Ashlee Simpson's 'I Am Me' Tops the Billboard 200 Chart at #1

Ashlee Simpson's 'I Am Me' Tops the Billboard 200 Chart at #1

Debut Marks Back-to-Back Chart-Toppers for Ashlee Simpson

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- She may not have stolen your boyfriend, but Ashlee Simpson surely absconded with the #1 slot on the charts this week. Ashlee's second CD "I Am Me," released October 18th on Geffen Records, entered the "Billboard 200" chart at #1, just as her first solo CD, "Autobiography," did in July of 2004. If Ashlee's history is any indication of her future performance, she should prepare for another frenzied year of success.

Ashlee enthuses, "I am really excited to have my album debut at #1. It makes all the hard work worthwhile. I especially want to thank all my fans and I am so grateful for their continued support."

Beyond a doubt, fans have been supportive. They have helped make "Boyfriend," Ashlee's first track off of "I Am Me," a hit. The track has been lighting up radio station request lines from coast-to-coast. Meanwhile, the video version of "Boyfriend" is the #1 most requested clip on MTV and has been added into MTV's "Big Ten" rotation. That single, plus a rigorous promotional schedule including appearances on "Saturday Night Live," MTV's "TRL," "Ellen," "Good Morning America," "Regis & Kelley" and "The Tonight Show" as well as two jam-packed in-store signings, helped fuel Ashlee's impressive debut.

Proud father/manager Joe Simpson says, "It's so nice for Ashlee to be rewarded for all her hard work and perseverance. She is a strong and talented person and we're immensely proud of her."

For the writing and recording "I Am Me," Ashlee teamed up again with producer John Shanks (Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge and Alanis Morissette). Ashlee co-wrote all ten songs with Shanks who plays keyboards, bass and guitars and/or Kara DioGuardi. With her latest work, she reveals explosive growth as both a singer and songwriter.

Ashlee was born in 1984 in Waco, Tex., and raised in Dallas by her parents Joe and Tina Simpson. At age 4 she started dancing, and at age 11, she became the youngest person ever admitted to the prestigious School of American Ballet. Ashlee made inroads as an actress early on, appearing on shows like "Saved By the Bell" and "Malcolm in the Middle," but, it was a continuing role on the hit WB series "7th Heaven" that jump-started her rise to stardom. After she signed with Geffen Records, The Ashlee Simpson Show on MTV chronicled the making of "Autobiography."

Source: Geffen Records

CONTACT: Jim Merlis of Geffen Records, +1-310-865-0570, Jim.Merlis@umusic.com; or Susan Makarichev, +1-212-981-5243, Susan_Makarichev@dkcnews.com, or Rob Shuter, +1-212-981-5235, Rob_Shuter@dkcnews.com, both of Dan Klores Communications for Geffen Records

Web site: http://www.ashleesimpsonmusic.com/

------- Profile: Ent