Jessica Simpson to star in NBC sitcom pilot based on her life

Jessica Simpson will star in an NBC sitcom pilot based on her life, the singer said Tuesday in a joint statement with the company that produces the designer competition "Fashion Star," on which she is a judge.

"We are thrilled to team up with the multitalented Jessica Simpson to bring this new sitcom to life on NBC as she is truly a modern-day Lucy with incredible comedic chops," Ben Silverman, chairman of Electus, said in a statement.

Potential stories for the series could revolve around her "running a fashion empire to wrangling her public image as a new mom," he said.

"I am so excited to work with Ben and NBC again, this time on a scripted comedy," Simpson added. "I often find myself thinking that no one could ever make up the things that actually happen in my life, so between the real-life elements and a great team of writers, I think we'll have people laughing."

Simpson has worked occasionally as an actress since 2002, when she made the first of two appearances on "That '70s Show" as Annette Louise Berkardt, one of Kelso's (Ashton Kutcher) girlfriends. She has played character roles in a handful of movies including "The Dukes of Hazzard" (2005) where she was Daisy Duke. Her best-known TV work was the 2003-05 MTV reality show, "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica," featuring herself and then-husband Nick Lachey. Simpson also made a 2004 ABC pilot, "Jessica," about a pop star turned Barbara Walters-wannabe named Jessica Sampson, but it was not picked up.