Jessica Ann Simpson, born July 10, 1980, in Abilene, TX, is an American recording artist, actress, and fashion designer. Simpson's career began in the 1990s when she independently recorded and distributed a gospel album titled "Jessica." She later signed a recording contract with Columbia Records, which released her debut studio album, "Sweet Kisses," in 1999. It sold two million copies, supported by the singles "I Wanna Love You Forever,“ "I Think I’m in Love with You,” and “Where You Are.”
Simpson released her second studio album, "Irresistible," in 2001. While its lead single - the title track - was a hit, the album was poorly received and sold less than half of its predecessor. During this time, Simpson complained that her label instructed her to lose weight and focus more on dance/choreography, to compete with the likes of Britney Spears and Janet Jackson.
Simpson married Nick Lachey, of the boy band 98 Degrees, in 2002 and their relationship was chronicled on the MTV reality series "Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica." The show was a sensation, turning Simpson into a household name, with many people gravitating toward her humorous “dumb blonde” persona. Simpson’s third studio album, “In This Skin,” was released in tandem with the show and eventually sold over seven million copies worldwide, becoming Simpson's best-selling album. "Newlyweds" ended in 2005 after four seasons, and Simpson and Lachey announced that they were divorcing later that year.
Simpson made her big-screen debut in the film "The Dukes of Hazzard" (2005), portraying Daisy Duke. Despite mixed reviews, it was a box office success. Simpson's other screen credits include the films "Employee of the Month" (2006), "Blonde Ambition" (2007), and "Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous" (2008), and the television series "The Twilight Zone" (2002) and "That '70s Show." A sitcom pilot based around Simpson was shot in 2004 but failed to garner interest from any networks.
In 2005, Simpson launched her own fashion line, the Jessica Simpson Collection. Initially focused on shoes only, it later expanded into clothing, accessories, and fragrances, and has generated over $1 billion in revenue.
Throughout the 2000s, Simpson also continued with her music career, releasing the pop album “A Public Affair" (2006); “Do You Know" (2008), a brief foray into country music; and two holiday records, “ReJoyce: The Christmas Album” (2004) and Happy Christmas" (2010). To date, she has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide.
After a decade spent building her brand and raising her family, Simpson returned to the spotlight in 2020 with the release of her memoir, the aptly titled “Open Book,” in which she candidly discussed her struggles with body image, self-love, and substance use. An EP that accompanied the audiobook was Simpson’s first music release in a decade.
In 2021, Simpson covered "Particles," a song by English rock band Nothing But Thieves, as a response to accusations that she was no longer sober.
