Joey Fatone
The charismatic baritone of *NSYNC who traded boy-band fame for a versatile career as a TV host and Broadway performer.
Born 1977 (age 49)·American pop singer and actor·Birthday: January 28·Generation X
Biography
Joey Fatone was the grounded, everyman charm in the polished machine of *NSYNC. While not the group's principal vocalist, his rich baritone provided essential harmonic depth, and his Brooklyn-born personality offered a crucial dose of relatability amid the pop spectacle. The band's stratospheric success in the late 90s and early 2000s made him a household face, but Fatone wisely viewed fame as a launchpad, not a destination. As the group went on hiatus, he seamlessly pivoted, becoming a familiar presence on television as the host of shows like 'The Singing Bee' and a regular panelist on pop culture talk shows. He embraced his theatrical side, starring in Broadway productions like 'Rent' and 'Little Shop of Horrors,' and even competed on 'Dancing with the Stars,' finishing as runner-up. Unlike some peers who faded, Fatone cultivated a durable, multi-hyphenate career, balancing nostalgia tours with new ventures, proving that life after a boy band can be a long and varied encore.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Joey was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Joey Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Joey's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Sold over 70 million records worldwide as a member of *NSYNC, one of the best-selling boy bands in history.
- Hosted the NBC game show 'The Singing Bee,' which premiered to strong ratings in 2007.
- Finished as runner-up on the fourth season of 'Dancing with the Stars' in 2007 with professional partner Kym Johnson.
- Starred as Seymour Krelborn in the off-Broadway revival of 'Little Shop of Horrors.'
Did You Know?
He is of Italian descent and worked at Universal Studios Florida as a street performer and tour guide before joining *NSYNC.
He provided the voice for the character of Parker J. Cloud in the animated series 'The Fairly OddParents.'
He is a partial owner of the food truck and restaurant chain 'Fat One's Hot Dogs & Sausages.'
He and his *NSYNC bandmate Lance Bass co-hosted the VH1 series 'The Great Christmas Light Fight.'
“We were the Backstreet Boys' rivals, but we were also friends. It was a friendly competition that made both groups better.”
