Nick Lachey
Lachey in March 2012.
Background information
Birth name	Nicholas Scott Lachey
Born	(1973-11-09) November 9, 1973 (age 38) Harlan, Kentucky, United States
Origin	Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Genres	Pop rock, R&B
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, actor
Years active	1997–present
Labels	Motown, Universal, Jive
Associated acts	98 Degrees

Nicholas Scott "Nick" Lachey ( /ləˈʃeɪ/ lə-SHAY;^[1] born November 9, 1973) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, producer and television personality. Lachey rose to fame as a member of the boy band 98 Degrees. He later starred in the reality television series Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica with his then-wife, Jessica Simpson. He has released two solo albums, SoulO and What's Left of Me. As a solo artist Nick Lachey sold over 600,000 records and with 98 Degrees, over 10 million records worldwide. He had a recurring role on the television series Charmed.

Early life[link]

Lachey was born near the border of Kentucky and Virginia in Harlan, Kentucky to Cate Fopma-Leimbach and John Lachey.^[2] He has a brother, Drew, a stepsister, Josie, a half brother, Isaac, and two adopted siblings, Zach and Caitlin Leimbach. Growing up in Ohio, he attended Cincinnati Public Schools-School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA), developing his vocal talent while excelling in sports and academics.^[2] After graduation he attended the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, California. After a year at USC, he wanted to be closer to his family and transferred to Miami University, in Oxford, Ohio, where he studied sports medicine and became a brother in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

Career[link]

Nick started his professional singing career at Kings Island with friend Justin Jeffre in the mid-1990s singing in a group quartet throughout the park.^[3][4] Lachey was a member of boyband 98 Degrees along with his brother, Drew, Justin Jeffre, and Jeff Timmons Their debut album was the self-titled 98 Degrees; however, the band's first real success came with their follow up album 98 Degrees and Rising. 98 Degrees has sold over 10 million records.

During the summer of 2003, the reality show, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, starring Lachey and then-wife Jessica Simpson began airing on MTV. The couple starred in the television special The Nick and Jessica Variety Hour, which aired in 2004 and was compared to The Sonny & Cher Show.^[5] In 2005, Newlyweds won a People's Choice Award for Favorite Reality Show before wrapping shortly after.^[6] On November 11, 2003, his solo debut album, SoulO, was released.^[2] Despite being released during the success of Newlyweds, the album was a commercial failure. Lachey took a recurring role on series Charmed between 2004 and 2005.^[7]

Nick Lachey in February 2006.

What's Left of Me was released on May 9, 2006 and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. The album was certified Gold, after selling more than 500,000 copies domestically. The first single from the album was the title track, "What's Left of Me", released on February 21, 2006. The song became a hit, reaching a peak position of number six on the Billboard Hot 100. The video for "What's Left Of Me" featured former MTV VJ, Vanessa Minnillo. Lachey recorded "Ordinary Day" for the Oprah Winfrey-produced film, For One More Day.

Lachey began working on his third solo album in 2007.^[8] Lachey also starred in a well known TV series, One Tree Hill, as a singer at Red Bedroom Productions. It was announced in January 2010 that Jive Records had put his new album on hold indefinitely.^[9] In June 2010, Lachey confirmed that he had parted ways with Jive Records. Taking the Stage, a musical reality show documenting the lives of high school students at the School for Creative and Performing Arts, premiered on MTV in March 2009. It was produced by Lachey. In December 2009, he hosted The Sing-Off, a four-part American singing competition featuring a cappella groups, a role he reprised during December 2010 for the show's second and third season on NBC.

Sports interests[link]

Lachey is part owner of the Hollywood Fame, a team in the American Basketball Association that began play in fall 2006, and was part of an ownership group of the Tacoma Rainiers, the Seattle Mariners' Triple-A affiliate. Lachey is also a die-hard Cincinnati Bengals, Cincinnati Reds, and Cincinnati Bearcats fan.^[10]

On April 7, 2009 Lachey threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the MLB Opening Day game in Cincinnati, Ohio. On July 9, 2011 Lachey sang the National Anthem for the inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky.

Personal life[link]

Lachey dated fellow pop star Jessica Simpson on and off for four years, beginning in early 1999. On October 26, 2002, Lachey married Simpson.^[11] In November 2005, after months of tabloid speculation, Simpson and Lachey announced they were separating. Simpson filed for divorce on December 16, 2005, citing "irreconcilable differences."^[12][13] The couple's divorce was publicized worldwide and was reportedly finalized on June 30, 2006.^[14] "Despite his much smaller net worth, he openly refused to request a payout, even turning down a $1.5 million settlement offer from Simpson's dad."^[15] The couple sold their Calabasas mansion, in which Newlyweds was filmed, to Malcolm in the Middle star Justin Berfield for an undisclosed amount.^[16]

Soon after the release of "What's Left of Me", his 2006 music video starring Vanessa Minnillo, Lachey and Minnillo began dating.^[17] They briefly broke up in June 2009,^[18] but by October 2009, Lachey confirmed that they were back together after having been "single for a minute".^[19] On November 4, 2010, Lachey and Minnillo announced their engagement.^[20] They were married July 15, 2011, on Sir Richard Branson's private Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands,^[21] with a small party of 35 close friends and family.^[22] Their wedding was filmed and televised on July 30 on TLC. On March 5, 2012, Lachey announced on Live! with Kelly that he and his wife are expecting their first child.^[23]

Lachey is also on the entertainment council of the hunger-relief organization Feeding America.^{[citation needed]}

Discography[link]

• SoulO (2003)
• What's Left of Me (2006)
• New album (2012)

Filmography[link]

Nick Lachey in April 2008.

Awards and nominations[link]

Teen Choice Awards

• Best Love Song: What's Left of Me (August 20, 2006)
• Choice Red Carpet Fashion Icon (August 20, 2006)

MTV Video Music Awards

• Best Male Video: What's Left of Me (nominated) (August 29, 2006)

American Music Awards

• Favorite Male Pop/Rock Artist (nominated) (November 21, 2006)

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Nick Lachey

• Nick Lachey Official Website