JESSICA SIMPSON
A native of Dallas, singer Jessica Simpson got her start singing in the local Baptist church. After a failed audition for the Mickey Mouse Club at age 12, Simpson was discovered by a small gospel label in Texas, with whom she spent three years developing an album. The label folded before releasing Simpson's debut, but this setback didn't deter her. She used the material from the album as inspiration for a tour on the Christian Youth Concert circuit. Already a relatively established star on the Christian music scene, Simpson set her sights on a crossover audience with the release of Sweet Kisses in late 1999 which went platinum due in large part to the success of the ballad "Where You Are," Simpson's follow-up,“Irresistible,” appeared in spring 2001 but despite the MTV coverage, Simpson's sophomore effort didn't fare as well as her first album. The following year, Simpson married her longtime boyfriend, 98° singer, Nick Lachey. She also went on to appear in several episodes of “That '70s Show.” In 2003, she and Lachey's launched the MTV-produced reality show, “Newlyweds,” which became a hit. Simpson's third album, “In This Skin,” appeared in 2003. In 2005, she appeared in the role of Daisy Duke in the “Dukes of Hazard” movie. Later that year, she and Lachey separated. Soon after, Simpson got to work on her fourth album and also started shooting the movie “Employee of the Month.” The album, “A Public Affair” arrived in summer 2006.
|
|
