Back in the early 80s, American musician, songwriter and producer Maurice Starr who had already had success working with the R&B group New Edition put together the boy band New Kids on the Block. Hailing from Boston, Massachusetts the band went on to achieve worldwide success, selling more than 80 million records around the globe.
Although they disbanded in 1994, NKOTB have reunited numerous times over the years as well as going on to do many other noteworthy things. Read on to learn more about what the New Kids are up to now!
Jordan Knight
Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, Jordan Knight was just turning 14 years old when he was recruited along with his brother Jonathan to be part of New Kids on the Block, when the band was first formed back in 1984. As well as often singing lead, Jordan also taught himself to play the piano and keyboards whilst with the band, and started writing songs.
After NKOTB split, Jordan had some success as a solo artist. His self-titled debut album was certified gold in the USA and in 2014 he released an album with Nick Carter from Backstreet Boys called Nick & Knight. Married with two kids, Jordan has also appeared on numerous reality TV shows including VH1’s The Surreal Life and the American Idol spin-off American Juniors.
Jonathan Knight
The older brother of Jordan, Jonathan Knight was the first to leave the band before they officially split up in 1994 and shunned the spotlight by following a career as a real estate investor. The singer revealed in the early noughties that he had suffered from generalised anxiety disorder and had experienced crippling panic attacks since his early days with NKOTB.
In 2009, an article in the National Enquirer outed Jonathan as being gay, something Jonathan said he has never attempted to hide. In 2016 Jonathan proposed to his partner Harley Rodriguez. The couple had intended to marry in early 2021, but sadly the Covid-19 pandemic derailed their plans.
Joey McIntyre
The youngest New Kid, Joey McIntyre has often spoken that he felt it was hard to fit in with the others when he first joined. After the band split, Joey had success as a solo recording artist, selling over a million records. As an actor, he’s appeared in films such as Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding with Mila Kunis, and on stage he’s appeared as Fiyero in the hit Broadway musical Wicked.
Married with three children, Joey came third in the first season of Dancing with the Stars and took part in the 2006 tour. In 2013, Joey completed the Boston Marathon to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s in honour of his mother who had battled the disease in the later years of her life. He had finished minutes prior to the terrorist attack taking place.
Donnie Wahlberg
Donald Edmond Wahlberg Jr. was the first member recruited for NKOTB. (His brother Mark Wahlberg was also recruited but decided to leave, before enjoying huge success as an actor.) Considered the ‘bad boy’ of NKOTB, Donnie strayed from the clean-cut boy band image by having tattoos and piercings. He also had some run-ins with the law, being charged in 1991 for first-degree arson (although he was later acquitted).
After NKOTB, Donnie followed his brother Mark into acting, appearing in The Sixth Sense, three of the Saw movies, plus TV’s Band of Brothers and Blue Bloods. He has two children with his first wife Kimberly Fey, and is now married to actress and model Jenny McCarthy. Also, Donnie co-owns a chain of burger restaurants called Wahlburgers along with his brothers Mark and Paul (the latter of whom is a chef).
Danny Wood
Daniel William Wood was childhood best friends with bandmate Donnie. During his time with NKOTB, he served as one of the band’s main choreographers, and he still likes to keep himself in top physical shape by maintaining a strict diet and engaging in a rigorous fitness regime. When he’s not working with NKOTB, Wood spends time songwriting and recording new material, releasing the album Look At Me in 2016.
Previously married, Danny is a father of three. In 1999 he set up a foundation, Remembering Betty, in honour of his mother after she passed away from breast cancer. The foundation aims to help ease the financial burden of those affected by breast cancer.