Biography of Jessica Simpson, Popular Singer

Jessica Simpson, born July 10, 1980 in Abilene, Texas is a popular singer worldwide and has released five gold and two multi-platinum RIAA certified albums. She gained the most popularity during the time period of her show, Newlyweds, starring herself and husband Nick Lachey. She has so far achieved seven Billboard Top 40 hits and released her own line of beauty products, as well as star in a major movie, Dukes of Hazzard.

Simpson's father Joe was a psychologist who also served as youth minister in the local Baptist church. Simpson began singing in her Baptist church choir and was well known on the religious music circuit. She was discovered by an executive at a small Christian record label while singing at a church camp. She attended J.J. Pearce High School in Richardson, Texas and dropped in out in her senior year (eventually obtaining her GED) to go on tour. This tour was promoting her demo album, funded by her grandmother, Joyce. During this time, she also toured with the Christian Youth Conference circuit performing with Kirk Franklin, God's Property and CeCe Winans. Her father (who always remained her manager!) sold copies of the album after these performances.

Tommy Mottola of Columbia Records later obtained a copy of the album and, stunned by her vocal skills, signed her to a recording contract. It was this union that bridged Simpson from Christian gospel music to pop. After signing up with the music giant, her debut album Sweet Kisses was released in 1999, producing singles such as "I Wanna Love You Forever" and "I Think I'm In Love With You." She then hit the road and to promote. She joined boy band 98 Degrees for the tour and it didn't take long for her to fall in love with one of its members, Nick Lachey. Their romance only helped promote the release of their duet, "Where You Are," off Sweet Kisses. In June 2001, her sophomore album Irresistible was released. The title track Irresistible soared to No. 3 on the Top 40 mainstream charts. Then, on October 26, 2002, at age 22, Jessica Simpson married Nick Lachey. She famously claimed that she was a virgin until her wedding night.