Jessica Simpson : Pop Singer and Actress

By Kristyne McDaniel

Born July 10th in 1980, Jessica Simpson has since become one of the biggest pop stars to make the leap into films and television, and rose to fame throughout most of the late Nineties with other luminaries of popular music such as her former husband Nick Lachey and fellow chanteuses Britney Spears and her sister Ashlee as well.  From a start as an American singer to starring in a reality TV series to producing her own line of products, as well as endorsing a few, and on into serious film acting, she has a certain sense of momentum that has yet to stop her singing career.

Jessica Simpson was raised in Texas, and started singing in her church choir, also taking the time to unsuccessfully apply for inclusion in the New Mickey Mouse Club.  She was discovered singing in church camp by the head of a Christian record label, and recorded over the next three years, even though the label folded before the record could be released.  She dropped out in her senior year to tour and promote her demo album, which had been funded by her grandmother, and later earning her diploma through a GED.

During this time, she toured the Christian Youth Conference circuit performing with a number of popular Christian performers, and selling copies of her demo album with her father after each performance.  An executive at Columbia records acquired such a demo, and promptly set about to sign
Jessica as a pop singer, thinking she had quite a bit of potential.  In late 1999, she released her debut album, and proved that it could be successful.  In the summer of 2001, she released her second album and found it an improvement on her debut release, but the sales were less than satisfactory in comparison to her previous effort.

In 2002 on October 26th, Jessica Simpson married longtime beau Nick Lachey, and the pair became the focus for a reality television show during the summer of 2003 that began airing on MTV.  During four seasons, the show became a hit with viewers, and has been considered the crowning achievement in her career.  After releasing her third album, Jessica released a holiday album in 2004, and has since starred in various films in various states of release.