Making Moves
After decades in the spotlight, Joey Fatone still enjoys the ride.
An international superstar entertainer, Joey Fatone is most recognized for his work as a member of NSYNC. The powerhouse pop group, which was formed in Orlando in the mid-’90s, became one of the most successful acts of all time, selling over 70 million records.
When the group went on hiatus in 2002, Fatone found new creative outlets on the big screen, on the silver screen, on Broadway, and beyond. He was on the road with AJ McLean of the Backstreet Boys earlier this year, on a tour that made a stop in the Philadelphia area—Ovation Hall in Atlantic City’s Ocean Resort—in July. Prior to that, he reunited with his NSYNC bandmates at a Justin Timberlake concert in LA; the group also appeared in the animated film Trolls Band Together.
Fatone recently announced he would be returning to Broadway for the first time in two decades, joining the company of the jukebox musical & Juliet. Clearly, he shows no signs of slowing down—or, forgive us, saying Bye Bye Bye—anytime soon.
Q&A
To see you get back together with your former bandmates recently and see that you all still have that shared bond and camaraderie, that had to be a special feeling.
Yes, it’s like no time has passed, we all got right back into it. We have all come to realize how special our run was. The people all these years later have really reacted, it’s pretty damn cool.
Do you still get the same rush from performing after all these years?
Maybe more now. I have learned to appreciate these moments more and I am in the moment, which is a rush in and of itself.
With the current state of the music industry, do you think it has changed for the better or worse when you factor in the way not only people consume music these days, but also the reality that new artists can put material out themselves, market themselves, etc.?
It seems there are no more genres or groups coming out anymore. And where’s the sing-along songs? Where are the songs with stories? It feels like there are lots of great beats and chants, but where is the lyrical content? Country music still has it, but pop, R&B and hip-hop—where are the groups?
Your father also spent time as part of a singing group. Did he have any good advice for you as you embarked on that new journey when you joined NSYNC?
He did, but very soon the things we were doing were beyond any of our wildest dreams. I think he loved watching it all unfold.
In those wildest dreams, could you guys have ever envisioned your careers blowing up the way that they did? I mean, at what point did you realize that you went from being in a group to not being able to go outside without creating a mob scene?
What’s odd is in Germany we couldn’t go anywhere, but in the States no one cared. It wasn’t until the Disney concert special [in 1998] that the States went crazy. Looking back on it, it was wild.
You’re also a father to two daughters. How challenging is it to raise children when you’re living your life in the public eye?
They are used to it. I keep life pretty simple and they are enjoying some of the benefits. The crazy thing is they are nine years apart, so it’s challenging in some areas. My oldest is 23, she is independent. My 14-year-old still needs rides to school, to afterschool events and other things.
To see you get back together with your former bandmates recently and see that you all still have that shared bond and camaraderie, that had to be a special feeling.
Yes, it’s like no time has passed, we all got right back into it. We have all come to realize how special our run was. The people all these years later have really reacted, it’s pretty damn cool.
Do you still get the same rush from performing after all these years?
Maybe more now. I have learned to appreciate these moments more and I am in the moment, which is a rush in and of itself.
With the current state of the music industry, do you think it has changed for the better or worse when you factor in the way not only people consume music these days, but also the reality that new artists can put material out themselves, market themselves, etc.?
It seems there are no more genres or groups coming out anymore. And where’s the sing-along songs? Where are the songs with stories? It feels like there are lots of great beats and chants, but where is the lyrical content? Country music still has it, but pop, R&B and hip-hop—where are the groups?
Your father also spent time as part of a singing group. Did he have any good advice for you as you embarked on that new journey when you joined NSYNC?
He did, but very soon the things we were doing were beyond any of our wildest dreams. I think he loved watching it all unfold.
In those wildest dreams, could you guys have ever envisioned your careers blowing up the way that they did? I mean, at what point did you realize that you went from being in a group to not being able to go outside without creating a mob scene?
What’s odd is in Germany we couldn’t go anywhere, but in the States no one cared. It wasn’t until the Disney concert special [in 1998] that the States went crazy. Looking back on it, it was wild.
You’re also a father to two daughters. How challenging is it to raise children when you’re living your life in the public eye?
They are used to it. I keep life pretty simple and they are enjoying some of the benefits. The crazy thing is they are nine years apart, so it’s challenging in some areas. My oldest is 23, she is independent. My 14-year-old still needs rides to school, to afterschool events and other things.
People come up and ask, “Are you Joey Fatone?” I’m like, “Yes, I am!” They are surprised I do the normal things like other parents do.
Now that your daughters are getting a bit older, how has your relationship with them grown?
My oldest and I really have some deep conversations about life. My youngest is enjoying her own life, and both of them have no desire to be in entertainment. They both are turning into young ladies. It’s crazy to think I’m their dad.
Now that your daughters are getting a bit older, how has your relationship with them grown?
My oldest and I really have some deep conversations about life. My youngest is enjoying her own life, and both of them have no desire to be in entertainment. They both are turning into young ladies. It’s crazy to think I’m their dad.
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life magazine, October 2024.
