Jessica Simpson's New Album

December 1, 2000 -- Jessica Simpson's debut, Sweet Kisses, didn't explode from a sales perspective upon its release a little more than a year ago. But the fans have found her, and to date, the album has sold almost 1.5 million copies in the United States alone. Now, says Simpson, she's focused on her sophomore effort, due for a release next year.

Simpson says she's completed the majority of the tracks on the upcoming effort, some of which have a slightly different flavor than the sugary pop of Sweet Kisses. "The album is a little bit R&B, but the first single won't be, because I don't want to shock anyone," she says. "It's a great album, and I think that everyone will be able to relate to it. I'll have one or two songs on it that I wrote, too."

Before its release, Simpson has something else to look forward to — the American Music Awards, where she's nominated for Favorite New Artist, along with Macy Gray and 3 Doors Down.

"When I got the call for being nominated, I was crying," she says. "That was the best part of my career. I was screaming, and it felt really good. I can't believe I'm respected like that. All the artists are extremely talented, and it doesn't matter if I win because being nominated is good enough."