Birth name Stacy Ann Ferguson
Born March 27, 1975 (1975-03-27) (age 33)
Hacienda Heights, California, United States
Genre(s) Pop, dance-pop, R&B, hip hop, pop rap
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, rapper, actress, model
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, Ciara, Ludacris, Polow da Don
Website www.fergie.com
Born March 27, 1975 (1975-03-27) (age 33)
Hacienda Heights, California, United States
Genre(s) Pop, dance-pop, R&B, hip hop, pop rap
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, rapper, actress, model
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, Ciara, Ludacris, Polow da Don
Website www.fergie.com
Biography
Early life
Ferguson was born in Hacienda Heights, California, the daughter of Terri Jackson (née Gore) and Patrick Ferguson.She has one sister, Dana, who works at
Volcom. Her parents are Roman Catholics of Irish, Scottish and Mexican descent.The daughter of devout Catholic schoolteachers, she was raised in a suburban
area with strict Roman Catholic values while attending Glen A. Wilson High School and Mesa Robles Middle school.[5] She is quoted as saying that as a child
she was so hyperactive, doctors wanted to put her on Ritalin until her mom vetoed the idea. Through dance school, her mom found her an agent and voiceover
work, providing the voices for Lucy and Sally in Peanuts cartoons. From 1984 to 1989, she spent summers performing chart hits on the TV show Kids
Incorporated. All that time she was a straight-A student. She was even a spelling bee champion.She has struggled with drug addiction admitting to past use of
both ecstasy and crystal meth.
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. On the show, the actress displayed her singing talents, singing Whitney Houston's "One Moment In Time". 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).
In July 2003, 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. In March 2005, casting for Revolution Studios's big-budget remake of John Carpenter's The Fog was underway. Ferguson was set to return to acting in
the role of lighthouse radio deejay Stevie Wayne (a part originated by scream queen Adrienne Barbeau). A last minute conflict arose, preventing her contract
from closing and Ferguson left the project.The role eventually went to Selma Blair. Ferguson finally returned to acting in 2006, appearing as lounge singer
Gloria in Wolfgang Peterson's remake of The Poseidon Adventure. She later appeared in 2007's Grindhouse
Personal life
Ferguson is engaged to actor Josh Duhamel,who stars in the television show Las Vegas. They met, and began dating, in September 2004 when she and her band
appeared on Duhamel's show (in an episode titled "Montecito Lancers", which aired on November 1, 2004). Ferguson and Duhamel have recently purchased a house
together.
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. In December 2007 when asked "Bisexuality and homosexuality are often
either frowned or mocked upon in certain circles. Does that bother you?", she replied "No, it doesn’t bother me. I’m just me".
Ferguson was featured on Maxim's Hot 100 Women of 2006, and voted in at position #36.In 2007, she was voted in at #10.
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.
In 2003, the Black Eyed Peas were recording their third album, 2003's Elephunk, when Will.i.am invited Fergie to try out for a song called Shut Up (Black
Eyed Peas song). She got the gig and instantly bonded with the trio to record five additional songs on the album.
In the following spring, shortly before Elephunk came out, Interscope chairman Jimmy Iovine had offered Ferguson a permanent spot to take over vocal duties
and fill the spot left void by background singer Kim Hill, who had left the group in 2000. When Will of the group was asked to sum up his bandmates, he
called Fergie the "body" of the group.
In 2005, Ferguson inadvertently urinated on stage during a performance at San Diego's Street Scene festival. Ferguson later commented on the incident: "I had
a few drinks before the show, but I didn't think to go to the bathroom before we went onstage. We were jumping around...and my bladder just started.
In December 2007, Blender picked Ferguson as their woman of the year.[20]
During the 2008 Idol Gives Back, she performed a duet with Ann Wilson of Heart. The two (with Nancy Wilson on guitar) performed "Barracuda".
On April 23, 2008, her song "Labels or Love" leaked onto the internet. The song was recorded for the upcoming Sex and the City: The Movie soundtrack. In an
Entertainment Weekly interview, director and writer Michael Patrick King stated that "it’s an entirely new song with lyrics, but it has the Sex and the City
theme as the DNA — on steroids.”
Fergie is doing a collaboration with Jpop superstar Kumi Koda. The two have been reported to be very close friends and are featured together in many
photoshoots, such as in the popular Japanese style magazine S-Cawaii,[21] and more recently, a photoshoot taken in Atlantic Station, Atlanta. The
collaboration is titled "That Ain't Cool", and will be featured on Kumi's 40th single "MOON".It is due to be released in Japan on June 11th.
Solo career
The Dutchess
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 six hit songs from The Dutchess, with "London Bridge", "Fergalicious", "Glamorous", "Big Girls Don't Cry" ,"Clumsy", and "Finally" 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" was
announced as the fifth single from The Dutchess after the major international success of "Big Girls Don't Cry". Ferguson has received her fifth Top 5 solo
track from The Dutchess after "Clumsy" earned at #5 position on the Billboard Hot 100, on 22 December 2007. "Here I Come" also charted on the Australian ARIA
and New Zealand RIANZ official charts.
On November 18, 2007, Ferguson won the Pop or Rock "Favorite Female Artist" at the American Music Awards
Concert for Diana
Ferguson appeared at Wembley Stadium on 1 July 2007, performing "Glamorous" and "Big Girls Don't Cry" in a concert for the late Princess Diana put on by her
two sons Prince William and Prince Harry; the DVD of the concert was released 5 November 2007.
Volcom. Her parents are Roman Catholics of Irish, Scottish and Mexican descent.The daughter of devout Catholic schoolteachers, she was raised in a suburban
area with strict Roman Catholic values while attending Glen A. Wilson High School and Mesa Robles Middle school.[5] She is quoted as saying that as a child
she was so hyperactive, doctors wanted to put her on Ritalin until her mom vetoed the idea. Through dance school, her mom found her an agent and voiceover
work, providing the voices for Lucy and Sally in Peanuts cartoons. From 1984 to 1989, she spent summers performing chart hits on the TV show Kids
Incorporated. All that time she was a straight-A student. She was even a spelling bee champion.She has struggled with drug addiction admitting to past use of
both ecstasy and crystal meth.
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. On the show, the actress displayed her singing talents, singing Whitney Houston's "One Moment In Time". 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).
In July 2003, 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. In March 2005, casting for Revolution Studios's big-budget remake of John Carpenter's The Fog was underway. Ferguson was set to return to acting in
the role of lighthouse radio deejay Stevie Wayne (a part originated by scream queen Adrienne Barbeau). A last minute conflict arose, preventing her contract
from closing and Ferguson left the project.The role eventually went to Selma Blair. Ferguson finally returned to acting in 2006, appearing as lounge singer
Gloria in Wolfgang Peterson's remake of The Poseidon Adventure. She later appeared in 2007's Grindhouse
Personal life
Ferguson is engaged to actor Josh Duhamel,who stars in the television show Las Vegas. They met, and began dating, in September 2004 when she and her band
appeared on Duhamel's show (in an episode titled "Montecito Lancers", which aired on November 1, 2004). Ferguson and Duhamel have recently purchased a house
together.
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. In December 2007 when asked "Bisexuality and homosexuality are often
either frowned or mocked upon in certain circles. Does that bother you?", she replied "No, it doesn’t bother me. I’m just me".
Ferguson was featured on Maxim's Hot 100 Women of 2006, and voted in at position #36.In 2007, she was voted in at #10.
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.
In 2003, the Black Eyed Peas were recording their third album, 2003's Elephunk, when Will.i.am invited Fergie to try out for a song called Shut Up (Black
Eyed Peas song). She got the gig and instantly bonded with the trio to record five additional songs on the album.
In the following spring, shortly before Elephunk came out, Interscope chairman Jimmy Iovine had offered Ferguson a permanent spot to take over vocal duties
and fill the spot left void by background singer Kim Hill, who had left the group in 2000. When Will of the group was asked to sum up his bandmates, he
called Fergie the "body" of the group.
In 2005, Ferguson inadvertently urinated on stage during a performance at San Diego's Street Scene festival. Ferguson later commented on the incident: "I had
a few drinks before the show, but I didn't think to go to the bathroom before we went onstage. We were jumping around...and my bladder just started.
In December 2007, Blender picked Ferguson as their woman of the year.[20]
During the 2008 Idol Gives Back, she performed a duet with Ann Wilson of Heart. The two (with Nancy Wilson on guitar) performed "Barracuda".
On April 23, 2008, her song "Labels or Love" leaked onto the internet. The song was recorded for the upcoming Sex and the City: The Movie soundtrack. In an
Entertainment Weekly interview, director and writer Michael Patrick King stated that "it’s an entirely new song with lyrics, but it has the Sex and the City
theme as the DNA — on steroids.”
Fergie is doing a collaboration with Jpop superstar Kumi Koda. The two have been reported to be very close friends and are featured together in many
photoshoots, such as in the popular Japanese style magazine S-Cawaii,[21] and more recently, a photoshoot taken in Atlantic Station, Atlanta. The
collaboration is titled "That Ain't Cool", and will be featured on Kumi's 40th single "MOON".It is due to be released in Japan on June 11th.
Solo career
The Dutchess
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 six hit songs from The Dutchess, with "London Bridge", "Fergalicious", "Glamorous", "Big Girls Don't Cry" ,"Clumsy", and "Finally" 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" was
announced as the fifth single from The Dutchess after the major international success of "Big Girls Don't Cry". Ferguson has received her fifth Top 5 solo
track from The Dutchess after "Clumsy" earned at #5 position on the Billboard Hot 100, on 22 December 2007. "Here I Come" also charted on the Australian ARIA
and New Zealand RIANZ official charts.
On November 18, 2007, Ferguson won the Pop or Rock "Favorite Female Artist" at the American Music Awards
Concert for Diana
Ferguson appeared at Wembley Stadium on 1 July 2007, performing "Glamorous" and "Big Girls Don't Cry" in a concert for the late Princess Diana put on by her
two sons Prince William and Prince Harry; the DVD of the concert was released 5 November 2007.
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