From contemporary Christian starlet to mainstream MTV darling, singer-turned-actress Jessica Simpson, born July 10th, 1980, has seen her popularity spread like a firestorm following the success of her 1999 major-label debut, Sweet Kisses. In the years that followed, Simpson's fledgling career would continue to gain momentum with a series of television appearances including a recurring role in the popular sitcom That '70s Show. After starring alongside husband Nick Lachey in the popular MTV reality series Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, it seemed that the stage diva might finally be setting her sights on Hollywood when it was announced that Simpson beat out teen-idol rival Britney Spears to land the coveted role of Daisy Duke in the eagerly anticipated feature-film version of The Dukes of Hazzard.
Born and raised in Dallas, TX, the future superstar realized her calling early on in life, and after making a strong impression on her church choir, Simpson soon gathered the courage to audition for a featured role on The Mickey Mouse Club revival show MMC. Though Simpson was turned down for the role that was eventually filled by Spears and later Christina Aguilera, the determined songstress was discovered the following summer by the head of a Contemporary Christian music label and spent the next three years crafting her debut album. When the small label folded before Simpson's freshman effort was released, the young singer's grandmother showed faith in her granddaughter's talent by putting up the funding needed for a small pressing, and Simpson's popularity on the CCM scene boomed. Signing to Sony shortly thereafter, Simpson found strong crossover appeal with the release of her major label debut, Sweet Kisses in 1999. Released the same year as both Spears' and Aguilera's wildly successful debut albums, Sweet Kisses allowed Simpson to finally achieved pop superstardom alongside two of the biggest rising stars on the pop music scene.
After Simpson married 98° singer Nick Lachey in the fall of 2002, her star continued to rise when the couple appeared in MTV's Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica the following year. Coming on the heels of a series of successful television guest appearances, Simpson's lovably ditzy onscreen persona and conventional beauty in Newlyweds showed remarkable potential for a successful career in film and television in addition to her already established role as a pop superstar. By the time Simpson was signed to appear in the big-screen adaptation of the popular 1980s television series The Dukes of Hazzard, audiences were already familiar with her likeable onscreen presence, and her winning combination of blonde beauty and playful innocence made her the perfect choice to fill the Daisy Dukes of the character whose name has since become synonymous with the popular cutoff jean shorts of that era. Subsequently cast as a bombshell cashier whose habit of only dating employees bestowed with the titular honor spraks a bitter competition between two male rivals in the 2006 comedy Employee of the Month. In the years to come, Simpson would continue to find success in various areas, including hosting the documentary series Jessica Simpson: The Price of Beauty.
