simpson as a small-town girl who moves to New York City and rises up into a career as a business woman. The film also stars Luke Wilson, ...
'' (2007); it had a limited release in Texas before being released on home media. Later, she starred in the direct-to-video film '' Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous'' (2008), portraying an actress who joins the military. The film received a negative reaction overwhelmingly upon its release. Simpson collaborated with Parlux Fragrances to launch her first scent, Fancy, in 2008. The fragrance, unlike ''Private Valentine,'' received a positive commercial reaction. Simpson began working on her sixth studio album in 2007, with her father claiming that she was experimenting with country music for the record. Simpson claimed to have grown up around country music, and wanted to "give something back." She released "
Come On Over ''Come On Over'' is the third studio album by Canadian country music singer Shania Twain. It was released on November 4, 1997, by Mercury Records. Produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange, the album became the best-selling country album, the be ...
" (2008) as the project's lead single on June 20. The song debuted at number forty-one on the ''Billboard''
Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. This 50-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly by collecting airplay data from Nielsen BDS along with digital sa ...
chart, making it the highest debut for an artist's first entry on that chart. '' Do You Know'' (2008) was released on September 9. The project sold 65,000 copies in its first week of release, debuting at number four on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart. The album has sold just over 200,000 copies in the United States as of 2012. Simpson opened for country music group
Rascal Flatts Rascal Flatts is an American country music band founded in 1999. The band members were Gary LeVox (lead vocals), Jay DeMarcus (bass guitar, background vocals), and Joe Don Rooney (lead guitar, background vocals). DeMarcus is LeVox's second cou ...
on their Bob That Head Tour (2009) from January to March 2009. Simpson's attempt to transition into country music received a negative reaction. Most notably, a crowd booed her following a performance at the Country Thunder Festival in
Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
. Simpson’s work also garnered references in Eminem's 2009 song "
We Made You "We Made You" is a song by American rapper Eminem from his sixth studio album ''Relapse'' (2009). It was released as the second single from the album on April 7, 2009. "We Made You" was written by Eminem, Dr. Dre, Dawaun Parker, Mark Batson, Tr ...
" and Trisha Paytas portrayed her.


2010–present: Motherhood, second marriage, and focus on business ventures

Simpson's VH1 documentary series, '' The Price of Beauty,'' began airing in March 2010. The series followed Simpson around the world, introducing viewers to the different perceptions of beauty in different cultures. The premiere episode attracted one million viewers, but Simpson revealed that the series would return in 2011 with a format change; these plans never came to fruition. Simpson planned to record her seventh studio album as her final release through Epic Records initially, though released the compilation album '' Playlist: The Very Best of Jessica Simpson'' (2010) ultimately. Epic Records released the album with no promotion and to little success. Simpson later signed a new recording contract with
eleveneleven eleveneleven was a record label founded in 2010 by Mike Hamlin, Ellen DeGeneres and her production company, A Very Good Production, in association with longtime affiliate Warner Bros. DeGeneres announced it on her talk show, saying that the labe ...
and Primary Wave Music and began working on her Christmas-themed seventh studio album. She released Happy Christmas (2010) on November 22 and it appeared on the lower half of the ''Billboard'' 200 chart only briefly. Simpson began dating retired NFL
tight end The tight end (TE) is a position in American football, arena football, and Canadian football, on the offense. The tight end is often a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Lik ...
Eric Johnson in May 2010 and the couple announced their engagement in November of that year. Soon, Simpson appeared alongside Nicole Richie as a mentor on the NBC reality television series '' Fashion Star''. The series revolved around a group of designers who competed each week to create clothing; each week, the judges eliminated one contestant. The series aired the second season in 2013, though NBC canceled it afterward. Following months of speculation, Simpson confirmed on Halloween of 2011 that she was pregnant with her first child. Simpson signed a multimillion-dollar deal with Weight Watchers in 2012, vowing to use their diet plan to shed the weight she gained during her pregnancy. Simpson filmed television commercials for the company, with the first airing in September 2012. Simpson gave birth to a daughter, Maxwell Drew Johnson, on May 1, 2012. and also launched a maternity clothing line that year. She later released a perfume, Vintage Bloom, which motherhood inspired. Simpson confirmed in December 2012 that she was expecting a second child with Johnson. Following the announcement, Weight Watchers announced that she would discontinue following the company's diet plan during her pregnancy. Simpson gave birth to her son, Ace Knute Johnson, on June 30, 2013. She launched a bedroom decor line including bedding and draperies offered in a romantic bohemian style, with floral patterns. In August 2014, she added a signature fragrance. Simpson and Johnson married in July 2014 in
Montecito, California Montecito (Spanish for "Little mountain") is an unincorporated town and census-designated place in Santa Barbara County, California.McCormack, Don (1999). ''McCormack's Guides Santa Barbara and Ventura 2000''. Mccormacks Guides. p. 58. . Located ...
. In 2013, it was announced that Simpson was in talks with NBC to star in a semi-autobiographical comedy series, but the project never materialized. Simpson confirmed in 2015 that she would begin working on her album, as her contract with Primary Wave had ended officially. Simpson is working with Linda Perry on the project, which she revealed in 2016. In August 2015, Simpson was a host on the HSN channel while promoting her products. The sales were a success. Simpson launched her Warm Up brand of workout clothing, available at retailers in the United States. She expanded the brand in August 2016 to include trainers, with Simpson commenting that she would focus more on the line in the future. In September 2018, Simpson announced she was pregnant with her third child, a daughter. She gave birth to their daughter, Birdie Mae Johnson, on March 19, 2019. On February 2, 2020, Simpson released her memoir ''Open Book'', which topped The New York Times Best Seller list. In the book, she discussed topics such as her marriage to Nick Lachey, her relationship with musician John Mayer, sexual abuse she experienced during her childhood, dependence on alcohol and prescription drugs, and the pressure she felt to lose weight, which caused her body image issues. Six new songs were released as part of the book, marking her first release in music since ''Happy Christmas'' in 2010. In December 2020, Simpson signed a multi-media rights deal with
Amazon Amazon most often refers to: * Amazons, a tribe of female warriors in Greek mythology * Amazon rainforest, a rainforest covering most of the Amazon basin * Amazon River, in South America * Amazon (company), an American multinational technolog ...
, and released an essay on motherhood titled ''Take the Lead'' the following April. In November 2021, Simpson released a cover of English rock band Nothing but Thieves' song, "Particles", thus marking her first single release since "My Only Wish" in 2010. In 2022, she starred in the 2nd episode of the 3rd season of the famous animated series '' Duncanville''.


Musical style

Simpson has listed
Whitney Houston Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and actress. Nicknamed "Honorific nicknames in popular music, The Voice", she is Whitney Houston albums discography, one of the bestselling music artists ...
,
Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Referred to as the " Songbird Supreme", she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the w ...
,
Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Referred to as the " Queen of Soul", she has twice been placed ninth in '' Rolling Stone''s "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". Wit ...
and Sade as influences on her music. She attempted to launch her career as a Christian music singer, and at one point completed a self-titled album of Christian music. When she signed with Columbia Records in 1998, she began working on an album of
pop music Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom. The terms ''popular music'' and ''pop music'' are often used interchangeably, although the former descri ...
. Simpson has recorded songs with Christian themes in later years, including "Pray Out Loud" (2008). The music on her debut album consisted of pop ballads primarily, with the intention of showcasing Simpson's vocals.
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Music ...
's Stephen Thomas Erlewine opined that the album "position dher as the teen
Celine Dion Céline Marie Claudette Dion ( ; born 30 March 1968) is a Canadian singer. Noted for her powerful and technically skilled vocals, Dion is the best-selling Canadian recording artist, and the best-selling French-language artist of all time. Her ...
". Most notably, it featured the power ballad "I Wanna Love You Forever" (1999). The work drew comparisons to
Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Referred to as the " Songbird Supreme", she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the w ...
. With the release of ''Irresistible'' (2001), Simpson recorded more upbeat songs, likening herself to artists such as Britney Spears. Songs such as "Irresistible" and "A Little Bit" had more provocative lyrics in comparison to her previous release, with Simpson citing the age difference between the recording of the two albums as the main reason. During the Total Request Live Tour (2001) and her
DreamChaser Tour ''Irresistible'' is the second studio album by American recording artist Jessica Simpson, released on May 25, 2001, through Columbia Records. Simpson, who began working on the project in July 2000, contacted already established w ...
(2001), Simpson incorporated more choreography and backup dancers into her live performances. Simpson began working on her third studio album in 2002 initially, on which rapper
Missy Elliott Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...
would serve as the primary producer. The record later took on a new direction, which her then-husband Nick Lachey described as "organic" in comparison to her two prior albums. Simpson also began co-writing songs for the record, something she had been nervous to do in the past. The result was ''In This Skin'' (2003), a record that AllMusic said "stay dwithin the contemporary dance-pop realm while inching toward the middle-of-the-road diva that she's always yearned to be." Simpson worked with elements of
country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...
with the release of " These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" (2005), recorded for Simpson's feature film debut '' The Dukes of Hazzard'' (2005). She continued to experiment with the genre on the song "Push Your Tush" (2006). Numerous songs on her fifth studio album feature elements of
dance Dance is a performing art form consisting of sequences of movement, either improvised or purposefully selected. This movement has aesthetic and often symbolic value. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoire ...
and
disco Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the 1970s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string sections, brass and horns, electric p ...
music, most notably "A Public Affair" and her cover of " You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)". Inspired by artists such as Faith Hill,
Shania Twain Eilleen Regina "Shania" Twain ( , ; née Edwards; born August 28, 1965) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. She has sold over 100 million records, making her the best-selling female artist in country music history and one of the best-s ...
, and
Martina McBride Martina Mariea McBride (née Schiff, born July 29, 1966) is an American country music singer-songwriter and record producer. She is known for her soprano singing range and her country pop material. McBride was born in Sharon, Kansas, and rel ...
, Simpson recorded a country music album titled '' Do You Know'' (2008). Throughout her career, Simpson has delved into other genres as well, releasing Christmas-themed albums in 2004 and 2010, respectively.


Public image

Simpson came to prominence as a teen idol in the late 1990s and the media described her as Columbia Records's "blond response to
Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the " Princess of Pop", she is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. After appearing in stage producti ...
and Christina Aguilera", who had achieved recent success with their respective debut albums. Her debut album, ''Sweet Kisses'' (1999) mostly explores themes such as love, and Simpson announced that she would remain abstinent until marriage. She went through a "carefully orchestrated sexy makeover" while she promoted her second album, ''Irresistible'' (2001). Simpson later described Columbia's record executive
Tommy Mottola Thomas Daniel Mottola (born July 14, 1948) is an American music executive, producer and author. Mottola is currently the Chairman of Mottola Media Group and was previously the Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment, parent of the Columb ...
as abusive, as he attempted to control her image and told her to "lose fifteen pounds" after she signed her contract in 1997. Upon Simpson's rise to stardom with the success of ''Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica'' in 2003, media critics and the public perceived her as a "ditzy blonde" based on her antics and comments on the show. ''
The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large n ...
''s Emily Yahr called her "one of our first reality TV stars, before anyone could absorb the psychological damage it could cause." Simpson recalled her time in the show in her 2020 memoir ''Open Book'', saying: "Nowadays, I see so many people performing their identities on social media, but I feel like I was a guinea pig for that. How was I supposed to live a real, healthy life filtered through the lens of a reality show? If my personal life was my work, and my work required me to play a certain role, who even was I anymore?" The media also described her as a
sex symbol A sex symbol or icon is a person or character widely considered sexually attractive. Pam Cook, "The trouble with sex: Diana Dors and the Blonde bombshell phenomenon", In: Bruce Babinigton (ed.), ''British Stars and Stardom: From Alma Taylor t ...
. Simpson's portrayal of Daisy Duke furthered her sex-symbol image, and she portrayed the character in her "These Boots Are Made For Walkin" music video, which presents "footage of Simpson writhing suggestively against a suds-soaked motor vehicle". The scene was parodied in
Pink Pink is the color of a namesake flower that is a pale tint of red. It was first used as a color name in the late 17th century. According to surveys in Europe and the United States, pink is the color most often associated with charm, politeness, ...
's " Stupid Girls"
music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing devic ...
. Simpson also appeared as Daisy Duke in several television commercials for
Pizza Hut Pizza Hut is an American multinational restaurant chain and international franchise founded in 1958 in Wichita, Kansas by Dan and Frank Carney. They serve their signature pan pizza and other dishes including pasta, breadsticks and desse ...
airing during the
Super Bowl The Super Bowl is the annual final playoff game of the National Football League (NFL) to determine the league champion. It has served as the final game of every NFL season since 1966, replacing the NFL Championship Game. Since 2022, the gam ...
in 2006 and 2007. Simpson claimed that the " aisy Dukerole created a "gold standard" that she would be judged by in the years that followed", and the media scrutinized her intensely following her weight gain in 2009. Simpson is a registered Republican. She endorsed George W. Bush during his presidential campaign in 2004, though she canceled an appearance at a 2006 Republican fundraiser as she felt it was not "appropriate". Though a Republican, Simpson praised former First Lady Michelle Obama during her husband's time in office, stating, "She's such an incredible woman, and she's with such a powerful man...Everything she does she exudes confidence."


Philanthropy

In April 2004, Simpson performed in VH1's benefit concert Divas Live 2004 alongside Ashanti, Cyndi Lauper, Gladys Knight, Joss Stone and
Patti LaBelle Patricia Louise Holte (born May 24, 1944), known professionally as Patti LaBelle, is an American R&B singer, actress and businesswoman. LaBelle is referred to as the " Godmother of Soul". She began her career in the early 1960s as lead singe ...
to support the Save the Music Foundation. In May 2004, Simpson did a benefit concert to aid the Skin Care Foundation. In March 2007, Simpson donated a new
Chrysler Stellantis North America (officially FCA US and formerly Chrysler ()) is one of the " Big Three" automobile manufacturers in the United States, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is the American subsidiary of the multinational automotiv ...
minivan to the Elim orphanage in Nuevo Laredo. Simpson is Soles4Souls's Ambassador and participated in autographing shoes to donate the money from communities across the United States. Simpson also works with
Make-A-Wish Foundation The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in the United States that helps fulfill the wishes of children with a critical illness between the ages of and 18 years old. Make-A-Wish was founded in 1980 and headquart ...
.


Filmography


Films


Television


Discography

* ''
Sweet Kisses ''Sweet Kisses'' is the debut studio album by American singer Jessica Simpson, released in the United States on November 23, 1999, by Columbia Records. Its lyrical and visual representations carry the common theme of virginal innocence, a continu ...
'' (1999) * '' Irresistible'' (2001) * '' In This Skin'' (2003) * '' ReJoyce: The Christmas Album'' (2004) * ''
A Public Affair ''A Public Affair'' is the fifth studio album by American pop singer Jessica Simpson. The album was released on August 26, 2006 in the United States by Epic Records. The album is Simpson's first effort following her divorce from Nick Lachey. Th ...
'' (2006) * '' Do You Know'' (2008) * '' Happy Christmas'' (2010)


Tours

Headlining *
DreamChaser Tour ''Irresistible'' is the second studio album by American recording artist Jessica Simpson, released on May 25, 2001, through Columbia Records. Simpson, who began working on the project in July 2000, contacted already established w ...
(2001) * Reality Tour (2004) Co-headlining * Total Request Live Tour (2001) Opening act * Livin' la Vida Loca Tour ( Ricky Martin) (1999) * Heat It Up Tour ( 98 Degrees) (2000) * Bob That Head Tour (
Rascal Flatts Rascal Flatts is an American country music band founded in 1999. The band members were Gary LeVox (lead vocals), Jay DeMarcus (bass guitar, background vocals), and Joe Don Rooney (lead guitar, background vocals). DeMarcus is LeVox's second cou ...
) (2009)


See also

* List of awards and nominations received by Jessica Simpson


References


Further reading

* *


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Simpson, Jessica 1980 births Living people Actresses from Texas American child singers American contemporary R&B singers American dance musicians American dancers American fashion designers American female dancers American film actresses American sopranos American television actresses American women country singers American women fashion designers American women pop singers Baptists from Texas Columbia Records artists Epic Records artists Participants in American reality television series People from Abilene, Texas Singers from Texas Southern Baptists United Service Organizations entertainers 21st-century American actresses 21st-century American singers 21st-century American women singers Texas Republicans