Stacy “Fergie” Ferguson was a popular pop music performer in the mid-2000s. When she released her own solo album, The Dutchess, in 2006, she doubled as The Black Eyed Peas’ lone female band member.
Following that, she had a string of hits with the Peas, including the enduringly popular “Boom Boom Pow” and “I Gotta Feeling,” as well as huge success with her solo songs, including the ballads “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Fergalicious.” However, this eight-time Grammy winner has faded from public view in recent years. When will Fergie return to the spotlight, and why haven’t we heard much from her recently?
Contrary to popular belief, Fergie is still a member of The Black Eyed Peas; however, she is taking a break from the band that helped her rise to fame.
As previously reported by Nicki Swift, in early June 2017, social media exploded over rumors that will.i.am had notified Ahlan! magazine that Fergie was no longer involved. Fergie’s representative quickly disputed the rumor.
In a statement to The Associated Press, the singer said she was “concentrating on her new album and is delighted for fans to hear it”. Will.i.am was also stated that “Fergie is family and will always be a Pea.” We fully support her solo album, on which she is now working. Fergie also tweeted support for her bandmates, writing, “Everyone is aware of my unwavering love and support for my @bep brothers.”
Even though the previous collaborators find the new professional relationship unusual, there are no animosities. Fergie spoke with Radio.com in 2016. “I know the guys; we’re all musicians with a desire to create. I am pleased for everyone who needs to make music in their lives; all we need to do is be happy for one another.”
Fergie’s long-awaited sophomore album, Double Dutchess, has been marketed for nearly five years!
The musician is well aware of the growing anticipation for the album’s release. In September 2017, she met with EW to discuss the delays.
“I’m not going to miss out on spending time with my child. That is simply not possible,” she told the magazine. “I’m with Axl, so they can keep banging on my door for an album release. I am not connected to anything! Bye!’” This, however, does not suggest that Fergie would dial in until she had set aside some studio time. “I’ve never taken on this much responsibility,” she told EW. “I’m the executive producer of the record, and I kept trying to better it. I wanted to go for the stars and be the best.
Fergie began releasing three tracks as album appetizers in 2014, but none of them charted.
“L.A. Love,” which was released in 2014, peaked at No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100. That song was supposed to be the album’s lead single, however it did not fare well on the charts. According to a Pop Dust critic, “L.A. Love (La La)” is little more than a boring geography lecture over one of those catchy DJ Mustard tracks we’ve already heard ten times. Ouch.
Fergie’s sound shifted in July 2016 with the sardonic, techno-heavy “M.I.L.F.$.” Despite its popular music video, which starred Kim Kardashian, Ciara, and Chrissy Teigen portraying celebrity mothers, the second song fared far worse than the first.
Critics found the song to be absolutely strange. It peaked at No. 34 on the Hot 100 before dropping out.
The pop singer’s third hit, “Life Goes On,” was released in late 2016. This song was more introspective and focused more on Fergie’s voice, but it didn’t catch on and only reached No. 39 on the Billboard Adult Pop Songs chart. It didn’t make the Hot 100 at all.
According to Variety, given how long it took to compose, her new music’s “mild reaction seemed surprising” in 2017.
Fergie and her previous label, Interscope Records, parted ways in May 2017. A label spokesman notified Variety that “the decision to part ways was made. We all went to the concert and are worried about Fergie.”
After leaving Interscope, Fergie swiftly negotiated a record deal with BMG to launch her own label, Dutchess Music, which would provide her more creative freedom and control. BMG CEO Jon Cohen praised the new collaboration, telling Variety, “With Double Dutchess, Fergie has produced something so creative that it absolutely redefines who she is as an artist. Because of her prodigious productivity, our work is already one of my most thrilling times with BMG, and we can’t wait for its debut.”
Fergie’s primary concern is her family. In an interview with Radio.com, she claimed to have “put everything into being a parent, a wife, and doing this record,” yet after eight years of marriage to actor Josh Duhamel, the couple announced their divorce in September 2017.
“With absolute love and respect, we chose to separate as a couple earlier this year,” the pair announced in a joint statement. “Before disclosing this information to the public, we wanted to give our family the best chance to adjust. We always have and will continue to support one another and our family.”
The couple’s many ups and downs included Duhamel’s alleged cheating scandal with a stripper less than a year into their marriage. After conquering that challenge, the couple appeared to be doing better than ever and enjoying life with their baby Axl, but there were obviously problems going on behind the scenes.
Fergie and Duhamel welcomed their first child, Axl Jack, in August 2013. During an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show a few months later, the new mother couldn’t stop talking about her child, whom she refers to as a “mini-me” of her husband.
Despite her hectic schedule, this 42-year-old professional woman takes time for her kid. She posted a nice photo of her adorable toddler on Instagram while filming the music video for “M.I.L.F.$.” (That song might get a little uncomfortable for these two at some point.)
In August 2017, Fergie said, “Everything is based on the Google Calendar.” Everything is color-coded and sorted into categories, so we just need to be incredibly organized in our planning because we want [our son] Axl to come first. We’re now working to make that happen, and while it’s not easy, we’re doing it because we love him.”
Fergie has been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights since she came out as bisexual in a 2009 interview.
She was the event’s headlining act at NYC Pride in 2016. “This is the occasion. I’ve always wanted to take part in Pride. It was such an honor, and because of what happened, it took on much more significance,” she said, alluding to the fatal massacre at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub. “We will not let anyone to make us live in fear, and we will not allow anyone to destroy our PRIDE,” Fergie vowed as she ascended the platform.
According to USA Today, Fergie has also worked with a number of organizations to raise funds and awareness for the HIV/AIDS fight. Among these organizations are amfAR and the MAC Aids Fund.
She has also long been a supporter of The Trevor Project, an organization dedicated to preventing suicide among LGBTQ+ adolescents. She spoke out against bullying at Trevor Live in 2011.
“When someone bullies you, you feel embarrassed because you’re being bullied, and you don’t want to talk about it because you’re embarrassed,” according to the speaker. “In contrast, the bully, not the victim, should be humiliated.”
