Nick and Jessica call it quits

Posted Saturday, November 26, 2005 at 10:38 AM Central

by John Couture

The pop couple infamous for turning the early years of their marriage into a hit reality TV show pulled the plug on their relationship Wednesday.

"After three years of marriage and careful thought and consideration, we have decided to part ways. This is the mutual decision of two people with an enormous amount of respect and admiration for each other. We hope that you respect our privacy during this difficult time," said the ex-couple in a joint statement. Jessica Simpson rose to fame as a singer hot on the trail of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Nick Lachey sizzled up the pop charts as a member of the boy band 98 degrees before finding true fame as the wizened husband to Simpson's scatter-brained wife.

Jessica made the leap to the big screen this Summer as Daisy Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard coming to DVD on December 6th. Nick had a brief cameo in this Summer's Bewitched and is in talks about a possible TV show.