Jessica Simpson is one of my favourite singers, and I think she was very underrated.

She was hailed as the new Mariah and IWLYF is one of the best vocals I've heard. It reached no 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 (unfortunately her only top 10 hit in the US) and Irresistible is such a good album. 'Hot Like Fire' and 'Whats It Gonna Be' would have been smash hits! Listen to them if you haven't.

She was one of the hottest and most famous celebrities in the world during her peak in 2005/2006, around the time of Dukes and A Public Affair/Employee of the month. I do think the divorce had a great benefit to her and she looked her best then.

The biggest mistake she ever made was not releasing 'Fired Up'. Every Jessica fan would agree that 'Fired Up' would have made APA a success.

Fired Up - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XsGd4HSFxg

But I'm happy she's doing well in fashion, and she'll be releasing a new album this year.

thanks for clearing that up and i wasn't aware of her involvement.

in response to tommy, i wasn't aware she was recording new material and thanks for posting about that.

I loved her when she launched, I saw her more of a match with Mandy Moore (I'm sure they were very close together on release) whilst Britney and Xtina were a league apart.

I enjoyed her reality show, I LOVE With You and Public Affair.

I like to see her doing well, I wouldn't buy an album by her I don't think but she always comes across genuine and nice so it's always good when she bounces back from a dry spell.

Was also loving Kaci around when Jessica launched, I Think I Love You still gets the odd play, as does her recent work Crazy Possessive.

No.

She could have been 'Christina Aguilera' if she was managed correctly and given the right material but Britney is completely different. She used to have that spark and her stage presence was second to none.

I don't know, her image was different than Britney and Christina and she even made the point herself that she was a bit older than them and her musical style was different as a result.

With regards to the "New Mariah" if you listen to "I think I'm In Love With You" its very like a diet version of Fantasy.
It samples an older track, has those kind of layered vocals and the video is a bit similar.
Its nothing like Britney or Christina would've done at the time.

I think if Jess had been launched around 95 she coulda been huge but the stylings she had didnt fit with the late 90s clangy sound effecty type or the "r 'n b tinged pop" theme that most successful pop acts of the day pursued.

She was definitely launched as the new Mariah. Mariah's ex husband, who discovered them both, was just looking for a "new" Mariah since he'd lost (business wise, of course) Carey herself.

I love With You.