Jessica Ann Johnson (née Simpson; born July 10, 1980)[1] is an American singer, actress, and fashion designer.

Her debut studio album, Sweet Kisses (1999), sold two million copies in the United States and was led by the Billboard Hot 100-top three single "I Wanna Love You Forever".

[13] 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.

[14] She advanced through multiple rounds, eventually being a semi-finalist for the show alongside artists such as Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Justin Timberlake.

[14] Mottola hoped to market Simpson as a contrast to Spears and Aguilera, both of whom had launched successful careers focused on dancing and sexuality.

[20] The song earned a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales exceeding one million copies in the country.

[40] Simpson announced her engagement to Nick Lachey in February 2002,[41] with the two holding their wedding ceremony on October 26 in Austin, Texas.

[48] The album's opening numbers served as the lowest of Simpson's career at the time, and by December 2003 had sold over 565,000 copies in the United States.

[54] 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.

[68] To promote the film, Simpson recorded "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'", a cover of the Nancy Sinatra song with additional lyrics.

[77] The song peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, and earned a gold certification from the RIAA for sales exceeding 500,000 copies in the United States.

[78] Simpson starred alongside Dane Cook and Dax Shepard in the comedy film Employee of the Month, released that October.

[97] Simpson opened for country music group Rascal Flatts on their Bob That Head Tour from January to March 2009.

[105] Simpson signed a new recording contract with eleveneleven and Primary Wave Music and released her Christmas-themed seventh studio album.

[107] Simpson began dating retired NFL tight end Eric Johnson in May 2010[108] and married July 2014 in Montecito, California.

[115] In May 2012, Simpson appeared alongside Nicole Richie as a mentor on the NBC reality television series Fashion Star.

[120] She introduced a bedroom decor line including bedding and draperies offered in a romantic bohemian style, with floral patterns.

[127] On February 2, 2020, Simpson released her memoir Open Book, which topped The New York Times Best Seller list selling over 59,000 copies in its first week.

[128][129] In the book, she discussed her marriage to Nick Lachey, her relationship with musician John Mayer, sexual abuse she experienced during her childhood, dependence on alcohol and prescription drugs, and body image issues.

[137][138] Songs such as "Irresistible" and "A Little Bit" had more provocative lyrics in comparison to her previous release, with Simpson citing the age difference between the recording of the two albums as the main reason.

[141] The result was In This Skin (2003), a record that AllMusic said "stay[ed] within the contemporary dance-pop realm while inching toward the middle-of-the-road diva that she's always yearned to be.

Numerous songs on her fifth studio album feature elements of dance and disco music, including "A Public Affair" and her cover of "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)".

[143][144] Inspired by artists such as Faith Hill, Shania Twain, and Martina McBride, Simpson recorded a country music album titled Do You Know (2008).

[146] Simpson came to prominence as a teen idol in the late 1990s and the media described her as Columbia Records's "blond response to Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera", who had achieved recent success with their respective debut albums.

[148] Simpson later described Columbia's record executive Tommy Mottola as abusive, as he attempted to control her image and told her to "lose fifteen pounds" after she signed her contract in 1997.

[147] Upon Simpson's rise to stardom with the success of Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica in 2003, media critics and the public perceived her as a "ditzy blonde" based on her antics and comments on the show.

"[147] Simpson recalled her time in the show in her 2020 memoir Open Book, saying: "Nowadays, I see so many people performing their identities on social media, but I feel like I was a guinea pig for that.

[157] Simpson claimed that the "[Daisy Duke] role created a "gold standard" that she would be judged by in the years that followed",[153] and the media scrutinized her intensely following her weight gain in 2009.

[161] Simpson praised former First Lady Michelle Obama during her husband's time in office, stating, "She's such an incredible woman, and she's with such a powerful man...Everything she does she exudes confidence.

"[162] In April 2004, Simpson performed in VH1's benefit concert Divas Live 2004 alongside Ashanti, Cyndi Lauper, Gladys Knight, Joss Stone and Patti LaBelle to support the Save the Music Foundation.