Ashlee Simpson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ashlee Simpson
Simpson in 2012
Born	Ashley Nicolle Simpson (1984-10-03) October 3, 1984 (age 40) Waco, Texas, U.S.
Other names	Ashlee Simpson-Wentz Ashlee Simpson Ross
Occupation	Singer songwriter actress television personality
Years active	1999–present
Spouse(s)	Pete Wentz ​ ​ (m. 2008; div. 2011)​ Evan Ross ​ ​ (m. 2014)​
Children	3
Relatives	Jessica Simpson (sister)
Musical career
Genres	Pop rock
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Geffen First Access

Ashley Nicolle Ross-Næss (née Simpson; born October 3, 1984), known professionally as Ashlee Simpson, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. She is the younger sister of singer and actress Jessica Simpson. Ashlee started her career as a back-up dancer for her sister. She also appeared in TV commercials when she was 15.

Simpson later became an actress, with a main role on the family drama 7th Heaven. She also appeared on the reality show Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica with her sister. Later, Ashlee starred in her own reality series, The Ashlee Simpson Show, which showed her working on her first album.

Her big breakthrough came in 2004 with her first single, "Pieces of Me". This song became a top-five hit in the U.S. and helped her first album, Autobiography, reach number one on the charts. This album sold over five million copies worldwide. Ashlee has continued to release music and act in films and TV shows.

Ashlee Simpson's Journey to Stardom

Early Life and Career Beginnings (1984–2002)

Ashlee Nicolle Simpson was born on October 3, 1984. Her parents are Tina and Joe Simpson. She has an older sister, Jessica Simpson. Ashlee started studying classical ballet when she was three. At age eleven, she was accepted into the School of American Ballet in New York City.

In 1999, her family moved to Los Angeles, California, so Jessica could start her singing career. Ashlee began appearing in TV commercials. Her father, Joe, helped manage her career.

After Jessica's first album, Sweet Kisses, became popular, Ashlee joined her as a back-up dancer on tour. Ashlee also wanted to act. She had a small role in Malcolm in the Middle. She then joined the TV show 7th Heaven as Cecilia Smith, appearing in 40 episodes.

Ashlee also recorded songs for movie soundtracks. She sang "Christmas Past, Present, and Future" for a holiday album. She also recorded "Just Let Me Cry" for the Freaky Friday movie soundtrack in 2003. Soon after, she signed with Geffen Records to make her own album.

Breakthrough and First Album Success (2003–2004)

In 2003, Ashlee's sister Jessica and her husband Nick Lachey starred in an MTV reality show called Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica. This show became very popular and helped make the Simpson sisters well-known. Ashlee also worked as a VJ on MTV's TRL.

Because of the show's success, Ashlee got her own reality series, The Ashlee Simpson Show. She wanted her show to focus on her making her first album. During this time, she changed her hair color from blonde to brown, which got a lot of media attention.

Ashlee wanted her first album to be pop-rock music. She co-wrote all the songs on the album. The first song from the album, "Pieces of Me", became a big hit in the United States. It reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Her first album, Autobiography, was released on July 20, 2004. It quickly went to number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart. The album sold over 2.5 million copies in the U.S. and more than five million worldwide. This made it her most successful album.

On October 23, 2004, Ashlee performed on Saturday Night Live. During her second song, a technical issue happened, revealing she had not been singing live for her first song. Ashlee later explained she was advised not to sing live due to acid reflux. She said she felt bad about the incident.

Despite this, Ashlee released "Shadow" as her second single. It spoke about her feelings towards her older sister's success. The song was praised by critics. "La La" was the third single, also doing well. Ashlee won "Song of the Summer" and "Fresh Face" at the Teen Choice Awards in 2004. She also won the Billboard Award for New Female Artist of the Year.

Second Album and Broadway Debut (2005–2007)

In January 2005, Ashlee performed at the 2005 Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. In February 2005, she started her Autobiography Tour across North America. While on tour, she started writing songs for her second album.

Ashlee had a supporting role in the film Undiscovered (2005). The film was not very successful.

Her second album, I Am Me, was released in October 2005. It also had a pop-rock sound, but with an 1980s feel. This album also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. It sold over three million copies worldwide.

The first song from I Am Me, "Boyfriend", became a top-twenty hit. Ashlee performed on Saturday Night Live again, this time without any problems. In December, she was briefly hospitalized due to exhaustion from her busy schedule.

Ashlee went on her I Am Me Tour in late 2005. In March 2006, she won an MTV celebrity surfing competition. In April 2006, she hosted the MTV Australia Video Music Awards and won "Best Female Artist" and "Best Pop Video".

In 2006, Ashlee was cast as Roxie Hart in the West End musical Chicago. She received very positive reviews for her performance. After this, she started dating Fall Out Boy band member Pete Wentz.

Third Album, Motherhood, and Marriage (2007–2011)

After her success in Chicago, Ashlee began working on her third album. She wanted a new sound, working with producers like Timbaland. The first song, "Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)", was released in December 2007. It had a synthpop sound influenced by 1980s music.

Her third album, Bittersweet World, was released on April 19, 2008. It debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200. This album was her last with Geffen Records.

In February 2008, Ashlee and Pete Wentz announced their engagement. They got married on May 17, 2008. Ashlee changed her last name to Wentz. She then released "Little Miss Obsessive" as the second song from Bittersweet World. Two weeks after her wedding, Ashlee announced she was pregnant. She gave birth to her son, Bronx, on November 20, 2008.

In 2009, Ashlee returned to TV, playing Violet Foster in Melrose Place. She left the show after 12 episodes. After this, she returned to Broadway to play Roxie Hart in Chicago again, from November 2009 to February 2010.

On February 9, 2011, Ashlee filed for divorce from Pete Wentz. The divorce was finalized in November 2011. They stated they would remain friends and loving parents to their son Bronx. Ashlee also appeared as a guest judge on America's Next Top Model, Cycle 17. She also helped create a fashion line for girls with her sister.

Second Marriage and Recent Projects (2012–Present)

After her separation from Pete Wentz, Ashlee dated actor Vincent Piazza for a while. In 2011, she confirmed she was working on her fourth album, describing it as having a "folk feel". In 2012, she released the song "Bat for a Heart". However, she later focused on her family.

In June 2012, Ashlee filmed Pawn Shop Chronicles, a comedy movie released in 2013. She played Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago for a third time in July 2013 at the Hollywood Bowl.

In July 2013, Ashlee started dating actor Evan Ross, who is the son of singer Diana Ross. They got engaged in January 2014 and married on August 30, 2014. Their daughter, Jagger Snow, was born on July 30, 2015. Ashlee and her husband later changed their last name to Ross-Næss.

In 2018, Ashlee and Evan Ross worked with a French brand to design a clothing collection called "Jagger Snow". That same year, Ashlee voiced Strelka in the animated movie Space Dogs Adventure to the Moon.

On September 9, 2018, Ashlee and Evan Ross starred in their own reality show, Ashlee+Evan, on E! Entertainment Television. They also released their first duet song, "I Do", and an extended play record, Ashlee + Evan.

In April 2020, Ashlee announced she was expecting her third child. She gave birth to her son, Ziggy Blu, on October 29, 2020. In 2023, she played Kate in the Christmas film The Recipe Files.

Film and Television Roles

Film

Television

Stage Performances

Concert Tours

• Autobiography Tour (2004)
• L.O.V.E. Tour (2005–2006)
• Club Tour (2008)

Discography

• Autobiography (2004)
• I Am Me (2005)
• Bittersweet World (2008)

Awards and Nominations

• List of awards and nominations received by Ashlee Simpson

Images for kids

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  Sisters Ashlee (left) and Jessica (right) were often pitted against one another in the media.

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  Simpson at a Grammy party in 2008.

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  Simpson in 2009

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  Simpson in 2010

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  Simpson in 2018

See also

In Spanish: Ashlee Simpson para niños