Jessica Simpson

Jessica Ann Simpson (born July 10, 1980)[1] is an American singer, actress, entrepreneur and philanthropist. After performing in church choirs as a child, Simpson signed with Columbia Records 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". 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 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In This Skin (2003), Simpson's third studio album, sold three million copies in the United States.

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 reality television series Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica between 2003 and 2005. Following the release of her first Christmas 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 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 genre.

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.

Simpson was born on July 10, 1980, in Abilene, Texas.[1] She is the first child of Tina Ann Simpson (née Drew), a homemaker,[2] and Joseph Simpson, a psychologist and Baptist youth minister.[citation needed] Simpson's parents married in 1978; they divorced in 2013.[3][4][5][6] Simpson has stated that she grew up in Dallas and Waco, but her parents now live in McGregor, Texas.[7] Simpson has a younger sister, Ashlee.[8] In her preteens she briefly attended Amelia Middle School while her father did outreach in Cincinnati, Ohio. After moving back to Texas 20 months later, she attended J. J. Pearce High School in Richardson 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.[9][10][11] Simpson was raised in the Christian faith, and was given a purity ring by her father when she was twelve years old.[12] 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 for a few years.

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.[58] 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.[59] Simpson embarked on her Reality Tour (2004) throughout North America beginning in June; the tour was a financial success, and ended in October.[60] 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.[61] Simpson's fourth studio album, a collection of Christmas themed songs titled ReJoyce: The Christmas Album (2004), was released on November 23.[62] 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.[63] Also in 2004, Simpson filmed a sitcom pilot for ABC, which the network did not pick-up.[64] 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.