Stacy Ann Ferguson (born March 27, 1975) better known by her stage name Fergie, 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, of which she is the sole female member, 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 one singles and five Top 5 hits, making The Dutchess only the seventh album from a female artist to spawn five Top 5 hits.
Early Life of Fergie
Ferguson was born in Hacienda Heights, California to Terri Gore and Patrick Ferguson. She has one sister, Dana, who is an actress. Her parents were Catholics of Irish, Scottish and Mexican descent and worked as schoolteachers. Ferguson had a strict Catholic upbringing. During her youth, she was "involved" with members of the Mexican gangs in Hacienda Heights, California. Ferguson attended Glen A. Wilson High School. She was also a Girl Scout.
Acting Career of Fergie
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 of Fergie
Since September 2004, Ferguson has been dating actor Josh Duhamel, who stars in the television show Las Vegas. She appeared in the series, along with the Black Eyed Peas, in an episode titled "Montecito Lancers", which originally aired on November 1, 2004. She 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."
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.
Recently, Ferguson has been alleged to have had plastic surgery. She denied the allegations and has said that they drove her to seek therapy. Along with other celebrities, she is now assailing the credibility of US Weekly Magazine.
Music Career of Fergie
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, 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.
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.
Early Life of Fergie
Ferguson was born in Hacienda Heights, California to Terri Gore and Patrick Ferguson. She has one sister, Dana, who is an actress. Her parents were Catholics of Irish, Scottish and Mexican descent and worked as schoolteachers. Ferguson had a strict Catholic upbringing. During her youth, she was "involved" with members of the Mexican gangs in Hacienda Heights, California. Ferguson attended Glen A. Wilson High School. She was also a Girl Scout.
Acting Career of Fergie
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 of Fergie
Since September 2004, Ferguson has been dating actor Josh Duhamel, who stars in the television show Las Vegas. She appeared in the series, along with the Black Eyed Peas, in an episode titled "Montecito Lancers", which originally aired on November 1, 2004. She 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."
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.
Recently, Ferguson has been alleged to have had plastic surgery. She denied the allegations and has said that they drove her to seek therapy. Along with other celebrities, she is now assailing the credibility of US Weekly Magazine.
Music Career of Fergie
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, 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.
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.