Nick Lachey is an American singer, songwriter, actor, and television personality who gained popularity for his personal life rather than his professional endeavors. He was perplexed and spoiled for choice in his early years as a passionate singer and sports fan. His passion for music soon transcended and paved the way for him to join the boy band 98 Degrees. The quartet, which included his brother, a high school friend, and an Ohio native, achieved considerable fame and recognition for their work. They released a total of five albums in the 1990s, selling a total of ten million copies. However, when he began an affair with fellow pop star Jessica Simpson, his popularity soared even higher. The couple eventually married and appeared on the reality television shows ‘Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica’ and ‘The Nick & Jessica Variety Hour’. His personal life made headlines once more after he divorced his wife. Following his breakup, he released the album ‘What’s Left of Me,’ in which he channeled his entire emotional outburst. The album was a smashing success, propelling him to stardom.
Childhood & Adolescence
Nick Lachey was born Nicholas Scott Lachey in Harlan, Kentucky, to German-American parents Cate Fopma-Leimbach and John Lachey.
Despite his Kentucky birth, young Lachey spent the majority of his formative years in Ohio.
He attended Cincinnati’s School for Creative and Performing Arts. He later enrolled at the University of South California in Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting.
After a year at USC, he took a break from his studies and enrolled at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, to study sports medicine. Additionally, the opportunity enabled him to remain closer to his family.
Career of Nick
Sailing two boats concurrently, his passion for music quickly surpassed his love for sports, and he decided to pursue music professionally. Jeff Timmons persuaded him to join the new vocal group.
In 1995, he and Timmons were joined by Justin Jeffre, a high school friend, and Drew Lachey, his brother. The quartet began by singing together in unison throughout the park. They decided to call the band 98 Degrees.
They signed a deal with Motown Records in 1997. Following that, they released their self-titled debut album, ’98 Degrees’. Though the album received positive reviews, they achieved true success with their follow-up, ’98 Degrees and Rising’.
By the late 1990s, the band had amassed considerable popularity and notoriety as a result of their five chart-topping albums. Together, the albums sold ten million copies and were known for their chart-topping singles ‘Because of You,’ ‘The Hardest Thing,’ and ‘Give Me Just One Night.’ Additionally, they performed duets with well-known celebrities.
In 2003, he co-starred with his wife, Jessica Simpson, in the MTV reality television show ‘Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica.’ The show delves into the two stars’ personal lives and their time together.
He launched his debut venture, SoulO, the same year. Despite being released in the same year as the ‘Newlyweds’, the album was a commercial failure.
He then appeared alongside Jessica in the 2004 television special The Nick and Jessica Variety Hour. He also appeared in the 2004 and 2005 television series Charmed.
Despite the failure of his debut venture and the turmoil in his personal life, he was undeterred and released his second album, ‘What’s Left of Me’, in May 2006. The album was a chart-topping success and was certified Gold. It went on to sell over 500,000 copies in the United States.
The album’s self-titled lead single, ‘What’s Left of Me,’ was a smash hit, peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. Vanessa Minnillo, an MTV VJ, was featured in the video.
He later recorded the song ‘Ordinary Day’ for Oprah Winfrey’s film ‘For One More Day’. He began recording his third solo album in 2007. However, Jive Records placed the album on indefinite hold in January 2010. He then breached his contract with the record label.
He was a star of the popular television series ‘One Tree Hill’. In 2009, he starred in ‘Taking the Stage,’ a musical reality show that chronicled the lives of high school students at the School for Creative and Performing Arts. MTV premiered the show.
He hosted the four-part American singing competition ‘The Sing Off’ in 2009. He also reprised his role as the show’s presenter in the show’s second and third seasons. He even appeared as a contestant on NBC’s reality television series ‘Stars Earn Stripes.’
Personal History and Legacies
While his profession brought him fame and glory, it was his personal life that thrust him into the public eye. To begin, he rose to prominence in 1999 after dating pop star Jessica Simpson.
The couple married on October 26, 2002, after three years of courtship. While his nuptials garnered considerable attention, it was the reality television show ‘Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica’ that elevated their celebrity.
The couple made headlines again in 2005, this time for divorcing, citing irreconcilable differences as the primary reason. On June 30, 2006, they obtained a legal divorce.
Things improved for him personally and professionally in 2006, when he began dating Vanessa Minnillo, who appeared on his single ‘What’s Left of Me’.
The couple dated steadily until November 4, 2010, when they announced their engagement. They were married on July 15, 2011. On July 30, the wedding was filmed and televised.
While his passion for music blossomed into a lucrative career, he never abandoned his interest in sports. He is a co-owner of the Hollywood Fame, an ABA team. Additionally, he was a member of the Tacoma Rainiers’ ownership group, the Seattle Mariners’ Triple-A affiliate.
He is a die-hard fan of the Cincinnati Bengals, Cincinnati Reds, and Cincinnati Bearcats. He threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the 2009 Major League Baseball Opening Day game in Cincinnati, Ohio, and sang the National Anthem at the inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky, in 2011.
He is a member of Feeding America’s Entertainment Council.
Estimated Net Worth
Nick Lachey is a 25-million-dollar-wealthy American singer, actor, songwriter, television personality, and host. This is his net worth in combination with his wife, model/actress Vanessa Minnillo. Nick first gained prominence in the late 1990s as a member of the boy band 98 Degrees and has since pursued a variety of other endeavors.
Trivia
This accomplished singer and television personality shot to fame after marrying pop sensation Jessica Simpson.