Boy Band Celebrity Family Feud (Pictures)

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Micah's Voice Presents Back In The Day 2nd Annual Benefit Concert (NICK)

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'The Sing-Off' Returns to NBC With Six New Groups Competing in Two-Hour Holiday Special Wednesday December 17

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Written By Amanda Kondolojy

via press release:

‘THE SING-OFF’ RETURNS TO NBC WITH SIX NEW GROUPS COMPETING IN TWO-HOUR HOLIDAY SPECIAL SET FOR WEDNESDAY, DEC. 17

Jewel, Shawn Stockman and Patrick Stump Serve as Judges with Nick Lachey Returning as Host

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. — Nov. 7, 2014 — NBC will air a two-hour holiday special of its popular a capella musical competition series “The Sing-Off” on Wednesday, Dec. 17 from 9-11 p.m. ET/PT. Six new groups will compete for a first-place prize of $50,000.

Returning judges Jewel and Shawn Stockman will be joined by Fall Out Boy frontman Patrick Stump while Nick Lachey is once again set as host.

Four-time Grammy nominee Jewel has enjoyed career longevity rare among her generation of artists. She has always been a charismatic live performer, earning the respect of other singer-songwriters, such as Merle Haggard, Bob Dylan and Neil Young, who, not only invited her to open their shows, but mentored her in the early phases of her career. After a tremendous amount of success as a singer-songwriter and more than 27 million albums sold, Jewel released a greatest hits album in 2013 that featured a collection of her best-known songs as well as two new duets with Kelly Clarkson and the Pistol Annies, in addition to a new track called “Two Hearts Breaking.”

She starred as June Carter Cash in the Lifetime biopic “Ring of Fire,” which earned four Emmy nominations. In 2013 Jewel released her much anticipated follow-up holiday album, “Let It Snow.” Currently, Jewel is recording her 13th studio album, a follow-up to her first album, “Pieces of You,” due in 2015.  

As its tenor vocalist, Shawn Stockman has helped make the four-time Grammy-winning Boyz II Men the best-selling r&b group of all time. For the past two decades, Stockman and bandmates Nathan Morris and Wanya Morris (no relation) have been crafting classic albums whose appeal has withstood the test of time. Stockman’s smooth vocals have helped to give Boyz II Men’s timeless hits their signature sound. Boyz II Men has recently released a new album of original material titled “Collide,” which offers a new sound for the group.

Boyz II Men, which holds the record for longest running # 1 song in music history with “One Sweet Day,” just recently extended their Las Vegas residency at the Mirage Hotel & Casino.

Patrick Stump is the lead singer for Chicago-based Grammy-nominated rock band Fall Out Boy. The band’s first single, “Centuries,” from their forthcoming album for Island Records/DCD2, has become a multi-format radio smash, quickly charting in the top 10 on modern rock and now exploding on the Top 40 chart. The track debuted at #1 on the iTunes Alternative Chart and the song already has more than 20 million plays on Spotify and 3 million plays on YouTube in just three weeks. Fall Out Boy has also written the song “Immortals,” featured in the trailer and the film “Big Hero 6” from Disney.

The band’s 2013 release, “Save Rock and Roll,” was the musicians’ gold-certified fifth studio album and featured the multiplatinum hit “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up).” “Save Rock and Roll” debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top 200 and #1 on iTunes in 27 countries when it was released in April.

Nick Lachey, a multi-platinum recording artist, actor and television personality first rose to stardom as the front-man of the popular band 98 Degrees, selling more than 10 million albums worldwide and charting several top-40 hits. Lachey later went onto star in “Newlyweds,” one of MTV’s most successful shows in the network’s history.

His fourth solo album, “Soundtrack of My Life,” is slated for release Nov. 11. In addition to his individual projects, Lachey reunited with 98 Degrees to announce a North America tour with New Kids on the Block and Boyz II Men.

In March, Lachey signed on to host VH1’s popular national morning show “Big Morning Buzz Live.” He is currently in production on a new A&E Network docuseries “Lachey’s Bar” that will follow brothers Nick and Drew Lachey as they open a bar in their hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Last year’s “Sing-Off” champions Home Free saw their recent album release “Crazy Life” go to #1 on the country iTunes chart and #4 on the overall iTunes chart. They embarked on a 36-show tour in support of the album and have appeared on shows such as “Today” and “Fox and Friends.”

As another sign of the influence of “The Sing-Off,” Pentatonix have become a musical force since winning the third season. Since their debut in 2011, the quintet has released four EP’s and their first full-length holiday CD "That's Christmas To Me,", selling more than 600,000 copies combined with three of the releases debuting in the Top 10 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart. Having recently eclipsed 6.6 million subscribers and over 625 million cumulative views, the Pentatonix official YouTube page is currently the 13th most subscribed-to music channel, having surpassed the subscriber totals of both Avicii and Beyoncé.

“The Sing-Off” is produced by United Artists Media Group (a joint venture among MGM, Mark Burnett, Roma Downey and Hearst Corporation) along with Outlaw Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television.

 Mark Burnett (NBC’s “The Voice”) is the executive producer. Deb Newmyer, Sam Weisman and James Sunderland are also executive producers.

Please visit the official show site at http://www.nbc.com/sing-off/

For the latest “The Sing-Off” news, videos, and photos, please like on Facebook, follow on Twitter, and follow on Google+:

https://www.facebook.com/TheSingOff

https://twitter.com/thesingoff  #SingOff

The Sing-Off Season 4 - Shawn Stockman, Ben Folds, Jewel & Nick Lachey

The Sing-Off Nick Lachey Interviewed

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Sammi's Interviews

The Sing-Off returns tonight on and to celebrate, TVGrapevine is sharing an excerpt from the conference call Nick Lachey did with the media. He talked about the show, 98 Degrees and more.

I wanted you to reflect on just the general idea of a cappella singing and so forth. It’s kind of how it’s related to you in the past. Talk a little bit about when you were high school, what you learned there and particularly that Flight of the Bubble Bee that you won Clash of the Choirs with, you know, how you learned that in high school and kind of how that a cappella helped you get a record deal in the first place.

Nick: Yes well as you alluded to, I mean a cappella singing has meant a great deal to me throughout my life and career. It’s why the show is so special for me to be a part of. I first started singing a cappella in high school. I went to a performing arts school and spent my summers working at an amusement part in Cincinnati called King’s Island. I was in a barbershop quartet, so I started off singing a cappella barbershop music, walking around the park and singing to guests and what not.

And then continued to sing a cappella different groups, ultimately with 98 Degrees. And when we put our demo together we put two different a cappella songs on the demo. And in our audition for Motown records, Andre Harrell, the president at the time, asked us to sing a cappella in his office and we sang a Boyz II Men medley a cappella that we had - you know, we had worked up. And that’s what kind of convinced him to sign us. He signed us on the spot. And so that’s how we really got our start in the music business. So a cappella singing is very, very meaningful to me. And even kind of a sub plot of that is, to be able to be on the show Shawn from Boyz II Men, having sung a Boyz II Men medley to get signed to Motown, it’s just kind of a surreal moment for me to be a part of this show and be a part of it with Shawn.

So it’s given a lot to me and in some kind of way this is my way of giving back to the genre of a cappella. I think it takes incredible talent to do; incredible talent to pull off. Oftentimes people I think take it for granted and don’t realize how hard it is to do, which is why I feel like The Sing-Off is so special. And I think there are so many people out there that are responding to it. I mean a cappella is kind of going through a resurgence; a renaissance if you will. And with all the attention that The Sing-Off has brought to it and success like Pentatonix is having now. I mean their album just debuted in the top ten on the top 200.

The success that they’ve brought to the genre. Movies like Perfect Pitch, I think there’s just such a passion right now out there for a cappella music. So very proud to be a part of The Sing-Off. Very proud of Pentatonix and all the success that they’ve had, and very also proud to announce that they’re going to be performing on our season finale this year on December 23. So obviously we’re all very proud of them here at the show and all the success that they’ve had since winning season three, and very excited to have them back this season.
 

You went back on the road with 98 Degrees this year. Was that fun and is it interesting to balance your musical and TV careers now?
Nick: It was a lot of fun. First of all to get back together with those guys after more than a decade, you know, off and be able to go on the road with you know, NewKids on the Block, and Boyz II Men and be a part of a sold out arena tour was very, very special and a great way back and experience performing with those guys again. So, that was fantastic. And yes, to balance the two, obviously it’s all about scheduling. Shawn and I with Boyz II Men were both on the road as part of the package tour.

And literally we finished our last concert in Indianapolis on August 4, and started The Sing-Off August 5. So we went right from one into the other. But when you’re doing stuff that you’re passionate about and it’s exciting to you then it’s easy to rally and kind of summon the energy to move from one to the other. So you know I feel very honored and blessed to be able to do both. I know Shawn would say the same thing. So yes, it’s been a great year; an exciting year. The tour was great and now obviously very, very happy and proud to be a part of season four of The Sing-Off.

Did it kind of come as a surprise to you when it did come back in 2013? Had you kind of thought maybe it was done, and kind of what was your reaction when it did come back? And second of all, it’s been indifferent forms. One year it was a long form and lasted 11 weeks. This time it’s going to be very quick and it’s going to be resolved with 15 days of viewing time. So tell us which you prefer, that quick format where we get the winners so quick with a longer format, and also tell us about the missing year. Were you surprised when it came back?
Nick: Yes, I mean I think that we all - we’re very cautiously optimistic that the show would come back. It was put on the back burner there for a moment. And I really have to give a lot of credit to the very passionate fans of the show out there for really petitioning and clamoring for it to come back. So obviously when we all got the call that it was coming back to the air, we were ecstatic. We all do the show because we love the genre of a cappella and love the show and really believe in it. 

So, for those of us you have been - Shawn and I who had been with the show from the beginning, it was a very, very welcome call to hear that we were coming back for season four. Personally I think the show worked great in the holiday season. I think we saw that in season two. It’s just such a feel good show and feel good music. It’s the time of year when families are really in the mood to sit down together and watch a great family show, and that’s frankly with The Sing-Off is. So personally I’m a fan of the holiday scheduling which we have again this year.

And also I’m very excited about you get all the shows kind of in a short period of time. It keeps people’s interest really honed in on the groups and their favorite groups. And then you get the winner announced right there at the end of it. So personally I think this schedule works great for the show, and excited to see excited NBC put it back there in the holiday season.

Now a cappella is obviously big in your life. Is that something that you’re bringing into your home? Are you and Vanessa singing to your little one now? Does he have a favorite song; anything like that?
Nick: Well music in general is big in our home. You know obviously I’m a musician and my wife is a passionate lover of music, I mean working in TV for so many years. And so there’s constantly music on in our house and yes, we sing to Camden every time we put him down for a nap or put him down for the night. So yes, technically there is a little a cappella happening in our house every day. It’s usually ion the lullaby form, but it is happening every day.

So now that the format is back to the holiday condensed schedule, I remember that the first two seasons had a lot of Christmas carols or just holiday musical type numbers. Is that something that we can expect this season, and will you be participating again?
Nick: There really was not too much of a holiday theme in terms of the music involved in the show. You might see a little bit of that in the finale, because I think that’s kind of how it worked in years past as well. But for the most part it’s - these are songs that everyone will know, you know, from this year and year’s past, you know, some really creative themes like we’ve had in the past of chart toppers.

And we have a movie theme night and so some of the shows have themes that really give them a great kind or arc. But all in all, it is happening during the holiday season, but it’s not necessarily a holiday music themed show entirely. But still as I said earlier, it’s just such a feel good show, it really does lend itself to, you know, the holiday season. And one thing we have always had a lot of fun with is myself and the judges kind of being involved musically, performing with some of the groups. So, I can either confirm or deny that will happen, but if history is any indication, there’s a good chance you might see that.

Basically, it’s safe to say that any singer does a show like The Sing-Off, or The Voice, or Idol to turn it into a career afterwards. And we’ve come to realize that that exposure is pretty much not enough at this point. What do you think an artist can do after a show like this, with the exposure, to parlay it into a career?
Nick: Well yes, there’s certainly no guarantee for any of us in the music business anymore. It’s a tough, tough business. But I think the one great thing that does come out of a situation like The Sing-Off is the exposure. I mean you have the opportunity to perform in front of millions and millions of people. It gives you kind of an instant platform and instant fan base. There is a, I think, responsibility to build on that after the show is done.

And I think you’ve seen a group like Pentatonix do a great job of that. They’ve kind of taken the baton and run with it. They won season three and now they’ve parlayed that into millions and millions of YouTube hits. As I said earlier, their album that just came out last week debuted in the top ten of the top 200 on Billboard. For an a cappella group that’s - for any group that’s a huge accomplishment, but specifically for a cappella music that is a huge, huge win. And I give a lot of credit to those guys for first of all, their outstanding work ethic. I think no matter what you do in life you have to be willing to work hard at it. And you know even those of us who got signed to recorddeals conventionally there’s a tendency to think oh hey, we’ve made it, and that’s just not the case.

In 98 Degrees we knew that even back then, this is the first chapter in our journey. But you know you still have to - that’s really the beginning. You have to go from that point and continue to work as hard as you can. So I think that’s the biggest thing, you have to have incredible work ethic, use the opportunity and the platform that a show like The Sing-Off gives you, but you also have to take the responsibility to build on that. And certainly we’ve seen Pentatonix do a great job of that.

 I was wondering as host, how much do you get to interact with the groups? Have you been able to get to know them or do you get to mentor them at all? And do you have any specific anecdotes or favorite stories along those lines?
Nick: Well one of the cool things - and I should mention, we have a new production team in place on The Sing-Off this year. Mark Burnett came on board and took over the show, and he was just such a great kind of - had a fresh take on what the show should be and really infused some new energy into the show. And one of the things that was changed per Mark’s request was more interaction from both myself and the judges with the groups.

So you’ll see as the season progresses, all of us kind of taking a turn and mentoring and trying to give some guidance to the groups as they go through this journey. There’s a lot of information they’re trying to process and taking all the judge’s comments and trying to apply those to the next week or the next show’s performance.

And so it was a really cool opportunity for us to - we’ve all learned the hard way a lot of times in this business, some valuable lessons. And for us to be able to pass those along to these groups was a really cool - a really cool opportunity.

There was one group in particular that kind of reminded me of my own kind of past history and they come from a performing arts school in The Bay Area. So I had a soft spot in my heart for them coming from a performing arts high school myself. I really saw a lot of myself in them and so it was cool to be able to kind of pass along a little bit of knowledge and support. These are teenagers down here in LA on the big stage with a lot of very, very talented people. And to say they held their own is a gross understatement.

So I was very proud of them and very, you know, very thankful to have the opportunity to give some insight to them, and all the groups. It was just a great opportunity for us to interact with them and mentor them a little bit.

I wanted to know if you could talk a little bit about the Ultimate Sing Off which is a new twist that’s been added to the season.
Nick: Yes. Again, another cool new twist that you’ll see in season four. I mean I’ve always felt like hey, if you’re going to have a show called The Sing-Off, there should probably be a sing off, and that’s something that we added this season which I thought a great addition to the format. So basically you have the judges score all the groups throughout the night and your lowest two scoring groups then have to go into what we call the ultimate sing off where they duel head-to-head, performing the same song against one another. And not only is it great entertainment, and I have to tell you some of the best performances you’ll see in the season come during that ultimate sing off.

It’s a really neat moment in the show. But it frankly gives - you know we all have moment where we don’t give our best and we kind of lay an egg on stage. And it gives those groups a chance to redeem themselves for a bad performance. So it doesn’t necessarily take them out of the running of the entire competition. They have a chance to come back at the end of the show and prove that they still belong. And so then when the two low groups have the ultimate sing off, obviously the judges have to then decide on one of them to continue on and one of them to go home. But a really cool, dramatic moment at the end of the show.

Can you talk a little bit about the addition of Jewel this year?
Nick: Well Jewel is fantastic. I’ve known Jewel previous to us doing the show together, but I thought she was a perfect fit for The Sing-Off. She’s incredibly talented first of all. We all know that. But she’s so well spoken and so relatable.

I think what really struck me is how passionate and how caring she was about each and every group and each and every performer in the group. And she really gave her all in trying to nurture and walk them through this process. I just thought she was a fantastic addition, incredibly knowledgeable. Certainly not at all hard to look at from my vantage point on stage. She made my night better just sitting out there. So yes,

I can’t say enough wonderful things about Jewel. She was perfect for our show and we’re so happy to have here.

Now the three judges all come from very different backgrounds. Jewel obviously comes from folk-country. Ben is more rock, and Shawn is R&B. How do you think their diverse backgrounds helped to find the best in your groups?
Nick: Well I think their diversity is also reflected in the diversity of the groups on stage, so I think it’s very cool and important frankly to have judges who come from different sensibilities and have different musical backgrounds to your point.

But you know I think the one thing they do share in common is a love of a cappella and a real knowledge of a cappella. And so I think even though they may come from different angles they all have valuable insights that our groups really took to heart and tried to apply to what they were doing. So personally I think it’s the best thing that the show could have is you hate to see three - you know three R&B judges up there or three rock.

And I think the diversity of the judges is really a strength of what The Sing-Off is all about.

You mentioned mentoring the groups so I was just wondering what do you think is the most important piece of advice that you are able to give them or that you would give to young students in high school or college hoping to succeed in a cappella singing or just in the music industry in general.
Nick: Well I think I kind of alluded to it earlier, but I think it really frankly is hard work. You know I’ve said many times I’m not, you know, necessarily convinced that 98 Degrees was the most talented, you know, group out there, but we were certainly willing to work as hard if not harder, than any other group out there.

And there really is no replacement for that. Work ethic and your desire to go the extra mile, you know, that at times can really set you apart and give you an advantage. And all the groups in our show, I mean, it’s a lot of singing in a very condensed amount of time with a lot of pressure. I mean you’re on a national television stage and you’re singing against some of the most talented singers in the country, and you really have to be on your game.

And you have to work hard. And if you’re not willing to work hard you’re not going to do well on the show. That’s just a fact. And so I think that’s really true for any walk of life, but especially in the music business. It’s a cut throat business now more than ever and you have to do, you know, you have to do something to set yourself apart from the competition. And I think oftentimes, you know, a strong work ethic and going that extra mile can be the deciding factor.

 You were talking about working with Mark Burnett and his team taking over. Can you talk a little bit about what that change was like just on set with the creative team, as well as now that Pentatonix has won and is like you said, debuting at the top of the charts, etcetera, how is important is it to follow up their win, as well as the shows return, with another group that is commercially successful in pop culture and not just the a cappella world?
Nick: Yes. The first part of the question is you know Mark - I’ve had the opportunity to work with Mark on shows previously. And the one thing Mark brings to every single thing he does is the intense passion for a project. I mean he does not get involve with things he does not believe in. And we’re just lucky that he has a passion for our show and wanted to take on our show. And each and everything he does and every day he comes to work, he brings that passion with him.

And he doesn’t want anyone working on a project that doesn’t have that same passion and does, and it’s contagious. He’s determined that he’s going to have fun doing what he does every day, and he’s going to bring everything he’s got. And so that attitude and that work environment is contagious and we all fed off of it. It was a lot of fun. Obviously we’re here making a show and trying to make the best show we can. But at the end of the day this is something we all believe in and we all love to do and that passion and that love for it should be reflected in the way we do a show and it certainly was with Mark.

So I can’t say enough good things about he and his team and all the great attitude and energy they brought to the stage every time we went to tape. And the second part of your question, I think obviously we’re incredibly proud of Pentatonix as I said; incredibly happy to have them back, you know, on our finale this year. And I think any show, it’s a real validation to the show when a group wins the title so to speak and then goes on to have commercial success. I think that really validates, not only with a cappella music is about but also validates what The Sing-Off is about.

And so you know again, winning The Sing-Off is great, but the journey doesn’t end there, it really starts there. And I give a lot of credit and props to Pentatonix for really seeing that as the start of their journey and for really working their tails off to make the most of the opportunity that all the exposure gave to them. So I could not be more proud of them. I know them personally. I’ve seen them in concert, and I can safely say that they are the real deal. There is no weak link in that group and all the success that they’ve had and all the recognition they’ve gotten is truly deserved. And so yes, I hope the best for this season as well, that our season four winners will see the same opportunity and you know, take the baton and run with it and make the most of it.

 But the fact that they’ve set the bar at a certain place now, did that affect the judging at all do you think, from your perspective?
 

Nick: Well no, because every season is different. I think Pentatonix, you know, they were incredible in their own way. They really brought a sound to the show that we had never heard before. They pushed the edge of the envelope in ways that maybe none of us even thought was possible. Without sounding overly dramatic, they were just a really special group. That was season three; this is season four. All the groups are different and you can’t try and replicate what Pentatonix did. You have to create your own sound and bring your own definition of what a cappella means to you to the table. And I think all out groups in season four really did.

There wasn’t necessarily a Pentatonix type sound but there were incredible sounds from other groups. So you can’t try and be somebody else. You have to be yourself. I think that’s really important in our industry as well. And again, I think all the groups in season four really did a great job of creating their own identities.

I know you guys just went on tour this summer with 98 Degrees, and I’m wondering if you feel like you still have the "It" factor like you guys did back then, and why or why not?
Nick: Well of course, you’ve got to have the "It" factor. You can’t get out there on stage and perform in front of 18,000 screaming women if you don’t feel like you’ve got the "It" factor still. So we definitely did. We made an album we were very proud of and couldn’t have been more proud to be on stage each and every night with Boyz II Men, and New Kids on the Block, and certainly had a great time doing it. So, the music business has changed quite a bit since our last time on stage, but I know we all couldn’t be more proud of what we did this year, and all the things we’ve done throughout our career. We’ve been truly blessed to have a long, long career and to have a lot of success. So nothing but great memories and great moments this year and all throughout our career.

I was struck by when you were talking about the performing arts school in The Bay Area and so forth. So and just thinking these teenagers are going up against Princeton and so forth. We’re in a time when a lot of the schools cut back on arts entirely, and particularly they don’t have the performing art schools like you were able to go to. Talk a little bit more about that? Why is it important to have these performing arts programs in high school and why is it particularly good when some can have a performing arts high school?
Nick: Well I can speak for my experience you know specifically in that I know I would not be in this industry, and I wouldn’t have had the courage to jump in my car and drive from Cincinnati, Ohio to LA to sleep on the floor and try and get a record deal. And I mean the confidence that going to a performing arts school gave to me was really the thing that was able to get me to go for it. I think no matter what your passion is in life, being able to pursue that passion and nurture that passion and those talents at an early age, first of all it’s a real motivating in wanting to go to school every day. It gives you something to really look forward to. I know I never wanted to miss a choir practice because I loved what I was doing. I loved the guys I was singing with. So whether it’s football, baseball, lacrosse, drama, theatre, choir; whatever it is, it’s great to be able to have a place to express yourself, especially as a teenager, and nurture those talents and those interests. I’ve been a part of Save the Music with VH1 for a long, long time I’ve been on their Board because I really believe in it. It’s important to keep those programs alive and to keep the exposure there for young people to be able to expand and creatively express themselves. It’s a really powerful thing to be able to do and it’s a shame that we’re having to fight to keep that in. And look, I think the first part of your question talking about teenagers going up against college students and even older, those kids were so talented. I mean there’s no replacement for talent at whatever age. So, really proud of them and proud of all the groups for bringing it each and every night. And as I said earlier, you guys are going to see some great performances this season. I was really blown away and I know the judges were and I know America will be.

'The Sing Off' host Nick Lachey talks about love of a cappella as new season to debut

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By RITA SHERROW

The host of NBC's "The Sing-Off" says its a way to give back to the genre that gave to him.

Nick Lachey has a passion for a cappella — singing without instrumental music — and so, too, it seems, does America.

Lachey is a member of the boy band 98 Degrees that got signed to its first recording contract after singing an a cappella medley in the office of the president of Motown Records.

Pentatonix, a group of five vocalists, won the third season of NBC's "The Sing-Off" and walked away with $200,000 and a recording contract with Sony. Its debut EP, "PTX Vol. 1," charted at No. 14 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and has garnered millions of hits on YouTube with its covers. The group is touring, including a stop in Tulsa on Feb. 5 at Cain's Ballroom, and recently released the album "PTX Vol. 2."

And "Pitch Perfect," a film about a college a cappella competition, earned more than $113 million at the box office worldwide.

The season four debut of "The Sing-Off," NBC's a cappella singing competition, airs at 8 p.m. Monday on channel 2, cable 9, with Lachey as host.

"You know it's given a lot to me, and in some kind of way this is my way of giving back to the genre of a cappella," he said in a recent teleconference. The show's season finale is set for Dec. 23 with Pentatonix performing.

In this series, there will be no lip-synching, no backup bands and no safety net for the 10 groups competing for the top prize of cash and a recording contract.

"I think it takes incredible talent to pull it off," said Lachey, who reunited with 98 Degrees to produce a new album and toured last summer with New Kids on the Block and Boyz II Men. "Oftentimes, people, I think, take it for granted and don't realize how hard it is to do, which is why I feel 'The Sing-Off' is so special. ...

"I think there's such a passion right now out there for a cappella music."

Lachey said at first he didn't know if the series would return for another season, that it had been placed "on the back burner" for a moment.

"I really have to give a lot of credit to the very passionate fans of the show out there for really petitioning and clamoring for it to come back," he said. "So obviously when we got the call that it was coming back on air, we were ecstatic. We all love the genre of a cappella and love the show and really believe in it."

New this season will be a production team headed by Mark Burnett, and there will be more interaction between Lachey and the judges and the groups, he said. Recording artist Jewel joins the judges table alongside Ben Folds (Ben Folds Five) and Shawn Stockman (Boyz II Men), who are both returning.

"You'll see as the season progresses all of us kind of taking a turn and mentoring and trying to give some guidance to the groups as they go through this journey. ...

"It was a really cool opportunity for us. We've all learned the hard way — a lot of the time in this business — some valuable lessons. And for us to be able to pass those along to these groups was really cool."

There is also an actual sing-off with the two lowest-scoring groups dueling head-to-head performing the same song. At the end, one stays and one group is sent home.

Lachey had words of advice for those in the competition — and any potential singer, for that matter.

"Work ethic and your desire to go the extra mile can really set you apart and give you an advantage," he said. "On our show, there's a lot of singing in a very condensed amount of time with a lot of pressure.

"I mean, you're on a national television stage and you're singing against some of the most talented singers in the country, and you really have to be on your game.

"And you have to work hard. And if you're not willing to work hard, you're not going to do well on the show. That's just a fact.

"And I think that's true for any walk of life but especially in the music business.

"It's a cutthroat business now more than ever, and you have to do something to set yourself apart from the competition."

For Lachey, the pressure is off when he leaves the stage or the recording studio, but music is always a constant in his life, he said. It's something he and his family share every day.

He is married to Vanessa Minnillo Lachey, who plays Camilla on the TV show "Dads," and they have a son Camden, born September 2012.

"Music, in general, is big in our home," he said. "Obviously, I'm a musician, and my wife is a passionate lover of music. And so there's constantly music in our house — and, yes, we sing to Camden every time we put him down for a nap or put him down for the night. So technically, there's a little a cappella happening in our house every day.

"It's usually in lullaby form, but it is happening every day."

Lachey said he recorded a lullaby record for Camden, released this year. It's called "Father's Lullaby" and contains a song called "Sleepy Eyes."

"That one I kind of wrote while he was still in the womb," he said. "So that's the one I sing to him every day before he goes down. So whether he likes it or not, that's really the only one he gets served up, so he has to like it."

Say hello to our jammin’ host and judges! #SingOff

NKOTB, 98 Degrees, Boyz II Men deliver whole 'package'

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y Allison Walker, Entertainment Reporter


ORLANDO -- 

"Why the heck are there so many women downtown?"

That's a question I heard from passers-by more than once Friday evening. Aside from a smattering of men accompanying their dolled-up lady, downtown Orlando went boy band crazy.

Well, "man band" is more like it.

New Kids on the Block returned to a jam-packed Amway Center on "The Package" tour, which is about one-third of the way through its run. Boyz II Men and 98 Degrees opened for them.

Although Shawn, Wanya, and Nathan were the first act, they could've near filled up the place on their own. Even 98 Degrees is geeking out to be on tour with their idols. (Watch full interview Monday).

Boyz II Men crooned for about 40 minutes. With harmonies like “On Bended Knee,” "I'll Make Love to You," and “End of the Road," we felt like we were back at school, dancing with our crush for the first time. The Boyz still put the "power" in ballad.

Performing a longer set next was 98 Degrees. And talk about swagger. Even with suspenders draped over their rear ends, the men could've played pat-a-cake without losing a smidge of sex appeal.

So imagine what happened when Nick, Drew, Justin and Jeff walked into the audience and escorted four unsuspecting women on stage. The men not only serenaded them with "You Are My Everything," but squeezed them tightly. And when they got down on one knee -- fuggedaboutit.

Another stand-out song was "I Do (Cherish You)." The buff boys -- having maintained their most admirable physique -- stripped down to thin white tank tops. The response was deafening. But unlike the screams generated during a Bieber concert, these weren't annoying.

That's probably because I joined in.

Before NKOTB came out, we stepped away to grab some grub and refreshments. The instant that Joey, Jordan, Danny, Donnie and John opened their mouths, I've never seen so many 30-somethings sprint and squeal simultaneously, making a beeline for the stairs.

Funny how things don't change 25 years later.

The New Kids performed for about 2 hours. Wearing white blazers, sparkly "Boston Strong" shirts, and - at times - a shirtless Donnie Wahlberg with a blinged out belt, the men created hysteria.

The gyrations during "The Right Stuff" were probably more, let's say, "pronounced" than they were a few decades ago. After all, we aren't kids anymore.

Luckily for fans, the New Kids utilized the center stage quite a bit, creating a greater sense of intimacy. They were elevated by individual risers at times, which seemed to enhance the emotion of the song. The stage also spun, allowing the audience to "have a moment" with their favorite New Kid.

The choreography seemed effortless. After all, if you're an original boy bander, those slow, dramatic arm movements and clenched fists against the heart should be second-nature.

The youngest member, Joey McIntyre, kept reminding the audience that "it's been 25 years!" One of his strongest songs as a higher-pitched kid was "Please Don't Go Girl." When he performed it Friday, Joey was lifted high above the crowd, dropping to his knees to hit the tough notes.

He nailed it.

Needless to say, the boys - ahem, men - could do no wrong.

The Showbizz 411

New Kids, Boyz II Men & 98 Degrees Talk 'Package Tour'

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ByJohn Carucci

For Donnie Wahlberg it's not a matter of why now, rather "why not?" The recording artist-turned-actor was referring to the news of a major tour with his New Kids on the Block, who'll be joined this summer on "The Package Tour" by 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men.

 The tour kicks off May 31 in Uncasville, Conn. and ends July 13 in Minneapolis.

 "The state of the boy band union is strong," Wahlberg joked Tuesday. "Even though technically we're not really boy bands, but we're OK with that, so we'll accept it."

 The three bands sold millions of records in the 1980s and '90s and helped usher in a wave of vocal groups that continues today.

 The Boston-based NKOTB formed in 1984 and amassed ten Top 20 hits. They broke up in 1994 but got back together after a 14-year hiatus. Wahlberg said he feels the break coincided with the maturation of their fan base.

 "They needed time to have families and husbands and children and get jobs and live their life," Wahlberg said.

 But now he sees his band's music as a complement to the fans' adult lives.

 "We created an outlet for them to feel good about themselves and tap into that youthfulness that had been put to bed for a long time ... you may be 40, but the euphoria of it makes you feel 14 all over again," Wahlberg said.

 The band also announced a new single, "Remix (I Like The)," which will be released Jan. 28, and a new album, "10," which is out April 2.

 That music will be a bit more mature than some of the band's previous material, member Joey McIntyre said.

 "It is about the decisions that a grown man makes and goes through, as opposed to singing songs like 'Popsicle,'" he said.

 Nathan Morris, one of the members of Boyz II Men, known since the early 1990s for such hits as "I'll Make Love to You" and "End of the Road," said the tour is going to be all about performing.

 "If the boy band thing is attached, it's wonderful, but for all of us in here, we're ready to get out there and sing and perform," he said. "That's just what we do."

 Though 98 Degrees is the youngest group on the bill, it has been apart the longest, 12 years.

 "So we're excited to get back together and doing what we do," member Nick Lachey said. "We feel reinvigorated by our bond and by our group, so we're very excited by that."

 Wahlberg, who stars as Detective Danny Reagan on the CBS television series "Blue Bloods," about several generations of a family of New York City police officers, said the boy bands' tour, kicking off May 31 in Uncasville, Connecticut, and continuing into July with more than 30 dates, is going to be "great."

 "You have three acts that have lots of records, lots of fans," he said. "Fans that are anxious to sing those records and anxious to sing other bands' records, too."

New Kids On The Block Special Announcement

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More pics can be found at the above link

Pictures from The View

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More pictures can be found follow the link above

New Kids On The Block, 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men team up for ‘The Package’ tour this summer

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New Kids on the Block, 98 Degrees & BoyzIIMen OMG Interview

The View NKOTB 98 Boyz II Men

98 Degrees, NKOTB, BoyzIIMen Boyband War? Bad Blood? true or False

New Kids, Boyz II Men, 98 Degrees on tour

NKOTB, Boyz II Men and 98 Degrees team up for The Package Tour

It's a Boy Band Palooza!

The State of the Boyband Union is Strong =)

98 Degrees to tour with New Kids, Boyz II Men

SOURCE
by John Kiesewetter

And they’ll be at US Bank Arena on June 25.

The 98 Degrees guys and Boys II Men were surprise guests when the New Kids on the Block appeared on “The View” this morning to announce that 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men will tour with them this summer as  ”The Package Tour.”

They’ll play US Bank Arena on June 25. All the tour dates are posted on the 98 Degrees site here. The tour starts May 31 in Uncasville, Conn. Tickets go on sale Feb. 2.

Nick and Drew Lachey were recording tracks with Jeff Timmons and Justin Jeffre last week. Here’s my Friday blog post. Nick Lachey told us in November that the guys would tour this summer after they finished their album. NKOTB will release its first album in more than four years on April 2.

Here’s the People magazine story on the tour announcement.

Here’s the US Bank arean announcement:

New Kids On The Block Announce The Package Tour with Special Guests 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men – See Them Live In Cincinnati on June 25

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK, 98 DEGREES AND BOYZ II MEN!

U.S. BANK ARENA – JUNE 25, 2013

NKOTB ALSO CONFIRMS NEW ALBUM AND NEW SINGLE

FIRST SINGLE “REMIX (I LIKE THE)” TO BE RELEASED ON JANUARY 28TH

NEW ALBUM “10” DUE APRIL 2ND

CINCINNATI, OH (January 22, 2013) – Even though the New Year has just begun, New Kids on the Block fans already know they have a lot to look forward to in the coming months! As announced today on their total takeover of The View, NKOTB revealed plans of a 2013 summer headlining tour. Very special guests multi-platinum selling artists 98 Degrees and Grammy Award winning Boyz II Men, the best-selling R&B group of all time, will be opening for NKOTB on their tour, aptly titled THE PACKAGE TOUR.

This is the first tour for 98 Degrees in over 12 years! NKOTB surprised The View audience with a special reveal of 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men, giving fans a taste of THE PACKAGE TOUR when all bands performed a capella, sending the audience into a frenzy. The tour kicks off on May 31st in Uncasville, CT and will make a stop in Cincinnati, OH at U.S. Bank Arena on Tuesday, June 25 at 7:30 p.m.

Reserved tickets for the Cincinnati show, $92.50, $72.50, $52.50 and $29.50 (plus applicable fees) go on sale to the public on Saturday, February 2 at 10:00 a.m. at www.Livenation.com, www.Ticketmaster.com, the U.S. Bank Arena box office and all Ticketmaster outlets. Charge by phone at 1.800.745.300.

The multi-platinum selling New Kids on the Block also announced plans for new music. The group will release brand new album “10” on April 2nd with the first single “Remix (I Like The)” dropping on iTunes January 28th. The group has been quietly spending the past six months working hard, writing and recording the album.

Fans caught wind of these secret studio sessions and have been clamoring for information after rumors spread about the 2013 plans of new music and a possible tour. After announcing on The View, NKOTB, 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men set out on a day long media blitz stopping by outlets like Access Hollywood, CNN, E!, ET, EXTRA, OMG! Insider, VH1 Big Morning Buzz, US Weekly and Rolling Stone. Social media has been a buzz ever since the official reveal with no signs of slowing down.

“Ladies, we’re coming for you,” said NKOTB member Donnie Wahlberg. “This is going to be the craziest year yet-the single, the album, the tour with 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men … We can’t wait to give fans ‘The Package!’”

“We are really excited to get back on the road together and tour with our friends in NKOTB and Boyz II Men. Looking forward to playing our hits and trying out some of our new tracks too,” said 98 Degrees’ Nick Lachey.

“We couldn’t be more excited to join New Kids on the Block and 98 Degrees on ‘The Package Tour.’ This summer is going to be fun and fans will not want to miss it,” said Shawn Stockman. Wanya Morris agreed saying, “This has been in the works for a while… ‘The Package’ is on its way, and we’re going to deliver.” Added Nate Morris, “We plan on bringing it, mark your calendars.”

Please visit www.ThePackage-Tour.com or Ticketmaster.com for up to date information or join the discussion at #thepackagetour.