Ashlee Simpson | |
|---|---|
 Simpson in 2012 | |
| Born | (1984-10-03)October 3, 1984 (age 40) Waco, Texas, U.S. |
| Other names | Ashlee Simpson-Wentz Ashlee Simpson Ross |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Jessica Simpson (sister) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Pop rock |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Labels | |
| Member of | Ashlee + Evan |
Musical artist | |
Ashley Nicolle Ross-Næss[3] (néeSimpson; born October 3, 1984),[4][5][6][7] also known asAshlee Simpson, is an American singer, songwriter, actress and television personality.[8] The younger sister of singer and actressJessica Simpson, she began her career as a back-up dancer for her sister and appeared in television commercials at the age of 15. Simpson later pursued a career as an actress and had a main role on the family drama7th Heaven. She appeared on the reality showNewlyweds: Nick and Jessica, broadcast onMTV between 2003 and 2005, which focused on Ashlee's older sister Jessica and Jessica's then-husbandNick Lachey. While working on her debut studio album, Simpson became the star of a spin-off reality series,The Ashlee Simpson Show, which was broadcast on MTV between 2004 and 2005. Like her sister before her, Simpson became the center of considerable media attention.
Her breakout came with her debut single, "Pieces of Me", which was released in 2004, reached the top five on the USBillboard Hot 100 and topped theBillboard Mainstream Top 40 chart based on radio airplay. The success of the single and her reality show helped propel her debut album,Autobiography, also released in 2004, to the top of the USBillboard 200 albums chart. The project sold over five million copies worldwide, making it her most successful album to date. Simpson had a leading role in the filmUndiscovered (2005), which was critically and commercially unsuccessful. The failure of the film, along with multiple critically panned performances, led to media scrutiny. Simpson's second studio album,I Am Me (2005), debuted atop theBillboard 200, becoming her second album to do so. The album went on to receive a platinum certification from theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Following her appearance as Roxie Hart in theWest End production ofChicago, Simpson announced that she had begun working on her third studio album. The album differed from the pop-rock sound of her previous efforts, featuring a dance-pop and 1980s-themed sound.Bittersweet World was released in 2008 to positive critical reception. It saw a decline in sales, and reached number 4 on theBillboard 200. The following year, Simpson joined the main cast of theMelrose Place revamp, which was met with harsh critical reception. Later that year, she made her Broadway debut reprising her role as Roxie Hart inChicago on Broadway.
Simpson announced a fourth studio album that same year. She independently released the single "Bat for a Heart" (2012), which failed to garner success. Simpson eventually scrapped the album and focused on raising her child. Simpson reprised her role as Roxie Hart for the third time in a 2-dates special production inHollywood Bowl in July 2013 directed byBrooke Shields. In October 2018, Simpson and her husbandEvan Ross released their debutextended play (EP) byAshlee + Evan throughAccess Records, which was supported by a tour in select cities across North America, and their TV reality showAshlee + Evan.[9]
Born as Ashley Nicolle inWaco, Texas in 1984, Simpson's parents are Tina and Joe Simpson. She has one older sister,Jessica Simpson. Both she and Jessica attended Prairie Creek Elementary and North Junior High, located inRichardson, Texas, where the girls were raised.[10][11] When she was three years old, she began studying classicalballet. She enrolled at theSchool of American Ballet inNew York City when she was eleven, becoming the youngest person ever to be admitted into the school.[12][13] Though the age requirement for the school was twelve, Simpson's father admitted to lying about her age.[14] During this time, Simpson suffered from an unnamed eating disorder for about six months, eventually receiving treatment from her parents.[15] The Simpson family relocated toLos Angeles,California, in 1999, as Jessica pursued a singing career.[16] While Jessica launched her career, Ashlee began appearing in television commercials.[16] Her father, Joe, served as her agent.[16]
Following the commercial success of Jessica's debut albumSweet Kisses (1999), Ashlee became one of her back-up dancers on tour.[17] Hoping to pursue a career in acting, Simpson had a minor guest appearance on an episode ofMalcolm in the Middle.[18] The following year, Simpson had a small role as Monique in theRob Schneider comedy filmThe Hot Chick (2002).[17] She joined the seventh season of the family drama7th Heaven as Cecilia Smith, a role which she continued to portray in the eighth season. Simpson appeared in a total of forty episodes as Cecilia.[17] That same year, Ashlee recorded a song titled "Christmas Past, Present, and Future" for the holiday albumSchool's Out! Christmas; the song was later re-released onRadio Disney Jingle Jams following Simpson's musical breakthrough.[19] She later recorded the song "Just Let Me Cry" for thesoundtrack to the filmFreaky Friday (2003).[17] Simpson later began writing and recording demos, in hopes of finding a record label. It was confirmed a month after the release of theFreaky Friday soundtrack that Simpson had signed withGeffen Records to release her debut studio album.[17]
It was announced that Jessica Simpson and then-husbandNick Lachey would star in their ownMTV reality series,Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica.[20] The series, which chronicled Simpson and Lachey's life as a married couple, became a pop culture phenomenon and helped draw attention to the Simpson sisters.[20] Ashlee was aVJ onTRL onMTV in the United States during the summer of 2003.[21] Following the success of the series, it was confirmed that Simpson would receive her own series,The Ashlee Simpson Show.[22] Hoping to end comparisons between her and her sister, Ashlee wanted the series to focus on the recording of her debut album.[23] During this time, Simpson also dyed her naturally blonde hair brown, a decision that received media attention.[17] While filming the show, Simpson appeared in the music video for musicianRyan Cabrera's debut single "On the Way Down" (2004), portraying herself as Cabrera's love interest.[17] The couple later began a romantic relationship, with Cabrera inspiring multiple songs for Simpson's album.[17]
Simpson wanted her debut album to consist of pop-rock music, as she did not listen to pop music.[24] The project was produced byJohn Shanks, while Simpson co-wrote all of the songs on the album.[25] She also worked with songwriterKara DioGuardi on the album, with DioGuardi receiving credits on seven of the album's tracks.[26] The album's lead single, "Pieces of Me", became a hit in the United States. The song reached the top five on theBillboard Hot 100 chart and topped theMainstream Top 40 chart based on pop radio airplay.[27] "Pieces of Me" earned a gold certification from theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting 500,000 copies of the single being sold. Her debut album,Autobiography, was released on July 20, 2004, to a generally mixed critical reception. The album debuted at the top of theBillboard 200 albums chart in the United States, selling an estimated 398,000 copies in its first week of release.[28] It was the highest-selling debut album by a female artist that year, going on to sell over 2.5 million copies in the United States by January 2005.[29] The success of the album and its lead single was attributed to the exposure from her reality television series.[17] The album sold over five million copies worldwide.
On October 23, 2004, Simpson appeared as a musical guest on an episode ofSaturday Night Live to promote the album. After suffering from what Simpson said was vocal cord inflammation caused by acid reflux on the day of the live broadcast, she lost her voice and was unable to complete the final rehearsals. She decided to use a pre-recorded vocal track as support in the two scheduled performances for the evening.
Her first performance, "Pieces of Me," went smoothly. However, when the band prepared to play the second song, the title track "Autobiography", an incorrectly played vocal track from the previously performed song was mistakenly triggered before Simpson reached the microphone. The vocal track was promptly lowered, but in the meantime, the band also synchronized with the notes of "Pieces of Me" to mitigate the error, causing even more confusion. Simpson initially reacted with a briefjig, but after about 30 seconds she left the stage. Her band continued playing, prompting the production to initiate a commercial break. Later, Simpson reappeared during the closing credits with the evening's host,Jude Law, saying: "My band started playing the wrong song, and I didn't know what to do, so I thought I'd do a hoedown. I'm sorry. This is live TV. These things happen!"[30]
The incident triggered a strong backlash from the audience and media, and Simpson was accused of lip-syncing.[31][32] Days later, Simpson called music video seriesTotal Request Live and said that she had almost completely lost her voice. Her drummer had accidentally pressed the wrong button, playing the incorrect track and causing the technical error.
A60 Minutes segment onSaturday Night Live, recorded behind the scenes on the same night as the incident and broadcast the following week, supported Simpson's account, showing her suffering voice loss during the dress rehearsals, and eventually leaving the studio in tears. However, Simpson continued to face criticism.SNL's producerLorne Michaels stated that he was unaware of the plans of using lip-synching and that if he had known, he would never have allowed it. He also said that Simpson was the only musical guest ever to have walked off stage during a live performance. Simpson said of the incident, "I made a complete fool of myself."[32]
Despite the negative media attention surrounding the incident, Simpson released "Shadow" as the second single fromAutobiography in the United States. The song did not receive a release in European territories. It failed to have the success of its predecessor, though it did reach the top twenty of the Mainstream Top 40 chart, becoming her second hit on the chart.[33] The song lyrically spoke of her views towards her older sister's success. The song received a positive critical reception, with some praising it as a highlight for the album. "La La" was released as the album's third and final single in January 2005, and again failed to match the success of "Pieces of Me". Despite a low peak on the Hot 100 chart, the song received a gold certification from the RIAA. The song served as only the second single in European territories.[33] Simpson and Cabrera ended their relationship, though the two remained friends.[34] At theTeen Choice Awards on August 8, 2004, Simpson received the "Song of the Summer" Teen Choice Award for "Pieces of Me", as well as the "Fresh Face" Award.[35] She also won theBillboard Award for New Female Artist of the Year in December,[36] and in the same month,Entertainment Weekly named her one of its Breakout Stars of 2004.[37]
In January 2005, gossip news outlets began speculating that Simpson and actorWilmer Valderrama were romantically involved, leading to rumors of a "love triangle" between the pair and Valderrama's ex-girlfriendLindsay Lohan.[17] Despite this, representatives for Simpson claimed that the two had been friends for years, and there was no romantic interest.[17] Simpson appeared as a musical guest during halftime at the2005 Orange Bowl inMiami, Florida. Her performance of "La La" garnered a negative reception from the crowd, leading to boos.[38] In February 2005, Simpson embarked on herAutobiography Tour throughout North America.[39] Featuring a total of thirty-seven shows, the tour saw Simpson performing songs from her debut album, as well as covers and a previously unreleased song.[40] While on tour, Simpson wrote material for her second studio album. Simpson had a supporting role in the filmUndiscovered, portraying an aspiring actress named Clea, but the film was a critical and commercial failure, and it earned Simpson a nomination forWorst Supporting Actress at the2005 Golden Raspberry Awards.[41]
Simpson released her second studio album,I Am Me, in October 2005. The album featured similar pop-rock themes as found on her debut effort, though Simpson hoped to incorporate the feel of music from the 1980s into her sound.[42] Much like her previous release, Simpson co-wrote all of the songs on the album. It became her second album to debut at the top of theBillboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 220,000 copies in the United States.[43] The album failed to match the success ofAutobiography, though it went on to sell over three million copies worldwide.[17] The album's lead single, "Boyfriend", was written and composed about the rumors between Simpson and Valderama, and it became her second top-twenty hit in the United States.[44] For the release of the album, Simpson went back to her blonde hair.[17] The album's second and final single, "L.O.V.E.", entered the top forty in the United States.[44] Simpson appeared for a second time as a musical performer onSaturday Night Live, performing the song "Catch Me When I Fall", which was inspired by her previous appearance on the series, as well as "Boyfriend". This time, both songs were performed without any adverse incident.[17] In mid-December, Simpson collapsed after performing in Japan and was briefly hospitalized, consequently canceling an appearance at theRadio Music Awards. The collapse and her subsequent hospitalization were attributed to exhaustion as a result of her busy work schedule.[45]
Simpson embarked on herI Am Me Tour in the final months of 2005 and began dating her drummer Braxton Olita.[17] In March 2006, Simpson won an MTV celebrity surfing invitational competition, which also featured celebrities such asMeagan Good,Jack Osbourne,Ashley Parker Angel, andTony Hawk. On April 12, 2006, she hosted and performed at theMTV Australia Video Music Awards, where she won "Best Female Artist" and "Best Pop Video" for the single "Boyfriend".[46] Simpson had anose job in April 2006. In the May 2007 issue ofHarper's Bazaar, she said that she was neither insecure about her appearance nor had been so beforehand. She said that plastic surgery was a "personal choice" that one should only decide to do for oneself and not for others.[47] In a September 2007 interview, her father, Joe Simpson, explained of the surgery Ashlee had undergone: "There was a real problem with her breathing and that was cured."[48] In the middle of 2006, Simpson gave an interview toMarie Claire magazine, in which she was said to have "had it with Hollywood's twisted view of feminine beauty" and was photographed painting a pro-female mural with a group of underprivileged girls from Los Angeles' Green Dot Public School.[49] By the time the magazine hit newsstands, Simpson had already had her nose job, and someMarie Claire readers complained that this was hypocritical. The magazine received over 1,000 letters of complaint and the magazine's new editor expanded the letters section of the September issue of the magazine to give readers a chance to vent their frustrations.[50][51]
Simpson embarked on her third North American tour, theL.O.V.E. Tour, to further promote her sophomore album. It was announced thatI Am Me would be re-released in the following months featuring a new single "Invisible", a cover of aJaded Era song.[52] The single was released in June 2006 and went on to peak at number 21 on the Hot 100. It became her second single to enter the top ten of the Mainstream Top 40 chart based on pop radio airplay.[53] Eventually, it was confirmed that a re-release ofI Am Me had been scrapped. In 2006, Simpson was cast asRoxie Hart in theWest End musical production ofChicago from September 25 to October 28, 2006. She received mostly positive reviews.[54] Her performance in the show was described as "dazzling and near flawless".[55] Following her split with Olita, it was confirmed that Simpson was in a relationship withFall Out Boy band memberPete Wentz.[56]
Following her appearance as Roxie Hart, Simpson confirmed that she had begun working on her third studio album, initially slated for release in late 2007.[57] Geffen Records chairmanRon Fair said in December 2006 that working on Simpson's next album would be "very tricky" because of press scrutiny and "prejudices", but that Geffen would work with her to overcome that, "because she deserves to be heard and she deserves a shot."[58] Hoping to transition to a new sound, Simpson enlisted producersTimbaland andThe Neptunes to provide "beat-oriented" songs for the project.[59] Simpson released the album's lead single, "Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)", in December 2007. The song featured elements ofsynthpop and was heavily influenced by the pop-music scene of the 1980s.[60] The single failed to chart on the Hot 100 chart in the United States, though it had moderate success in international territories.Bittersweet World, Simpson's third studio album, was released on April 19, 2008. The album saw a decline for Simpson, debuting at number 4 on theBillboard 200 with first-week sales of 47,000 copies.[61] Simpson launched a collection oftops in partnership with the clothing retailerWet Seal on April 22, 2008, the same dayBittersweet World was released in the United States.[62] The album went on to sell 126,000 copies within the first year of its release, making it her lowest-selling album to date.[63] The release served as Simpson's final album through Geffen Records.
In February 2008, Simpson began wearing a diamond ring. She later explained that it was apromise ring from Wentz.[64] In April 2008, Simpson and Wentz confirmed their engagement,[65] and they wed on May 17, 2008, at Simpson's parents' residence inEncino, California, with her father officiating the ceremony.[66] She changed her surname from Simpson to Wentz, and during the marriage was known professionally as Ashlee Simpson-Wentz.[67] It was during this time that Simpson released the song "Little Miss Obsessive" as the second single fromBittersweet World.[68] The song did not receive a European release and hit a peak of 96 on the Hot 100 chart in the United States.[68] She also began appearing in commercials for Canadian retailerZellers to promote their independent clothing line,Request, in mid-2008. Two weeks after her wedding, Simpson announced her pregnancy, thus ending promotion of "Little Miss Obsessive" and the parent album.[17] Simpson gave birth to a son on November 20, 2008.[69]
In 2009, Simpson returned full-time to television episodes by playing the role ofViolet Foster inMelrose Place,The CW's revamp of the 1990s seriesMelrose Place.[70] She was originally signed to the show as a regular, but producers andCW executives decided to write out her character. Simpson left the show after twelve episodes and stated that she had known all along that her character would leave the show once the murder mystery storyline had concluded.[71][72] Despite this, Ashlee's sister has spoken out against the series, claiming that Simpson brought the show free press.[17] After her departure fromMelrose Place, Simpson reprised her role in the Broadway musical production ofChicago. She began her Broadway run on November 30, 2009, and performed in New York for eight shows a week until February 7, 2010.[73] On February 9, 2011, Simpson filed for divorce from Wentz, citingirreconcilable differences, and asked that her maiden name be restored.[74] The divorce was finalized on November 22, 2011.[75][76] The former couple released a joint statement following the announcement, stating "We remain friends and deeply committed and loving parents to our son Bronx, whose happiness and well-being remains our number one priority."[17] Simpson appeared on the second episode of The CW'sAmerica's Next Top Model, Cycle 17 as a guest judge. She created a fashion line aimed at girls aged seven to sixteen in collaboration with her sister's successful brand. Simpson is the co-creative director of the line, which was released in the winter of 2011.[77]
Shortly after her separation from Wentz, it was confirmed that Simpson was in a relationship with actorVincent Piazza, though the two ended their relationship nearly a year and a half after they started dating.[78] Simpson confirmed during an interview in 2011 that she had begun working on her fourth studio album, which she described as having a "folk feel".[79][80] In 2012, Simpson independently released the single "Bat for a Heart". Though the single featured explicit lyrics and a racy music video, it failed to have any success.[81] The track was written and composed by songwriterLinda Perry.[82] The song received a mixed reception upon its release.[82] Simpson later claimed that the album was developing more of an electronic sound.[83] However, "Bat for a Heart" served as Simpson's final musical release for several years afterward, with no future musical plans announced and her music website being shut down.[84] In June 2012, it was announced that Simpson was filmingPawn Shop Chronicles inBaton Rouge, Louisiana, a comedy movie released in 2013.[85][86]
Simpson portrayed the character of Roxie Hart for a third time in the musicalChicago, this time in the Hollywood Bowl production of the show.[87] Simpson's performance received mixed reviews, though she was described as an "audience favorite".[88] In July 2013, it was reported that Simpson had begun dating actorEvan Ross, son of singerDiana Ross.[89] Simpson and Ross became engaged in January 2014,[90] and married on August 30, 2014, at Diana Ross's estate inConnecticut.[91] The couple welcomed a daughter on July 30, 2015.[92] The same month, Simpson and her husband filed requests to change their surname to Ross-Næss. Næss was her husband's original legal surname (from his father, businessmanArne Næss Jr.), while Ross was his mother's surname.[3]
In May 2016, Simpson said she was eschewing a possible return to acting in order to focus on making a new album: "I've been writing music with my husband and that's been so much fun, we've just been [trying to] find our sound, we've written like 10 songs but we're going to write a whole bunch more."[93] But in early 2005, her music website went offline—with an error—for months and, as of early September 2018, it remained offline despite her claims to return to music.[84] In 2018, Simpson and Evan Ross teamed up with French brand Zadig & Voltaire and designed a unisex clothing collection titled "Jagger Snow".[94]
That same year, Simpson voiced Strelka in the animated movieSpace Dogs Adventure to the Moon, alongsideAlicia Silverstone.[95] Simpson also confirmed toUs Weekly that new music would be released in 2019, which appeared to suggest she was working on her upcoming fourth studio album after an eleven-year hiatus.[96]
On September 9, 2018, she was slated to return to the world of TV-reality shows withAshlee+Evan, onE! Entertainment Television.[97][98] Simpson and Ross released their debut duet single, "I Do", on September 7, 2018.[99] The couple was expected to release a full-length album later that year,[100] but instead released an extended play record,Ashlee + Evan.
In April 2020, Simpson announced she was pregnant with her third child, a son.[101] She gave birth on October 29, 2020.[102]
She played Kate in the Christmas filmThe Recipe Files, aired on QVC+ on November 24, 2023.[103]
Simpson has appeared on the covers of numerous magazines, including the USA'sWomen's Health,Jane,CosmoGirl,Shape,Allure,YM,Marie Claire,Redbook andSeventeen; Germany'sGlamour; Japan'sBlenda andElle; and Russia'sElle Girl.[104] She has appeared on several international editions ofCosmopolitan, such as Georgia, Serbia, Russia, Italy, Greece, Ukraine, Slovenia, Netherlands, US and Australia. She has appeared in television commercials for Liquid Ice,HP,Zellers andPizza Hut. She appeared in print ads forSkechers andThermaSilk.[105][106]
Forbes listed Simpson as one of the "Richest Young Celebrities", it is reported she earned $8.3 million in 2005.Forbes placed Simpson and her then-husband Pete Wentz at No. 20 on their list of "Top 20 Celebrity Cash Couples" with their $9.5 million combined income.[107]
With the release ofAutobiography, Simpson instantaneously became marketed as an "anti-Britney", drawing comparisons to artists such asAvril Lavigne andFefe Dobson.[108][109] The media noted her "punk-rock" image and style as a contrast to her sister Jessica.[110][111] With the success of Jessica's reality television seriesNewlyweds, the sisters became household names in the media and became the focus of much attention.[112][113][114] She cites her childhood as being the time when she began to sing and admits that she dreamed of being on Broadway and did not expect to break into the pop music scene.[115]
Vocally, Simpson is analto with a two-octavevocal range.[116][117] She trains with a vocal coach, and studiesEtta James andAretha Franklin albums for vocal inspiration.[118] She has citedGuns N' Roses,Gwen Stefani,No Doubt,Joan Jett,The Runaways,Madonna,Pat Benatar,Green Day,Alanis Morissette,Fiona Apple,Chrissie Hynde, andDebbie Harry fromBlondie as her musical influences.[119][120][121]
In March 2025,Billboard named Simpson the 78th biggest female artist of the 21st century.[122]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | The Hot Chick | Monique | |
| 2005 | Undiscovered | Clea | |
| 2013 | Pawn Shop Chronicles | Theresa | |
| 2016 | Space Dogs Adventure to the Moon | Strelka | Voice |
| 2023 | The Recipe Files | Kate | QVC+ original film[123] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Malcolm in the Middle | Malcolm's classmate | Episode: "Reese Cooks" |
| 2002–2004 | 7th Heaven | Cecilia Smith | Main role (Seasons 7–8); 40 episodes |
| 2003–2005 | Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica | Herself | Reality show |
| 2004–2005 | The Ashlee Simpson Show | ||
| 2008 | Dog Whisperer | Episode: "Cricket and Hemingway & Rigby" | |
| 2009 | CSI: NY | Lila Wickfield | Episode: "Point of No Return" |
| 2009–2010 | Melrose Place | Violet Foster | Main role; 13 episodes |
| 2011 | America's Next Top Model | Guest judge | Episode: "Ashlee Simpson" |
| 2018 | Ashlee + Evan | Herself | Also asexecutive producer |
| 2020 | The Bachelor Presents: Listen to Your Heart | Guest judge | Episode: "Week 5" |
| 2024 | Celebrity Family Food Battle | Herself / Contestant | Episode: "Chudney and the Chocolate Factory" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Chicago | Roxie Hart | West End |
| 2009 | Broadway | ||
| 2013 | Hollywood Bowl |
Media from Commons
Quotations from Wikiquote
Data from Wikidata| International | |
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| National | |
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| Other | |
