In the mid-2000s, Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson was one of the biggest acts in pop music.
As the only female member of the Black Eyed Peas, she played double duty when she branched
out with her own record-breaking solo album, The Dutchess, in 2006.
What followed was a string of hits with the Peas, including the forever catchy "Boom Boom
Pow" and "I Gotta Feeling," alongside huge success with her solo tracks.
But over the last few years, this eight-time Grammy winner has stepped out of the spotlight,
which begs the question: Why don't we hear from Fergie anymore?
Breaking band
Despite rumors to the contrary, Fergie has not left the Black Eyed Peas, but she is on
a break from the group that made her a household name.
Social media blew up in early June 2017 amid reports that Will.i.am allegedly told Ahlan!
Magazine that Fergie was no longer in the mix.
The rumor was immediately refuted by Fergie's rep, who maintained the songstress was, quote,
"concentrating on her new album and can't wait for fans to hear it."
Will.i.am spoke out, too, to offer his love for her in her newest endeavor, saying, "Fergie
is family and will always be a Pea.
She is focused on her solo album which we fully support."
While this evolving professional dynamic might be weird for the longtime collaborators, there
are clearly no hard feelings.
"I am so happy for anybody who needs to make music in their life, they need to do that,
and we just need to be happy for each other."
Delayed release
As of early July 2017, Fergie's highly anticipated sophomore effort, Double Dutchess, has yet
to see the light of day — despite Fergie hyping the album for nearly five years.
The singer-songwriter is well aware of the growing impatience surrounding its release,
but she has no regrets about taking her time with it.
In December 2016, she told Radio.com,
"I didn't wanna put an album out there and not be proud of it and have regrets.
So now I'm proud of things…I'm sorry it took so long, but at least I won't regret
it."
Sleeper singles
Beginning in 2014, Fergie released three singles to give fans an album appetizer, but none
of those tracks were well-received.
"L.A. Love," "MILFS" and "Life Goes On" were all panned by critics and mostly ignored by
audiences.
That trifecta of tepid receptions might've put the brakes on her new album's release
and ushered in a label change.
In May 2017, Fergie and her former label, Interscope Records, dismantled their partnership.
A label rep told Variety,
"The decision was made to part ways.
We were all in concert and want what's best for Fergie."
After leaving Interscope, Fergie immediately struck a record deal with BMG to launch her
own label — aptly titled Dutchess Music — that would afford her more artistic control
and freedom.
BMG executive Jon Cohen talked up the new connection, telling Variety,
"What Fergie has put together with Double Dutchess is so inventive it redefines her
as an artist.
Her prolific output has already made our collaboration one of my most exciting times with BMG and
we can't wait for its reveal."
Family focus
Fergie and her husband Josh Duhamel welcomed their first child together, a son named Axl,
in 2013.
"I did this little thing called having a kid."
"Yea."
"How, how is that little thing?"
"It's just the best album I've ever made."
Her new career as a mother has taken up some time, as has her commitment to making her
marriage work despite some difficult days.
She celebrated her eighth anniversary with Duhamel in 2017, but the couple has had their
fair share of ups and downs, including Duhamel's notorious cheating scandal with a stripper
less than a year into the marriage.
The pair worked through that challenge and seems to be doing better than ever.
"When you go through difficult times, it… it really makes you stronger as a unit."
That kind of commitment to private healing could require both time and a significant
step back from the public arena.
Activism matters
Fergie, who came out as bisexual in 2009, has become a steadfast supporter of LGBTQ
rights.
She headlined the iconic Dance on the Pier event during NYC Pride in 2016, telling Out
Magazine,
"This is the party.
I've been wanting to do Pride for so many years…It was such an honor and became even
more important because of what happened [in Orlando]."
Fergie has also worked with various organizations, including amfAR and the MAC Aids Fund, to
raise money and awareness to fight HIV/AIDS, and she's a longtime supporter the The Trevor
Project, which provides support for LGBTQ youth.
That sort of commitment to cause is noble, but also requires some sacrifice of time and
effort that might otherwise be spent on maintaining her celebrity status.
What's next?
Fergie's fans might finally get their way, as Double Dutchess is still scheduled for
release in 2017.
"I am so ready for this album to come out.
You have no idea.
I've turned it in.
It's done.
Not only that, but it sounds like the singer will be reaching new depths within herself
with this new music.
"It's about kinda talking in the mirror and kind of giving myself a coach a pep talk like
you know faith face those fears, push past those."
So, this might just be the year Fergie finds herself back on top of her game again.
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