Ashlee SimpsonShe might be the younger sister of another MTV superstar, but Ashlee Simpson has done her best to make her own style and music distinct from big sis Jessica. The Waco, TX-born Simpson gravitated towards music and performance at a young age.
When she was only 11, Simpson became the youngest person ever admitted into the School of American Ballet. A few years later, she moved with her parents and older sister to Los Angeles and spent time as a dancer in Jessica's stage show. Appearances on 'Malcolm in the Middle' and 'The View' led to a regular role on the television show 'Seventh Heaven' but the younger Simpson's heart was set on a music career.
After getting her song "Just Let Me Cry" on the 'Freaky Friday' soundtrack in 2003, Ashlee continued work on her rock-edged demos when 'Seventh Heaven' wasn't in production. Geffen was impressed and released her debut album, Autobiography, in 2004 as MTV debuted her own reality show. Though she has been the butt of late night talk show hosts ever since her October lipsynching debacle on 'Saturday Night Live,' it appears that the younger Simpson has followed in her sister's footsteps of parlaying limited talent into a sizeable career as a "singer." San JoseEvent Center at San Jose State University7 p.m.$29.50-$39.5002/22/200502/22/2005MusicPop