The Dutchess

The Dutchess is the debut solo studio album by American singer and songwriter Fergie. It was released through A&M Records and the will.i.am Music Group on September 13, 2006. The album was recorded between the Black Eyed Peas' tour in 2005, and the songs were written in the eight years preceding its release. Fergie wanted to create an autobiographical album that would be more intimate between her and the listener. Musically, it experiments with different music genres, including pop, hip hop, R&B, reggae, punk rock and soul. Lyrically, it contains themes about critics, love, and her personal drug abuse and addiction.

The Dutchess peaked at number two on the US Billboard 200 and was praised by music critics for its production and Fergie's vocals, but some criticized its lyrics and felt the material was not strong enough for her voice. It has since been considered an influential pop album of the 2000s. It was certified five times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), and has sold 12 million copies worldwide. It was nominated for the 2008 Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance ("Big Girls Don't Cry") and the 2008 Juno Award for International Album of the Year, among other accolades.