Joseph Anthony Fatone Jr. (born January 28, 1977)[1] is an American singer, dancer, actor, and television host. He is best known as a member of the boy band NSYNC, in which he sings baritone. The band has sold over 70 million records, becoming one of the best-selling boy bands of all time.[2]
Fatone was born in Brooklyn, New York City, to Joe and Phyllis Fatone. He has a brother, Steven, and a sister, Janine,[1] and was raised at 2140 84th Street in the Bensonhurst neighborhood.[3] His father had sung in a doo-wop group called the Orions.[3] At 13, he moved with his family to Orlando, Florida, where he attended Dr. Phillips High School.[4]
Career
NSYNC
After high school, Fatone played "Wolfie" in Beetlejuice's Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando.[5] There, in the summer of 1995, he befriended fellow park performer Chris Kirkpatrick who recruited him as the fourth member of a new vocal group that included Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez. They were later joined by Lance Bass and the band NSYNC was formed. Fatone sang baritone with the band from their formation to 2002, when they went on an indefinite hiatus, during which time they sold more than 70 million records worldwide. He performed lead vocals on the single "Together Again" and the No Strings Attached album track "I Thought She Knew". While a member of NSYNC, Fatone co-starred with bandmate Bass in the 2001 romantic comedy film On the Line and guest-starred with the band on The Simpsons episode, "New Kids on the Blecch".
On August 25, 2013, NSYNC regrouped for a one-off performance at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards.[6] They performed a medley of "Girlfriend" and "Bye Bye Bye"; after the performance Lance Bass said that the group had no plans for a reunion tour or new music.[7] In April 2019 the band reunited without Timberlake for a one-off performance with Ariana Grande at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. NSYNC have long been subject to speculation of a reunion, to which Fatone has given the answer: "Never say never".[8]
On September 12, 2023, following weeks of teasers and speculation[9] regarding a potential reunion, all five members appeared together at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards to present the Best Pop Award.[10] On September 14, it was confirmed the group recorded a new song entitled "Better Place" for the DreamWorks Animation film Trolls Band Together.[11] The song was released on September 29, 2023, reaching No. 1 on the US and Canadian iTunes Charts, No. 4 on the Global and European iTunes Charts and No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In the wake of the new single's release, Fatone said there were no immediate plans for more music from NSYNC, but the band could release a new album within the next two years, subject to the success of "Better Place" and the involvement of Timberlake.[12]
In February 2014 Fatone made an appearance on the hidden camera show Impractical Jokers, standing in for show regular Brian Quinn, during a challenge. He made repeat appearances on the show as host or featured guest in a number of specials, including a 2017 episode based at his Orlando hot dog restaurant, Fat One's. Fatone is the permanent host of the spin-off series Impractical Jokers: After Party and he made a cameo in Impractical Jokers: The Movie in 2020.
On February 1, 2007, the ABC television network announced that Fatone would participate in season 4 of the American version of Dancing with the Stars, which debuted March 19, 2007. He ended up placing second, losing the mirror ball to Apolo Anton Ohno and Julianne Hough.[23] He competed with professional partner Kym Johnson. Fatone participated in the 15th season of Dancing with the Stars for a second chance to win a mirror ball trophy,[24] again dancing with Kym Johnson. They were the second couple eliminated. He later returned in season 27 during Trio Week as a trio partner to John Schneider and Emma Slater.
In February 2013, Fatone appeared on Holland America Line's "Dancing with the Stars at Sea", aboard the MS Eurodam. He returned to Dancing with the Stars at Sea on Holland America Line's MS Nieuw Amsterdam in January 2014.[25] He was paired with Lacey Schwimmer and appeared alongside Mark Ballas, Sabrina Bryan, and a dance ensemble. Unlike the TV show, this was not a competition and there were no eliminations.
Personal life
Fatone met his wife, Kelly Baldwin, while they were still in high school in 1993. After joining NSYNC two years later, their relationship was off-and-on.
It was a much speculated rumor that Fatone had briefly dated singer Pink in early 2000, to which Pink stated, "[Joey] took me to Friendly's as a casual date, not like a date-date. I just wanted ice cream. We were in the friend zone." The singer has stated that although they did technically go on a date, it was more platonic and that Fatone was "a total sweetheart."[26]
After rekindling his romance with Baldwin shortly after the same year, she became pregnant in the spring of 2000 with their first child, Briahna, who was born exactly a year after the release of NSYNC's hit sophomore album, No Strings Attached. They became engaged in the fall of 2002.
On September 9, 2004, Fatone married Baldwin at Oheka Castle on Long Island, New York, in a ceremony that was attended by all his NSYNC bandmates.[27] Fatone and his wife have two daughters: Briahna Joely, born March 21, 2001,[28] and Kloey, born January 2010.[29] Fatone's best friend, Lance Bass, is their godfather.[30]
^Doolittle, Leslie (March 9, 2000). "'NSYNC's Days to Forget". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024. "Joey Fatone started out playing Wolfman in Beetlejuice Graveyard Revue…"
