Jessica Simpson Biography

Jessica learnt to sing in the local Baptist church choir and her Christian/Country roots would form a continual thread throughout her career. She hoped to launch her professional career by joining 'The Mickey Mouse Club' (the launch pad for her more successful rivals, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera), but the 12-year-old was rejected. Disappointed but undaunted, Simpson continued to sing in the Christian music circuit after being discovered by a small music label while performing at church camp.

With her father as her manager and her mother as her stylist, Simpson eventually signed with Sony and toured with popular boy bands during the late 1990s. She released her first album, 'Sweet Kisses', in 1999 and her second, 'Irresistible', including the hit single 'I Wanna Love You Forever', in 2001. Success for Simpson remained just out of reach, however. Her albums received a somewhat lukewarm response and were eclipsed by the enormous success of pop contemporaries Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.

It wasn't until after she married 98° crooner Nick Lachey and starred in MTV's reality show 'Newlyweds' that Simpson's career took off. The show followed the couple around for their first year of marriage (and then their second), providing the insatiable audience with a peek at their glamorous and mundane world. Boosted by the success of the show, Simpson's third album, 'In This Skin', was re-released in 2004, becoming a huge hit among MTV viewers. That year, the couple also produced 'The Nick and Jessica Variety Hour' on ABC and enjoyed a successful turn as hosts of 'Saturday Night Live'.

Simpson soon turned to acting with a leading role in 'Dukes of Hazzard' (2005), the big screen remake of the popular television series. By the end of that same year, Simpson and Lachey filed for divorce. Her career also seemed to flounder, appearing opposite comedian Dane Cook in the lacklustre comedy 'Employee of the Month' (2006) and receiving little notice for her next album 'A Public Affair' (2006).

Returning to her love of country music, Simpson recorded 'Do You Know' (2008). The album made it into the top five of Billboard's album charts. She co-wrote many of the songs for the album, which featured a duet with Dolly Parton on the title track. Simpson is now working on a new reality show entitled 'The Price of Beauty', which will explore beauty treatments, fashions, and fads.

Her last relationship with American footballer Tony Romo ended after his career suffered and even President Bush blamed Simpson, calling the decline in his fortunes, the "Jessica Jinx".

In 2010, Jessica released a greatest hits album 'Playlist: The Very Best of Jessica Simpson', along with a Christmas album which was released in November of that year.

While Simpson may not have been as successful as the likes of Britney and Christina in her music career, the star has developed a hugely popular clothing empire.

In fact, the Jessica Simpson Collection is on track to become the first celebrity fashion line to generate more than a billion dollars in annual sales. Simpson's mother is the company's co-creative director.

She has also found love again and is set to marry former NFL player Eric Johnson. Simpson told Women's Wear Daily in 2011 that the pair may opt for a low-key ceremony when they tie the knot as they have both been married before.

Simpson also revealed that she is planning to "part design" her own wedding gown.

In 2011, the star said she has spoken to the makers of the US X Factor about being a judge on the show. The singer and fashion designer said it "would be a lot of fun" and suggested that mentoring up-and-coming singers is something she might like to do.

However, this job was given to Nicole Scherzinger of Pussycat Dolls fame. Jessica did work as a mentor on NBC's new reality show 'Fashion Star' with Elle McPherson. The singer appeared on the show in July 2011 alongside Christina Aguilera.

Simpson made an official announcement that she is pregnant with her first child on her official website at Halloween.

She dressed up as a mummy Halloween costume and cradled her baby bump. She joked that she is going to be a mummy herself after months of speculation surrounding the star. In November 2011, she was thought to be six months gone.

The singer also postponed her wedding to Johnson, which was set to take place in November 2011 as she wants to wait until after the birth of their child.

Simpson explained that the couple will still get married but she doesn't want the stress of a wedding when she is pregnant.

A source told People magazine: "They're both still really committed to getting married, and were both really into making decisions about what kind of wedding they wanted."