Nsync

The idea for the group was sparked when Kirkpatrick, then performing in a doo-wop group at Universal Studios, met music mogul Lou Pearlman, who agreed to finance a new vocal group if Kirkpatrick could assemble the right members. He first reached out to Justin Timberlake, who was part of The All New Mickey Mouse Club alongside JC Chasez. Timberlake joined and recommended Chasez. After recruiting Joey Fatone and initially Jason Galasso—who left before the group’s debut and was replaced by Lance Bass—the group’s final formation was complete. Timberlake’s mother coined the name *NSYNC, a nod to how “in sync” their vocals were, and also a play on the last letters of their first names: JustiN, ChriS, JoeY, JasoN, and JC.

Following months of intense rehearsals and early performances, the group signed with BMG Ariola Munich and recorded their debut album in Sweden with hit producers Denniz Pop, Max Martin, and Andreas Carlsson. Their first single, “I Want You Back,” released in Germany in 1996, became a hit, followed by more European chart-toppers like “Tearin’ Up My Heart” and “Here We Go.” Their self-titled debut album, NSYNC, released in Europe in 1997, peaked at number one in Germany and sold over 820,000 copies in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.

*NSYNC entered the U.S. market in 1998, where their fame exploded. Legal battles with manager Lou Pearlman and their record label soon followed, but the group rebounded in spectacular fashion with their 2000 album No Strings Attached. It shattered sales records, moving 1 million copies on its first day and 2.4 million in its first week—records that stood for over a decade. Their follow-up album, Celebrity (2001), debuted with 1.8 million copies sold in its first week.

Known for hits like “Bye Bye Bye,” “It’s Gonna Be Me,” “Pop,” and “Girlfriend,” *NSYNC became a cultural force in late-90s and early-2000s pop. At their peak, they completed five nationwide tours and sold over 70 million records, making them one of the best-selling boy bands of all time. They earned nine Grammy nominations and performed at major events including the Super Bowl, the Olympic Games, and the World Series. The group collaborated with music legends such as Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, and Celine Dion.

The band went on an indefinite hiatus in 2002, and while the members pursued individual paths—most notably Justin Timberlake’s solo career—the group occasionally reunited. Memorable reunions included a 2013 MTV Video Music Awards performance, appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018, and a 2019 Coachella performance with Ariana Grande. In 2023, the band returned with the single “Better Place” for the animated film Trolls Band Together and recorded another track, “Paradise,” for Timberlake’s 2024 album Everything I Thought It Was. They also made a one-off performance appearance at Timberlake’s 2024 ONO concert in Los Angeles.

Despite not officially reuniting full-time, *NSYNC’s influence on pop music remains undeniable. Their legacy as teen idols, chart dominators, and innovators in the boy band genre continues to resonate across generations.