98 Degrees

98 Degrees

Company type	Vocal ensemble, boy band
Industry	Music
Founded	1995 in Los Angeles, United States
Founder	Jeff Timmons
Headquarters	Los Angeles , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Nick Lachey, Drew Lachey, Jeff Timmons, Justin Jeffre
Products	Studio albums, singles, tours
Number of employees	4 (members)

98 Degrees (presented as 98°) is a vocal ensemble and boy band from the United States, featuring brothers Nick and Drew Lachey, along with Jeff Timmons and Justin Jeffre. Their holiday record This Christmas has surpassed two million in sales, placing it among the top-selling seasonal albums.

This pop and R&B group was independently established by Jeff Timmons in Los Angeles, although each member originates from Ohio. Unlike many boy bands, they were signed to a label after forming organically rather than being assembled by industry executives. Globally, they have moved over 15 million units and secured eight top 40 hits in the United States. From 1997 through 2000, their singles consistently reached the top twenty on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with their initial release "Invisible Man" peaking at number 12 and their 1999 rendition of "I Do (Cherish You)" climbing to number 13. Their tracks "Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche)", "Because of You", "The Hardest Thing", and "Thank God I Found You"—a collaboration featuring Mariah Carey—all reached the U.S. top five; the latter earned them a Grammy nomination.

Following their reunion performance at the 2012 Mixtape Festival, the band continues to release new material.

Formation

The group's origins trace back to when Massillon, Ohio native Jeff Timmons departed college to pursue a career in music. Initially enrolled in psychology at Kent State University, he shifted focus toward singing after receiving enthusiastic responses at a campus event. In 1995, Timmons relocated to Los Angeles and met a fellow alumnus of Cincinnati’s School for Creative and Performing Arts who introduced him to Nick Lachey, then studying sports medicine at Miami (of Ohio) University. Lachey traveled to Los Angeles, and together they formed a boy band. Nick invited his friend Justin Jeffre—a history major at University of Cincinnati and also an SCPA graduate with experience performing in barbershop quartets and cover bands—to join. The final member was Nick’s younger brother Drew Lachey, an emergency medical technician based in New York City, who replaced original member Jonathan Lippman.

After debating names such as Just Us and Next Issue, their manager Paris D'Jon proposed "98 Degrees," inspired by normal human body temperature and reflective of their musical style.

Signing to Motown records

While refining their vocal harmonies and stagecraft, the members worked various jobs including landscaping, club security, and food delivery. Influenced by groups like Boyz II Men, Take 6, and Jodeci, they cultivated industry connections through auditions in Los Angeles. Their breakthrough came after performing during a radio broadcast of a Boyz II Men concert, which led to securing management and a recording deal. Paris D'Jon, who was co-managing Montell Jordan at the time, discovered them.

Shortly before signing with Motown, founding member Jonathan Lippman departed due to religious convictions and subsequently formed the CCM group True Vibe.

Arriving during the teen pop wave dominated by acts such as the Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, and NSYNC, this group set themselves apart by focusing on songwriting and R&B roots rather than pure pop appeal. In an April 1999 interview with the Chicago Tribune, Drew Lachey emphasized that being signed to Motown provided them with credibility within the realms of R&B and soul music, distinguishing them from manufactured pop ensembles. He underscored their commitment as vocalists, songwriters, and producers dedicated to authentic music creation rather than marketing-driven image crafting.

1997: Debut Album

Their initial single, "Invisible Man," debuted in June 1997 and climbed to No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, eventually earning gold certification—an impressive introduction to the music scene. While their self-titled first album received a range of critical opinions, Billboard highlighted the group's vocal abilities positively. To sustain audience interest, an additional track was included. The band embarked on an extensive tour, performing across Asia and serving as an opening act for several dates on Janet Jackson's Velvet Rope Tour, which expanded their fan base.

1998-1999: Major Success

After gaining recognition through their duet "True to Your Heart" with Stevie Wonder featured in the Disney film Mulan, 98 Degrees released their breakthrough album 98 Degrees and Rising in October 1998. This record achieved quadruple platinum certification by the RIAA. The production team included Atlanta-based producer and Babyface collaborator Daryl Simmons, with contributions from musicians such as former Earth, Wind & Fire guitarist Dick Smith. Subsequently, the group shifted from Motown to its parent label, Universal Records.

The album's lead single, "Because of You", reached No. 3 on the U.S. Hot 100 and No. 5 in Canada, securing platinum status. The follow-up single, "The Hardest Thing," attained No. 5 on the Hot 100 and was certified gold.

In 1999, they issued their platinum-certified holiday album This Christmas, which included the Canadian top 40 hit "This Gift". The group also appeared on Amy Grant's CBS Christmas special titled A Christmas to Remember. During this period, Nick Lachey collaborated with Jessica Simpson on her debut album Sweet Kisses, contributing to the single "Where You Are", which charted in Canada. Additionally, 98 Degrees provided "The Love That You've Been Looking For" for the compilation Jesus: The Epic Mini Series.

2000–2002: Revelation

In 2000, 98 Degrees scored a No. 1 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 with "Thank God I Found You", a collaboration featuring Mariah Carey and Joe. The track sold 700,000 units, earned gold certification, and remained in the top 200 singles sales chart for nearly a year. It also entered the UK top 10 and received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.

The leading single from Revelation, "Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche)", peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold. Released in September 2000, Revelation reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and achieved double platinum status. Subsequent singles included "My Everything"—which made it into the Top 40—and "The Way You Want Me To".

In September 2001, the group performed at Madison Square Garden, sharing the stage with Luther Vandross and Usher, delivering a rendition of Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" during his solo career's 30th anniversary celebration.

By 2002, they released a greatest hits compilation titled The Collection, featuring a new track called "Why (Are We Still Friends)". At this point in their career, 98 Degrees had sold over 10 million records and released twelve singles.

2003–2012: Period of Inactivity

The group entered a hiatus in 2003, with Drew Lachey clarifying that 98 Degrees had not officially broken up. During this interval, Drew and his spouse celebrated the birth of their first daughter shortly after his victory on Dancing with the Stars. Nick Lachey, who married Jessica Simpson in 2002, released two solo records: SoulO and What's Left of Me, the latter coinciding with their divorce in 2006. Timmons launched his solo project Whisper That Way and took part in VH1's Mission Man Band. Jeffre pursued a bid for Cincinnati's mayoral office and engaged in independent media ventures.

The band briefly regrouped in 2004 to appear on the special Nick & Jessica's Family Christmas and reunited again in 2005 to support Jeffre's political campaign.

2012–present: Reunion, 2.0 and Let It Snow

On June 20, 2012, Nick and Drew Lachey revealed plans for a one-time reunion performance at the Mixtape Festival scheduled for August. That same month, the group made an appearance on The Today Show. In a July interview, Drew stated that their reunion was driven by their readiness to recommit and the renewed interest in pop music. At that time, no additional engagements were confirmed beyond these appearances.

By September 2012, the band intended to begin recording a new album in October. On January 22, 2013, they announced a collaborative summer tour titled "The Package" with New Kids on the Block and Boyz II Men, which launched on May 28, 2013. They also performed during NBC's The Sing-Off finale in December.

Their album 2.0, marking their first studio release after a 13-year gap, was released on May 7, 2013.

In the summer of 2016, 98 Degrees led the My2K Tour alongside O-Town, Ryan Cabrera, and Dream, catering to audiences nostalgic for late-1990s and early-2000s pop music.

Returning to Universal Music in 2017, they unveiled their second holiday album, Let It Snow, commemorating their 20th anniversary. This was accompanied by a U.S. concert series named the "At Christmas Tour". Additionally, they briefly participated in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade that year.

In May 2018, they performed at Miss USA during the final walk of top finalists and later appeared at Epcot’s Eat To The Beat concert series as part of Walt Disney World’s Food and Wine Festival in October.

On July 9, 2021, they released the single "Where Do You Want To Go" and collaborated with Canadian country artist Brett Kissel on "Ain't the Same" in April 2022.

Discography

Studio albums

• 98° (1997)
• 98° and Rising (1998)
• This Christmas (1999)
• Revelation (2000)
• 2.0 (2013)
• Let It Snow (2017)
• Full Circle (2025)

Tours

Headlining

• Heat It Up Tour
• Revelation Tour
• My2K Tour
• 98° at Christmas Tour
• An Evening with 98 Degrees
• 25th Anniversary Tour
• 2024 U.S. Tour

Co-headlining

• All That! Music and More Festival
• The Package Tour

Grammy Awards

|- | 2000 | "Thank God I Found You" (featuring Mariah Carey & Joe) | Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals |

Billboard Music Awards

|- | 1999 | 98° | Top Pop Artist - Duo/Group |

Billboard Music Video Awards

!Ref. |- | rowspan=3|1999 | rowspan=2|"The Hardest Thing" | Best Jazz/AC Clip | | rowspan=3| |- | Best New Artist Clip - Jazz/AC | |- | "I Do (Cherish You)" | Best New Artist Clip - Pop |

Kids' Choice Awards

|- | 2000 | 98° | Favorite Music Group |

Teen Choice Awards

|- | rowspan=3|1999 | rowspan=2|98° | Choice Music: Breakout Artist | |- | Choice Music Group | |- | "Because of You" | Choice Music: Love Song | |- | rowspan=2|2000 | "Thank God I Found You" (featuring Mariah Carey & Joe) | |- | rowspan=2|98° | rowspan=2|Choice Music Group | |- | 2001 |

External links

• Official website
• 2011 Reunion