He’s not just a boy band sensation! As the Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC redefined pop music for the masses upon the closing of the 1990s, 98° were also making girls scream and swoon with their darling good looks and delightful harmonies. Fronting the vocal group was the svelte charmer Nick Lachey. This onetime sports medicine major was a legit star thanks to his sensitive performance style. 98° went on to release four albums (all of which went platinum), and singles such as “My Everything,” “Way You Want Me To,” and “Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche)” became chart and radio favorites. Just as the boy band phenomenon began winding down somewhat, Lachey felt it was time to focus on other artistic ventures. The second tenor married his longtime girlfriend, singer Jessica Simpson, in fall 2002 and launched a solo career. He and Simpson instantly became A-list celebrities when their MTV-based reality show, Newlyweds, captured American audiences in 2003. While their show was still going strong, Lachey issued his first album for Universal, the R&B/pop-flavored album SoulO, before the year’s end. In between albums, Lachey tried his hand at acting. He appeared in several episodes of the WB’s Charmed in 2004 and 2005 and had a small part in the Nora Ephron comedy Bewitched. Before the year’s end, Lachey and Simpson announced their separation. In the midst of a tabloid field day, Lachey resumed his recording career in spring 2006 with the release of his second album, What’s Left of Me. More recently, he released Soundtrack of My Life in 2014. Nick Lachey continues to tour the world.
