Making it in music is extremely difficult to do, as the level of competition is at an all-time high. New stars like Olivia Rodrigo can pop up out of nowhere, while hitmakers like Lady Gaga aren't going anywhere. To make it, you have to have the right sound at the right time.
Ashlee Simpson looked to leave her mark on pop music years back, and she wound up finding success with her debut. Simpson, however, would land in some hot water when she was busted lip-syncing on SNL. It made headlines in an instant, and everything changed from there.
Let's take a look back on this infamous performance.
Ashlee Simpson Rose To Fame In The 2000s
During the 2000s, Ashlee Simpson began her time as a pop star in the music industry, following in the footsteps of her sister, Jessica. Her older sister had found plenty of success in music and even on reality television, and Ashlee was ready to make the leap herself to find fame and success.
In 2004, Ashlee released her debut single "Pieces of Me" for the fans to enjoy, and just like that, the singer gained some serious traction and was off and running in the world of music. After hitting the top 5 on the Hot 100, Ashlee Simpson was officially a hit, and from that point on, the singer would look to make even greater strides in music.
Her debut album, Autobiography, wound up being certified 3x Platinum by the RIAA, making it a major commercial success. The singer was everywhere, and her team was making sure that she was going to be seen by as many potential fans as possible. One of the major gigs that Simpson booked during that time was SNL.
She Landed A Performance On 'SNL'
When it was announced that Ashlee Simpson was going to be performing on SNL, there was a genuine curiosity from fans. Simpson was gaining steam as a pop star, and a major performance on SNL could have done wonders for her career.
Because the show has been around forever, some of the biggest music acts in history have had a chance to shine on the show. However, there have been plenty of bad performances that have caught headlines in the past.
Major acts that laid an egg on SNL include the Black Eyed Peas, Kesha, Lana Del Rey, and even the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Bad performances can happen to anyone, but most don't have it happen on live television.
Unfortunately, Simpson would deliver a performance that wound up netting her far more negative press than she bargained for.
It Was A Disaster
So, what in the world actually happened on that fateful evening? Well, Simpson was busted lip-syncing on the show. She appeared to miss her cue to start performing along to the track, leading to an extremely awkward moment. The panicked Simpson began to do a jig, and it didn't take audiences long to figure out what was goin on with the performance.
At the end of the SNL episode, Simpson placed the blame on her band for playing the wrong song in what seemed like an attempt to save face. By that point, the damage was already done.
Shortly after, Simpson had told MTV that she was dealing with acid reflux and was using a backing track to help her performance.
"The total situation was a bummer. I made a complete fool of myself," Simpson said.
Kate Winslet was the host of SNL the following week, and even she felt an immense amount of pressure to make up for Simpson's blunder.
"I was on the week after Ashlee Simpson. I was the next show after. It was like, ‘Okay. Oh my god. So, this show’s gotta be really real,'" she revealed.
It has been years since that infamous SNL blunder, and Simpson has put it behind her. Instead of fearing it, she has simply accepted that it is part of her story.
"It's definitely not difficult to talk about. That was a very long time ago. It's something that happened to me and things in life happen, and they make you stronger. They make you a better performer and a better person. I think things like that build your character and your strength, and it's how you handle them [that matters.]," she said.
Ashlee Simpson's SNL performance was one for the books, and it's great to hear that she has put it behind her.