From Stacy Ferguson to the Dutchess of Hip Hop: Fergie's Life Story so Far

In 2003, Stacy Ferguson joined the band, The Black Eyed Peas, as a replacement for singer Kim Hill, who left the group in 2000. She recorded five songs with the group before she was invited to join permanently. Since then she has become popularly known as "Fergie" and "the Dutchess", and the collaboration has propelled the previously low profile Fergie and The Black Eyed Peas into the public eye. As a result, Stacy Ferguson has finally realized a lifelong dream of having her own solo album which is called The Dutchess. This variant spelling of Duchess will no doubt help you distinguish between Stacy Ferguson and the sound-alikeformerDuchess of York, Sarah Ferguson.

Stacy Ferguson was born in Whittier, California on March 27, 1975 and has actually been in the entertainment business since she was 9 years old. Her parents, Patrick Ferguson and Terri Gore, encouraged and supported both Stacy and her sister, Dana, in their show business endeavors. Growing up in Hacienda Heights, she attended Glen A. Wilson High School where she was a member of the cheerleading squad.

In 1984, Stacy Ferguson won a role on the television program Kids Incorporated, and also provided the voice for Sally Brown in It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown. Stacy did two more Charlie Brown specials and continued as a Kids Incorporated kid until a music career beckoned.

In 1991, 16-year old Stacy was teamed with Kids Incorporated co-star Renee Sandstrom and another teen actress, Stefanie Ridel. They formed the girl group, Wild Orchid, and sold a million copies with their self-titleddebut album. Wild Orchid also hosted the Fox Family Family Channel's Saturday morning show, Great Pretenders, which featured chart hits lip-synched by everyday kids. Sales of Wild Orchid's follow-up album failed to match their initial success. The group's third album was not even released by their label and they were dropped from the roster. Asdreams of more Wild Orchid success went out the window, a depressed and unhappy Stacy developed an addiction to ecstasy and crystal methamphetamine.