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, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...
in 1997, aged seventeen. Her debut studio album, ''
Sweet Kisses'' (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 and ...
". Simpson adopted a more mature image for her second studio album, ''
Irresistible'' (2001), and its
title track
A title track is a song that has the same name as the album or film in which it appears. In the Korean music industry, the term is used to describe a promoted song on an album, akin to a single, regardless of the song's title.
Title track may al ...
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 met ...
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/o ...
(RIAA). ''
In This Skin
''In This Skin'' is the third studio album by American recording artist Jessica Simpson. The album was released on August 19, 2003, by Columbia Records. It was reissued on March 2, 2004, with three new songs. Simpson began taking more creative co ...
'' (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
Nicholas Scott Lachey ( ; born November 9, 1973) is an American singer, actor, television personality, and host. He rose to fame as the lead singer of the multi-platinum-selling boyband 98 Degrees, and later starred in the reality series '' Newl ...
, 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 Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus, Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by country, around t ...
album ''
ReJoyce: The Christmas Album'' (2004), which was certified gold, Simpson made her film debut as
Daisy Duke
Daisy Duke is a fictional character, played by Catherine Bach, from the American television series ''The Dukes of Hazzard''. She is the cousin of Bo and Luke, the main protagonists of the show, and the three live on a farm on the outskirts of ...
in ''
The Dukes of Hazzard
''The Dukes of Hazzard'' is an American action comedy TV series that was aired on CBS from January 26, 1979 to February 8, 1985. The show aired for 147 episodes spanning seven seasons. It was consistently among the top-rated television series ...
'' (2005). She also recorded a cover of "
These Boots Are Made for Walkin'
"These Boots Are Made for Walkin' is a hit song written by Lee Hazlewood and recorded by American singer Nancy Sinatra. It charted on January 22, 1966, and reached No.1 in the United States ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and in the UK Singles Chart.
Su ...
" 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
The Jessica Simpson Collection is a fashion line of clothing and other items for women and juniors. Besides clothing, the brand also includes accessories, shoes, perfume and luggage. The brand initially launched in 2005 as a shoe collaboration wit ...
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
''Jessica Simpson's The Price of Beauty'' is an American documentary reality series that followed singer Jessica Simpson and her two best friends Ken Pavés and CaCee Cobb as they traveled worldwide "to meet women, study local fashions, dietary fa ...
'' in 2010, judged clothing designs on two seasons of ''
Fashion Star
''Fashion Star'' is an American reality television series on NBC, created and executive produced by E.J. Johnston, James Deutch and Rick Ringbakk which focuses on fashion design and is hosted by Louise Roe. It was hosted by Elle Macpherson in the ...
'' between 2012 and 2013. Simpson is married to
Eric Johnson Eric Johnson may refer to:
Music
*Eric Johnson (guitarist) (born 1954) an American guitarist and recording artist
* Eric D. Johnson (born 1976), member of multiple indie-rock bands including Fruit Bats, The Shins and Califone
Politics
* Eric Joh ...
, 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
Abilene ( ) is a city in Taylor and Jones Counties in Texas, United States. Its population was 125,182 at the 2020 census, making it the 27th-most populous city in the state of Texas. It is the principal city of the Abilene metropolitan statis ...
.
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 compete ...
youth minister. Simpson's parents married in 1978; they divorced in 2013. Simpson has stated that she grew up in
Dallas
Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...
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 st ...
, but her parents now live in
McGregor, Texas
McGregor is a city in McLennan and Coryell counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 4,987 at the 2010 census.
McGregor lies in two counties, as well as two metropolitan areas. The McLennan County portion of the city is part of the ...
. 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 wit ...
. 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 an ...
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 Cap ...
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
The General Educational Development (GED) tests are a group of four subject tests which, when passed, provide certification that the test taker has United States or Canadian high school-level academic skills. It is an alternative to the US high ...
via
distance learning
Distance education, also known as distance learning, is the education of students who may not always be physically present at a school, or where the learner and the teacher are separated in both time and distance. Traditionally, this usually in ...
through
Texas Tech High School.
Simpson was raised in the
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
faith, and was given a
purity ring
Purity rings (also known as promise rings, abstinence rings, or chastity rings) are rings worn as a sign of chastity. Since the 1990s, in the United States, Christian organizations, especially Catholic and evangelical Christian groups, promoting ...
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 fo ...
'' at the age of twelve, auditioning with a performance of "
Amazing Grace
"Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn published in 1779 with words written in 1772 by English Anglican clergyman and poet John Newton (1725–1807). It is an immensely popular hymn, particularly in the United States, where it is used for both ...
" and dancing to "
Ice Ice Baby
"Ice Ice Baby" is a hip hop song by American rapper Vanilla Ice, K. Kennedy and DJ Earthquake. It was based on the bassline of the song "Under Pressure" by British rock band Queen and British singer David Bowie, who did not receive songwriting ...
" (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 productio ...
,
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera (; ; born December 18, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. Known for her four-octave vocal range and ability to sustain high notes, she has been referred to as the " Voice of ...
, and
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He is one of the world's best-selling music artists, with sales of over 88 million records. Timberlake is the recipient of numerous awards and ac ...
.
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
"I Will Always Love You" is a song written and originally recorded in 1973 by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. Written as a farewell to her business partner and mentor Porter Wagoner, expressing Parton's decision to pursue a solo career, ...
" (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 d ...
.
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 whi ...
and the head of
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...
.
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, Florida, Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Greater Orlando, Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, acco ...
.
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
98 Degrees (stylized as 98°) is an American pop and R&B vocal group consisting of four vocalists: the group's founding member Jeff Timmons, brothers Nick and Drew Lachey, and Justin Jeffre. The group was formed by Timmons in Los Angeles, Cali ...
singer
Nick Lachey
Nicholas Scott Lachey ( ; born November 9, 1973) is an American singer, actor, television personality, and host. He rose to fame as the lead singer of the multi-platinum-selling boyband 98 Degrees, and later starred in the reality series '' Newl ...
, 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
![Jessica Simpson 54th Presidential Inaugural Opening Celebration 2 cropped](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Jessica_Simpson_54th_Presidential_Inaugural_Opening_Celebration_2_cropped.jpeg)
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 productio ...
and
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera (; ; born December 18, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. Known for her four-octave vocal range and ability to sustain high notes, she has been referred to as the " Voice of ...
.
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 and ...
" (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/o ...
(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'' (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
Nicholas Scott Lachey ( ; born November 9, 1973) is an American singer, actor, television personality, and host. He rose to fame as the lead singer of the multi-platinum-selling boyband 98 Degrees, and later starred in the reality series '' Newl ...
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
The Heat It Up Tour is the debut concert tour by American boy band 98°. The tour supports the group's second debut album, '' 98° and Rising''. The tour lasted over nine months and visited the Americas, Asia, Australia and Europe.
Opening acts ...
with her boyfriend's band,
98 Degrees
98 Degrees (stylized as 98°) is an American pop and R&B vocal group consisting of four vocalists: the group's founding member Jeff Timmons, brothers Nick and Drew Lachey, and Justin Jeffre. The group was formed by Timmons in Los Angeles, Cali ...
, 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 s ...
" (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
The Total Request Live Tour (also known as MTV's TRL Tour) was a co-headlining tour featuring American groups, 3LW, Destiny's Child, Dream, St. Lunatics and American artists Eve and Nelly. Jessica Simpson joined the tour for select dates before ...
(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
Cornell Iral Haynes Jr. (born November 2, 1974), better known by his stage name Nelly, is an American rapper, singer, actor and entrepreneur. He embarked on his music career with the hip hop group St. Lunatics in 1993 and signed to Universal ...
. 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 wr ...
(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 commercia ...
.
2002–2005: Marriage to Nick Lachey and heightened success
Simpson announced her engagement to
Nick Lachey
Nicholas Scott Lachey ( ; born November 9, 1973) is an American singer, actor, television personality, and host. He rose to fame as the lead singer of the multi-platinum-selling boyband 98 Degrees, and later starred in the reality series '' Newl ...
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 county seat, seat and largest city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and Williamson County, Texas, Williamson co ...
. Simpson also began working on her third studio album in 2002. The album's lead single, "
Sweetest Sin
"Sweetest Sin" (stylized as "Sweetest S!n") is a song by American singer Jessica Simpson. It was written by Diane Warren and produced by Ric Wake for Simpson's third studio album, '' In This Skin'' (2003). It was released as the album's first s ...
" (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 a ...
and
Lisa Marie Presley
Lisa Marie Presley (born February 1, 1968) is an American singer-songwriter. She is the only child of singer and actor Elvis Presley and actress Priscilla Presley, as well as the sole heir to her father's estate. Presley has developed a career ...
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
Pop or POP may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music
* Pop music, a musical genre Artists
* POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade
* Pop!, a UK pop group
* Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band
Albums
* Pop (Gas al ...
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.
![Jessica Simpson 2004](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Jessica_Simpson_2004.jpg)
Simpson's third studio album, ''
In This Skin
''In This Skin'' is the third studio album by American recording artist Jessica Simpson. The album was released on August 19, 2003, by Columbia Records. It was reissued on March 2, 2004, with three new songs. Simpson began taking more creative co ...
'' (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 With You may refer to:
Music
* With You., an American house music group
Albums
* With You (826aska album), ''With You'' (826aska album) or the title song, 2023
* With You (Stacy Lattisaw album), ''With You'' (Stacy Lattisaw album) or the title s ...
" (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
Pop Airplay (also called Mainstream Top 40, Pop Songs, and Top 40/contemporary hit radio, CHR) is a 40-song music chart published weekly by Billboard (magazine), ''Billboard'' Magazine that ranks the most popular songs of pop music being played o ...
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) c ...
. 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
"Take My Breath Away" is a song written by Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock for the 1986 film ''Top Gun'', performed by American new wave band Berlin. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best ...
" (2004) and "
Angels
In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God.
Abrahamic religions often depict angels as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Other roles include ...
" (2004) were released as singles from the re-release.
Simpson and Lachey starred in the
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
special ''The Nick and Jessica Variety Hour'' in April, which featured guest appearances by celebrities such as
Jewel and
Mr. T
Mr. T (born Laurence Tureaud, May 21, 1952), is an American actor. He is known for his roles as B. A. Baracus in the 1980s television series ''The A-Team'' and as boxer Clubber Lang in the 1982 film ''Rocky III''. He is also known for his dis ...
, 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
''The Ashlee Simpson Show'' is a television reality show about the life of Ashlee Simpson. The first season, taped from late 2003 to mid-2004, focused on the beginnings of her career as a singer and the recording of her debut album, ''Autobiograph ...
'', 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 Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus, Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by country, around t ...
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 ne ...
pilot
An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its directional flight controls. Some other aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are also considered aviators, because they a ...
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 b ...
" at the
Indy 500
The Indianapolis 500, formally known as the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, and commonly called the Indy 500, is an annual automobile race held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) in Speedway, Indiana, United States, an enclave suburb of India ...
in 2005. Simpson launched
The Jessica Simpson Collection
The Jessica Simpson Collection is a fashion line of clothing and other items for women and juniors. Besides clothing, the brand also includes accessories, shoes, perfume and luggage. The brand initially launched in 2005 as a shoe collaboration wit ...
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
Daisy Duke is a fictional character, played by Catherine Bach, from the American television series ''The Dukes of Hazzard''. She is the cousin of Bo and Luke, the main protagonists of the show, and the three live on a farm on the outskirts of ...
in the film adaption of ''
The Dukes of Hazzard
''The Dukes of Hazzard'' is an American action comedy TV series that was aired on CBS from January 26, 1979 to February 8, 1985. The show aired for 147 episodes spanning seven seasons. It was consistently among the top-rated television series ...
'' (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'
"These Boots Are Made for Walkin' is a hit song written by Lee Hazlewood and recorded by American singer Nancy Sinatra. It charted on January 22, 1966, and reached No.1 in the United States ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and in the UK Singles Chart.
Su ...
" (2005) to promote the film; it both samples and shares the title of a
Nancy Sinatra
Nancy Sandra Sinatra (born June 8, 1940) is an American singer and actress. She is the elder daughter of Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra ( Barbato), and is best known for her 1966 signature hit "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'.
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
Sony Corporation of America (SONAM, also known as SCA), is the American arm of the Japanese conglomerate Sony Group ...
. Simpson and stylist
Ken Pavés
Ken Pavés is an American hairdresser. He has worked as hair stylist for many celebrities including Jennifer Lopez and Carmen Electra. As an entrepreneur he has collaborated with Jessica Simpson and Karen Marie Shelton, and markets his own line ...
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, Flor ...
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
Invisibility is the state of an object that cannot be seen. An object in this state is said to be ''invisible'' (literally, "not visible"). The phenomenon is studied by physics and perceptual psychology.
Since objects can be seen by light in ...
" (2006), marking the first time that two siblings had appeared in the store's top ten simultaneously.
![Jessica Simpson crop](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Jessica_Simpson_crop.jpg)
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
"I Belong to Me" is a song by American recording artist Jessica Simpson from her fifth studio album, ''A Public Affair''. The song was written by Diane Warren and produced by Stargate. It was released on September 26, 2006 by Epic Records, as th ...
" (2006), which served as the album's second and final single, failed to achieve commercial success. Simpson starred alongside
Dane Cook
Dane Jeffrey Cook (born March 18, 1972) is an American stand-up comedian and film actor. He has released six comedy albums: ''Harmful If Swallowed''; ''Retaliation''; '' Vicious Circle''; '' Rough Around the Edges: Live from Madison Square Garde ...
and
Dax Shepard
Dax Randall Shepard (born January 2, 1975) is an American actor, comedian, filmmaker and podcast host. Since 2018, he has hosted '' Armchair Expert'', a podcast that interviews celebrities, journalists, and academics about their lives.
Shepard h ...
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 d ...
song "
9 to 5
Working(laboring) time is the period of time that a person spends at paid Wage labour, labor. Unpaid work, Unpaid labor such as personal housework or caring for children or pets is not considered part of the working week.
Many countries regula ...
" (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
An on-again, off-again relationship (also known as an on–off or off–on relationship) is a form of personal relationship between two persons who keep breaking up only to reconcile afterwards, thus repeating a cycle.
Researcher Kale Monk, an a ...
with singer-songwriter
John Mayer
John Clayton Mayer ( ; born October 16, 1977) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Born and raised in Fairfield County, Connecticut, Mayer attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, but left and moved to Atlanta in 1997 with ...
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 divisi ...
quarterback
Tony Romo
Antonio Ramiro Romo (born April 21, 1980) is an American sportscaster and former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Eastern Illino ...
. 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
Yoko Ono ( ; ja, 小野 洋子, Ono Yōko, usually spelled in katakana ; born February 18, 1933) is a Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, and peace activist. Her work also encompasses performance art and filmmaking.
Ono grew up i ...
, 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
George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Bush family, and son of the 41st president George H. W. Bush, he ...
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
Luke Cunningham Wilson (born September 21, 1971) is an American actor known for his roles in films such as '' Bottle Rocket'' (1996), '' Rushmore'' (1998), ''My Dog Skip'' (2000), ''Legally Blonde'' (2001), ''The Royal Tenenbaums'' (2001), ''Id ...
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 best s ...
" (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 sal ...
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 cousi ...
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
Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (; often stylized as EMINƎM), is an American rapper and record producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America and is critically acclai ...
'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, Tre ...
" and
Trisha Paytas
Trisha Paytas (; born May 8, 1988) is an American YouTuber and singer. Her YouTube channel consists of a wide variety of content including lifestyle-oriented vlogs, music videos, and mukbangs. As of July 2022, she has accumulated roughly 5 mil ...
portrayed her.
2010–present: Motherhood, second marriage, and focus on business ventures
Simpson's
VH1
VH1 (originally an initialism of Video Hits One) is an American basic cable television network based in New York City and owned by Paramount Global. It was created by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, at the time a division of Warner Commun ...
documentary series, ''
The Price of Beauty
''Jessica Simpson's The Price of Beauty'' is an American documentary reality series that followed singer Jessica Simpson and her two best friends Ken Pavés and CaCee Cobb as they traveled worldwide "to meet women, study local fashions, dietary fa ...
,'' 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 lab ...
and
Primary Wave Music
Primary Wave is a private music publishing and talent management company. Primary Wave was founded in January 2006 by music executive Lawrence Mestel. Since its origin as a music publishing company, Primary Wave has expanded into talent manageme ...
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
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the major ...
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. Like ...
Eric Johnson Eric Johnson may refer to:
Music
*Eric Johnson (guitarist) (born 1954) an American guitarist and recording artist
* Eric D. Johnson (born 1976), member of multiple indie-rock bands including Fruit Bats, The Shins and Califone
Politics
* Eric Joh ...
in May 2010 and the couple announced their engagement in November of that year.
Soon, Simpson appeared alongside
Nicole Richie
Nicole Camille Richie (; born September 21, 1981) is an American television personality, fashion designer, socialite, and actress. She came to prominence after appearing in the reality television series ''The Simple Life'' (2003–2007), in whic ...
as a mentor on the
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an Television in the United States, American English-language Commercial broadcasting, commercial television network, broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Enterta ...
reality television series ''
Fashion Star
''Fashion Star'' is an American reality television series on NBC, created and executive produced by E.J. Johnston, James Deutch and Rick Ringbakk which focuses on fashion design and is hosted by Louise Roe. It was hosted by Elle Macpherson in the ...
''. 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
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an Television in the United States, American English-language Commercial broadcasting, commercial television network, broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Enterta ...
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
Linda Perry (born April 15, 1965) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. She was the lead singer and primary songwriter of 4 Non Blondes, and has since founded two record labels and composed and produced hit songs for ...
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
''The New York Times'' Best Seller list is widely considered the preeminent list of best-selling books in the United States. John Bear, ''The #1 New York Times Best Seller: intriguing facts about the 484 books that have been #1 New York Times ...
.
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 technology c ...
, 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 "The Voice", she is one of the bestselling music artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide. Houston in ...
, 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 whi ...
, 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". With ...
and Sade
Sade may refer to:
People
* Marquis de Sade (1740–1814), French aristocrat, writer, and libertine
* Sade (singer) (born 1959, Helen Folasade Adu), British Nigerian musician and lead singer of the eponymous band
* Sade Baderinwa (born 1969), WAB ...
as influences on her music. She attempted to launch her career as a Christian music
Christian music is music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence, and lament, and its forms vary widely around ...
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 describe ...
. 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 music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
'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 whi ...
. 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
The Total Request Live Tour (also known as MTV's TRL Tour) was a co-headlining tour featuring American groups, 3LW, Destiny's Child, Dream, St. Lunatics and American artists Eve and Nelly. Jessica Simpson joined the tour for select dates before ...
(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 wr ...
(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'
"These Boots Are Made for Walkin' is a hit song written by Lee Hazlewood and recorded by American singer Nancy Sinatra. It charted on January 22, 1966, and reached No.1 in the United States ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and in the UK Singles Chart.
Su ...
" (2005), recorded for Simpson's feature film debut ''The Dukes of Hazzard
''The Dukes of Hazzard'' is an American action comedy TV series that was aired on CBS from January 26, 1979 to February 8, 1985. The show aired for 147 episodes spanning seven seasons. It was consistently among the top-rated television series ...
'' (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 repertoir ...
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 pia ...
music, most notably "A Public Affair" and her cover of "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)
"You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" is a song by English pop band Dead or Alive, featured on their second album, '' Youthquake'' (1985). Released as a single in November 1984, it reached No. 1 in the UK in March 1985, taking 17 weeks to get ...
". Inspired by artists such as Faith Hill
Audrey Faith McGraw (; born September 21, 1967), known professionally as Faith Hill, is an American singer and actress. She is one of the most successful country music artists of all time, having sold more than 40 million albums worldwide.
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 relocat ...
, 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 productio ...
and Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera (; ; born December 18, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. Known for her four-octave vocal range and ability to sustain high notes, she has been referred to as the " Voice of ...
", 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 nati ...
''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 to ...
. Simpson's portrayal of Daisy Duke
Daisy Duke is a fictional character, played by Catherine Bach, from the American television series ''The Dukes of Hazzard''. She is the cousin of Bo and Luke, the main protagonists of the show, and the three live on a farm on the outskirts of ...
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
Stupidity is a lack of intelligence, understanding, reason, or wit. It may be innate, assumed or reactive. The word ''stupid'' comes from the Latin word ''stupere''. Stupid characters are often used for comedy in fictional stories. Walter B ...
" 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 promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...
. 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 dessert at d ...
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 game ...
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
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
. She endorsed George W. Bush
George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Bush family, and son of the 41st president George H. W. Bush, he ...
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
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama (born January 17, 1964) is an American attorney and author who served as first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. She was the first African-American woman to serve in this position. She is married t ...
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
VH1 (originally an initialism of Video Hits One) is an American basic cable television network based in New York City and owned by Paramount Global. It was created by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, at the time a division of Warner Commun ...
's benefit concert Divas Live 2004 alongside Ashanti, Cyndi Lauper
Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper Thornton (born June 22, 1953) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and activist. Her career has spanned over 40 years. Her album ''She's So Unusual'' (1983) was the first debut album by a female artist to achi ...
, Gladys Knight
Gladys Maria Knight (born May 28, 1944), known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer, actress and businesswoman. A seven-time Grammy Award-winner, Knight recorded hits through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s with her family group Gladys Kn ...
, Joss Stone
Joscelyn Eve Stoker (born 11 April 1987), known professionally as Joss Stone, is an English singer, songwriter and actress. She rose to prominence in late 2003 with her multi-platinum debut album, ''The Soul Sessions'', which made the 2004 Merc ...
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 automoti ...
minivan to the Elim orphanage in Nuevo Laredo
Nuevo Laredo () is a city in the Municipality of Nuevo Laredo in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The city lies on the banks of the Rio Grande, across from Laredo, United States. The 2010 census population of the city was 373,725. Nuevo Lare ...
. Simpson is Soles4Souls
Soles4Souls is a non-profit headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. It receives shoe and clothing donations from individuals, community donation drives, and retailers. Then, Soles4Souls distributes the donated items to various programs around the ...
'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 headqua ...
.
Filmography
Films
Television
Discography
* '' Sweet Kisses'' (1999)
* '' Irresistible'' (2001)
* ''In This Skin
''In This Skin'' is the third studio album by American recording artist Jessica Simpson. The album was released on August 19, 2003, by Columbia Records. It was reissued on March 2, 2004, with three new songs. Simpson began taking more creative co ...
'' (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 wr ...
(2001)
* Reality Tour (2004)
Co-headlining
*Total Request Live Tour
The Total Request Live Tour (also known as MTV's TRL Tour) was a co-headlining tour featuring American groups, 3LW, Destiny's Child, Dream, St. Lunatics and American artists Eve and Nelly. Jessica Simpson joined the tour for select dates before ...
(2001)
Opening act
* Livin' la Vida Loca Tour
The Livin' La Vida Loco World Tour was the first major world concert tour by Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin to support his first English-language album ''Ricky Martin''. The tour started in October 1999 and continued until October 2000.
The to ...
(Ricky Martin
Enrique Martín Morales (born December 24, 1971), known professionally as Ricky Martin, is a Puerto Rican singer, songwriter, and actor. He is known for his musical versatility, with his Ricky Martin albums discography, discography spanning ...
) (1999)
* Heat It Up Tour
The Heat It Up Tour is the debut concert tour by American boy band 98°. The tour supports the group's second debut album, '' 98° and Rising''. The tour lasted over nine months and visited the Americas, Asia, Australia and Europe.
Opening acts ...
(98 Degrees
98 Degrees (stylized as 98°) is an American pop and R&B vocal group consisting of four vocalists: the group's founding member Jeff Timmons, brothers Nick and Drew Lachey, and Justin Jeffre. The group was formed by Timmons in Los Angeles, Cali ...
) (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 cousi ...
) (2009)
See also
*List of awards and nominations received by Jessica Simpson
This is the list of Awards and Nominations received by Singer, Actress, and Fashion Designer Jessica Simpson.
During her earlier career, Simpson became known for her relationship and later marriage to Nick Lachey, with whom she appeared on the ...
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