The guys from 98 Degrees are looking back on their boyband days — and opening up about what it was like to share the spotlight with *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys.
In an exclusive chat with PEOPLE to celebrate their brand-new album Full Circle, Nick Lachey, Drew Lachey, Justin Jeffre, and Jeff Timmons got real about how they felt being compared to the other huge boybands of the late ‘90s and early 2000s.
“I think you naturally compare yourself to other people,” said Drew, 48. “Whether it’s chart position or album sales — it’s just part of it. But we realized being in that conversation at all means you’re successful.”
He added, “Whether you were No. 1 on TRL or No. 4, you were still on TRL. That meant something!”
The band looked back on their early days — like when they performed at Z100’s Jingle Ball in 1998. Yep, frosted tips and all!
Even though there was some pressure to keep up when the other bands had big hits, Drew said they always respected what the others were going through.
“For the most part, we knew every group was grinding and going through the same ups and downs in the business,” he shared. “We’re still friends with those guys.”
Jeff, 52, also chimed in. “We modeled ourselves after Boyz II Men,” he said. “We were all about four-part harmonies and R&B vocals. We even signed with Motown. We didn’t even know what ‘boyband’ meant when we started.”
He continued, “So to be mentioned in the same breath as *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys? That’s awesome. But we never really saw ourselves in the same lane.”
Nick agreed. “We never intended to be a boyband,” he said. “We got swept up in it when that era exploded — and no complaints. It was a great time! But in our minds, we were always a little different.”
Full Circle, their first album in 12 years, is out now — and yes, it’s full of that smooth, classic 98 Degrees sound fans love.
As for rivalry? That’s all in the past. Jeff said things are much friendlier these days.
“We all do stuff together now — tours, shows, events,” he explained. “Everybody supports each other. It’s way more chill.”
He even joked, “It would’ve been great if we could’ve shared fans back in the day like we do now!”
So what about those fans?
“Boyband fans are the best,” Drew said. “They’re loyal, supportive, diehard, passionate — and charismatic.”
He added, “Honestly, we wouldn’t still be here almost 30 years later if the fans weren’t so amazing.”
No matter who you were cheering for back then — or now — the boys agree: all the fans made the magic happen.
So, with their new music out and old friendships still strong, 98 Degrees is proof that the boyband spirit is still going strong — just with a little less competition and a lot more heart.
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