Nick Lachey Biography

The American singer and songwriter Nick Lachey was born in 1973 in Harlan, Kentucky. Long before Nick initially rose to fame as a member of the hit boy band 98 Degree, he grew up in the Cincinnati area alongside his brother Drew. Nick and Drew were two of the original founding members of 98 Degrees, a group inspired by the music and style of groups such as Boyz II Men and Take 5.

98 Degrees signed to Motown Records and fought hard to defy the “boy band” label, writing most of their own material and focusing on R&B influences instead of pop influences. The group became enormously successful, selling over ten million records and giving fans the hit singles such as “Invisible Man,” “Because of You,” “The Hardest Thing,” “Thank God I Found You,” and “Give Me Just One Night.”

After leaving the group, Nick Lachey launched a solo career and became a reality television personality, starring with his then-wife Jessica Simpson in the television series Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, on the MTV network. Nick released his solo debut, SoulO, in 2003, the same year the show premiered. Although the album was only moderately successful, Nick and Jessica became pop culture icons.

SoulO was followed by What’s Left of Me in 2006, which fared much better, rising to the number two spot on the mainstream charts in the United States and featuring the singles: “What’s Left of Me,” “I Can’t Hate You Anymore,” and “Resolution.” The album also earned Lachey a nomination for Favorite Male Pop/Rock Artist at the American Music Awards and a nomination for a Teen Choice Award for Best Love Song (for “What’s Left of Me.”)

While appearing in Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, Nick Lachey also began to appear on a number of television shows in guest starring roles, starting with a six-episode run on the hit series Charmed. He also appeared on the shows I’m with Her, Hope & Faith, and Twins. After Newlyweds concluded its run in 2005, Nick then appeared on One Tree Hill and Hawaii Five-O.

Nick Lachey recently released his first new album in more than five years, with Soundtrack of My Life, which arrived in 2014.