Ashlee Simpson

Ashlee Nicolle Ross-Næss, known professionally as Ashlee Simpson, was born on October 3, 1984. She is an accomplished American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. Ashlee began her career as a backup dancer for her older sister, Jessica Simpson, and made her television debut in commercials at the tender age of fifteen. Her early foray into acting included a notable role in the family drama series 7th Heaven, which helped establish her presence in the entertainment industry.

Simpson gained widespread recognition through her appearance on the reality show Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, which aired on MTV from 2003 to 2005. This show, centered around her sister and Jessica's then-husband Nick Lachey, catapulted Ashlee into the limelight. In 2004, she starred in her own spin-off series, The Ashlee Simpson Show, which further solidified her status as a media sensation.

Her musical career took off with the release of her debut single, "Pieces of Me," in 2004. The song reached the top five on the US Billboard Hot 100 and dominated the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart. This success paved the way for her debut album, Autobiography, which also released in 2004 and topped the US Billboard 200 albums chart, selling over five million copies worldwide. Despite facing challenges with her film Undiscovered in 2005, Ashlee's second album, I Am Me, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, earning platinum certification from the RIAA.

After a stint in the West End production of Chicago, Ashlee ventured into a new musical direction with her third album, Bittersweet World, released in 2008. Although it received positive reviews, the album's sales declined, reaching number four on the Billboard 200. In 2009, she joined the cast of the Melrose Place reboot, which faced critical backlash. Following this, she made her Broadway debut, reprising her role as Roxie Hart in Chicago. In 2012, she independently released the single "Bat for a Heart," but it did not achieve commercial success. After focusing on motherhood, Ashlee returned to the stage in 2013 for a special production of Chicago at the Hollywood Bowl. In 2018, she and her husband Evan Ross released their debut EP as Ashlee + Evan, supported by a tour and a reality show.