| Fergie |
|
| Background information |
| Birth name |
Stacy Ann Ferguson |
| Born |
March 27 1975 (1975--) (age 32)
Hacienda Heights, California, United States |
| Genre(s) |
Pop, R&B, hip hop |
| Occupation(s) |
Singer, songwriter, actress |
| Label(s) |
A&M, Interscope, will.i.am Music
Group |
Associated
acts |
Kids Incorporated (as a road act), Wild Orchid, Black Eyed Peas, will.i.am, Polow da Don, Ludacris,
John Legend, Daddy Yankee |
| Website |
www.fergie.com |
Fergie (born Stacy Ann Ferguson on March 27, 1975) is an American pop,
hip hop, and R&B singer, songwriter, and actress. She is a
former member of the kids' television series Kids Incorporated, and the girl group Wild Orchid.
Ferguson was also a co-host of the television show Great Pretenders. She is
currently a vocalist for the hip hop/pop group the Black Eyed Peas, as well as a solo
artist, releasing her debut album, The Dutchess, in 2006. The album has so far
spawned three U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number ones, making Ferguson the first
female solo artist to have three number ones from the same album since Christina
Aguilera did with her 2000 debut.[1]
Biography
Early life
Ferguson was born in Hacienda Heights, California to Terri Gore and Patrick Ferguson.[2] She has one sister, Dana, who is an actress. Her parents were Catholic and worked as schoolteachers. Ferguson had a strict Catholic upbringing.[3] During her youth, she was "involved" with members of the Mexican gangs in
Hacienda Heights, California.[4] Ferguson attended Glen A. Wilson High School. She
was also a Girl Scout.
Acting career
As a child actress, Ferguson appeared on the television program Kids
Incorporated for several years with Renee Sandstrom, who became a fellow member
of Wild Orchid. Ferguson's well-scrubbed image on that show presents quite a contrast
with the "ghetto-funk" image she has more recently begun to cultivate. Ferguson was the voice of Sally Brown in two Charlie Brown specials: It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), and
Snoopy's Getting Married, Charlie Brown (1985). She also voiced Sally in the 1985 version of The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show.
In July 2005, Ferguson had a guest role on the Rocket Power special, Reggie's
Big Beach Break, on Nickelodeon; she voiced a fictitious pop music star named Shaffika. Ferguson returned to acting in 2006,
appearing in a minor role in the film Poseidon. She later appeared in
2007's Grindhouse.
Personal life
Since February 2007, Ferguson has been dating actor Josh Duhamel,[5] who stars in the television show Las Vegas. She appeared in the series in an episode titled "Montecito Lancers".
In April 2007, she gave an interview in which she admitted that she went on a sex and drugs spree when she turned 18, saying:
"I have had lesbian experiences in the past. I won't say how many men I've had sex with - but I am a very sexual person."[6]
Ferguson was featured on Maxim's Hot 100 Women of 2006, and voted in at
position #36.[7] In 2007, she was voted in at #10.[8]
Music career
Ferguson was a member of the female trio Wild Orchid, which she fronted with
Stefanie Ridel and fellow Kids
Incorporated star Renee Sandstrom. Wild Orchid released two albums, but after
completing a third album, their record label declined to release it, and she left the group shortly thereafter. Her
disappointment with Wild Orchid led to an addiction to crystal methamphetamine. In
September 2006, Ferguson talked with Time
about quitting her crystal meth addiction. "It was the hardest boyfriend I ever had to break up with," she says. "It's the drug
that's addicting. But it's why you start doing it in the first place that's interesting. A lot of it was being a child actor; I
learned to suppress feelings."[9]
In 2003, Ferguson took over the lead female vocal duties for the Black Eyed Peas, replacing background singer Kim Hill,
who had left the group in 2000. Ferguson recorded five songs with the group before she was
invited to join them permanently. Ferguson's addition to the band, which had enjoyed underground success until then, helped them
quickly grow into mainstream popularity.
Albums
After two successful Black Eyed Peas albums, Ferguson began pursuing a solo career. Her first album, released on September 19,
2006, was entitled The Dutchess. The album's name is a misspelled variant of the
former title of Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, with whom Ferguson shares a
surname and popular nickname. The solo deal does not mean the demise of the Black Eyed Peas, as Ferguson intends to remain with
the group, alternating between the two duties. The Dutchess is similar in style to that of the Black Eyed Peas, as fellow
Peas member will.i.am is the album's executive producer. Ferguson has had four hit songs from
The Dutchess, with "London Bridge", "Glamorous", and "Big Girls Don't Cry"
becoming number one singles. Her second single, "Fergalicious", peaked at #2. "London
Bridge" reached #2 on the United World Chart, while "Fergalicious" and "Glamorous"
both made it to #4. "Big Girls Don't Cry" became Ferguson's first worldwide #1 single, and is her most successful single to date.
"Clumsy" has been announced as the fifth single from The Dutchess due to the
major success of "Big Girls Don't Cry", and has been set to be released on September 25 in the US.
Ferguson will release her second solo album in January 2008. Her producer, will.i.am, confirmed that the new album is half
done. It is expected to be completed in December.[10]
Discography
Album
Singles
Other appearances
Selected filmography
Awards and nominations
| Year |
Category |
Recording |
Result |
| MTV Australian Video Music
Awards |
| 2007 |
Sexiest Video |
"Fergalicious" |
Won |
| MuchMusic Video Awards |
| 2007 |
Best International Video – Artist |
"Fergalicious" |
Won |
| 2007 |
People's Choice: Favourite International Artist |
"Fergalicious" |
Nominated |
| Teen Choice Awards |
| 2007 |
Choice Female Artist |
General |
Won |
| MTV Video Music Awards |
| 2007 |
Best Female Artist |
General |
Won |
| MTV Latin America Awards |
| 2007 |
Mejor Artista Nuevo Internacional (Best New International Artist) |
General |
Won |
References
External links
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