Nick Lachey (born November 9, 1973, in Harlan, Kentucky) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, producer, and television personality. He became widely known in the late 1990s as the lead singer of 98 Degrees, a vocal group that helped define the polished, romantic side of the boy-band era. He later established a solo recording career and became a prominent television host and producer.
Lachey grew up in the Cincinnati area and attended the School for Creative and Performing Arts, where he developed his vocal skills. While studying at Miami University in Ohio, he became involved in the formation of 98 Degrees. The group consisted of Lachey, his younger brother Drew Lachey, Jeff Timmons, and Justin Jeffre. Unlike many of the era's heavily choreographed pop acts, 98 Degrees emphasized close vocal harmonies and R&B-influenced balladry.
The group's self-titled debut album appeared in 1997, but its breakthrough came with 98 Degrees and Rising in 1998. The album produced several successful singles and established the group as a major pop act. Further releases, including Revelation in 2000, extended 98 Degrees' popularity with songs such as "The Hardest Thing," "I Do (Cherish You)," "Invisible Man," and "Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche)." The group became known for its sentimental material and strong vocal blend. After a period of inactivity, 98 Degrees reunited in the 2010s, releasing 2.0 in 2013 and touring with other established vocal groups.
Lachey began recording as a solo artist while 98 Degrees was on hiatus. His debut album, SoulO, was released in 2003 and explored adult pop and contemporary R&B, though it made a relatively modest commercial impact. His second album, What's Left of Me, was more successful. Released in 2006, it reached number two on the Billboard 200, while its title track became his most successful solo single in the United States, reaching the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. The album presented a more personal and emotionally direct version of Lachey than his earlier work with 98 Degrees.
Television became an equally important part of Lachey's public career. In 2003, he and his then-wife Jessica Simpson starred in the MTV reality series Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica. The program turned their domestic life into a highly visible pop-culture subject and made Lachey a familiar television figure beyond the music market. He also appeared as an actor in programs including Charmed, One Tree Hill, and Hawaii Five-0, and had a small role in the film Bewitched.
As a host and producer, Lachey has worked on a wide range of entertainment formats. His credits include NBC's The Sing-Off, VH1's Big Morning Buzz Live, and the music competition series The Winner Is. He created and executive produced MTV's Taking the Stage, a reality series centered on students at Cincinnati's School for Creative and Performing Arts. He also appeared with his brother in the docuseries Lachey's Bar.
Lachey's later television work has centered on reality and relationship programming. Since 2020, he and his wife Vanessa Lachey have hosted Netflix's Love Is Blind, and he has also hosted the related series The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On and Perfect Match. These programs have made him one of the more recognizable hosts in contemporary streaming reality television, extending a career that began with boy-band pop into solo music, acting, production, and unscripted entertainment.