Early life
Jessica Simpson was born in Abilene, Texas. She began singing at her local Baptist church. She auditioned for the Mickey Mouse Club and made it to the finals at the age of twelve. She attended J.J. Pearce High School, but dropped out around the age of sixteen, after releasing a self-titled gospel album, at the age of fourteen. Unfortuanetly the album failed to make an impact in the U.S. Simpson signed with Columbia Records in 1998.
Personal life
Simpson attended Richardson, Texas public schools, including Richardson North Junior High and J.J. Pearce High School.
On October 26, 2002, at age 22, Simpson married Nick Lachey. In November 2005, after months of tabloid speculation, Simpson and Lachey announced they were separating. Simpson filed for divorce on December 16, 2005, citing "irreconcilable differences." The couple's divorce was publicized worldwide and was reportedly finalized on June 30.
Simpson reportedly told Jane magazine in October 2006 that she knew her marriage to Lachey was over when he refused to join her on a charity trip to Africa, even though it was on their third wedding anniversary. Questions remain over whether the trip was to celebrate the anniversary, or a PR junket guided by her father/manager, who accompanied her on that day.
The couple reportedly sold their Calabasas, California mansion in which Newlyweds was filmed to Malcolm in the Middle star Justin Berfield for $3.75 million.