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Background:
"She gets more [attention] than we do. The lesbians want her. All the time."
Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am, on Fergie's popularity.
Stacy Ferguson, nicknamed Stace or Fergie, is widely recognized as the sole
female member of hip-hop quartet Black Eyed Peas. She replaced Kim Hill in 2003,
and along with Black Eyed Peas members will.i.am, Apl.de.ap and Taboo, Fergie
hit the big time with 2003's album Elephunk (spawned the hit single "Where Is
the Love?," feat. Justin Timberlake). They recently released their newest album,
2005’s Monkey Business, with such major hits as "Don't Phunk With My Heart,"
"Don't Lie" and "My Humps."
Gaining her first stardom as Stacy on over five seasons (1984-1989) on Kids
Incorporated during the '80s, Stacy then joined the all-girl pop trio Wild
Orchid (1996-1999). Along with Wild Orchid members Stefanie Ridel and Renee
Ilene Sandstrom, Stacy released albums Wild Orchid (1997) and Oxygen (1998).
The 5' 2" tall musician and actress, who is of mixed Mexican and Native American
(Mestizo) ancestry, was one of People magazine's “50 Most Beautiful People in
the World” in May of 2004. She is currently dating actor Josh Duhamel (of "Las
Vegas" and "All My Children" fame, born on November 14, 1972) and reportedly
engaged in July 2005. As for acting, Fergie is currently filming the upcoming
film Poseidon.
Stacy Ann
Childhood and Family:
On March 27, 1975, Stacy Ann Ferguson was born in Hacienda Heights, California
to parents Pat and Terri Ferguson. Stacy is the older sister of actress Dana
Ferguson (born in 1978) and the cousin of producer Shane Stanley (born on June
15, 1971). As for her education, Stacy graduated from Glen A. Wilson High School
in the city of Hacienda Heights, California (Class of 1993).
Stacy Incorporated
Career:
Encouraged by her parents and younger sister Dana to pursue career in the show
biz, Stacy Ferguson began acting as the voice of Sally Brown on the Saturday
morning cartoon The Charlie Brown. She then appeared in Snoopy Show in 1983 and
on the TV special It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984). After doing commercial
for Rice Krispies in 1984, Stacy landed a regular role in the pilot for the
long-running musical television show, “Kids Incorporated.” In the show, Stacy
joined other cast members including Jennifer Love Hewitt and the future goth pop
princess Martika. It hit the Saturday morning audiences and Stacy continued to
sing backup on it from 1984 to 1989. She also won Young Artist Awards for
Special Award - Ensemble Award in 1984.
During her stint in the show, Stacy appeared on the TV specials Snoopy's Getting
Married, Charlie Brown (1985), Kids Incorporated: Chartbusters (1986) and Kids
Incorporated: Rock In the New Year (1986). She also played a bit part in
writer-director Bob Dahlin's monster spoof Monster in the Closet (1987,
alongside Donald Grant).
When her job in “Kids Incorporated” ended in 1989, Stacy left the spotlight and
enjoyed her normal life as a teenager. Music beckoned, Stacy reunited with
Stefanie Ridel and fellow Kids Incorporated member Renee Sandstrom to form the
band Wild Orchid. Under RCA, they released the self-titled debut album in 1997.
It spawned the Billboard Top 10 hits "Talk To Me" (was included in the hit movie
Fools Rush In), the pop ballad "At Night I Pray" and "Supernatural" (spent an
amazing 5 months on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart).
After touring with bands 98 Degrees and 'NSYNC in late 1997, Wild Orchid
released the sophomore album Oxygen (1998), which included the minor hits "Be
Mine" and "Declaration" (featured in an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210). Three
years later, the label declined to release Wild Orchid’s next album, resulting
an emotional crisis for Stacy, forcing her to seek therapy.
Stacy recalled, "I started doing Ecstasy. Then I got addicted to crystal
methamphetamine. My weight dropped to 90lb. I lied to my friends and said I was
bulimic. Finally I started going crazy. In that moment I talked to God and He
said: 'I've given you all these gifts, so what are you doing?' I decided to get
clean. I told everybody what was wrong."
While working as a dance floor regular and backup singer at a number of Los
Angeles venues, Stacy met will.i.am of the band Black Eyed Peas. After several
after-show meetings, Stacy was invited to join the trio in the recording studio
and subsequently became the permanent member, replacing the former background
singer Kim Hill, who departed the band during 2000.
Formerly known as Atban Klann, the American hip-hop band reformed as the Black
Eyed Peas and released a debut, Behind the Front (1998), followed with the
second album Bridging the Gap (2000). Stacy, under the name Fergie, featured the
band’s third album, Elephunk (2003).
Elephunk (2003) scored the first major hit with the anti-war anthem "Where is
the Love?" (feat. Justin Timberlake), which topped at #8 on the US Hot 100 and
stayed for six weeks at #1 in the UK. The second single "Shut Up" climbed the UK
charts at #2 and topped the charts in many other European countries including
France and Germany. Other singles include "Hey Mama" (#23 US Hot 100, #6 UK
Singles Chart) and "Let's Get It Started" (#21 US Hot 100, #11 UK Singles
Chart). Elephunk was spotted at #14 at the US album charts and netted worldwide
selling for 7,000,000 copies. It was certified double platinum in the USA.
On June 7, 2005, Black Eyed Peas released their next album, Monkey Business. The
first single "Don't Phunk With My Heart" peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100,
at #3 in the UK, and #5 in Canada and #1 in Australia. The next singles "Don't
Lie" spotted the US Hot 100 at #14 and the UK Singles Chart at #6, while "My
Humps" climbed #4 at US Hot 100 and #10 at US Rap. Monkey Business topped the US
album charts at #2, sold for 2,240,000 copies and landed platinum.
More recent, moviegoers could watch Fergie appeared as The Black Eyed Peas in Be
Cool (2005). She will also play a ship entertainer named Gloria in Wolfgang
Petersen's adaptation of Paul Gallico's novel, Poseidon. The film is a remake of
the 1972 disaster classic The Poseidon Adventure, in which Fergie will share the
screen with Josh Lucas and Kurt Russell.
"I can crowd surf if I want and I'm not going to get in trouble with anybody."
Stacy Ferguson.
Awards:
- Young Artist: Special Award - Ensemble Award, Kids Incorporated, 1984
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