Joey Fatone facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joey Fatone
Fatone in 2023
Background information
Birth name	Joseph Anthony Fatone Jr.
Born	(1977-01-28) January 28, 1977 (age 48) New York City, U.S.
Origin	Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Genres	Pop
Occupation(s)	Singer, actor, television host
Years active	1992–present

Joseph Anthony Fatone Jr. (born January 28, 1977) is an American singer, dancer, actor, and TV host. He is most famous for being a member of the boy band NSYNC. In NSYNC, he sang the baritone parts. The band has sold over 70 million records. This makes them one of the best-selling boy bands ever.

In 2007, Joey came in second place on the TV show Dancing with the Stars. He also hosted the American and Australian versions of The Singing Bee. From 2010 to 2015, Fatone was the announcer for the game show Family Feud. He has also hosted shows like Rewrapped on Food Network and Common Knowledge on Game Show Network. In 2019, he appeared as "Rabbit" on the first season of The Masked Singer.

Early Life and School

Joey Fatone was born in Brooklyn, New York City. His parents are Joe and Phyllis Fatone. He has a brother named Steven and a sister named Janine. He grew up in the Bensonhurst area of Brooklyn. His dad used to sing in a music group called the Orions. When Joey was 13, his family moved to Orlando, Florida. He went to Dr. Phillips High School there.

Career Highlights

NSYNC: The Boy Band Years

After high school, Joey Fatone worked at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando. He played a character named "Wolfie" in a show there. In the summer of 1995, he met another performer, Chris Kirkpatrick. Chris asked Joey to join a new singing group. This group also included Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez. Later, Lance Bass joined them, and the band NSYNC was formed.

Joey sang baritone for NSYNC from when they started until 2002. That's when the band took a break. During that time, they sold over 70 million records worldwide. Joey sang lead on the song "Together Again". He also sang lead on "I Thought She Knew" from the album No Strings Attached. While in NSYNC, Joey and Lance Bass starred in the 2001 movie On the Line. The band also appeared on The Simpsons in an episode called "New Kids on the Blecch".

Joey Fatone in 2018

On August 25, 2013, NSYNC performed together again. This was a special show at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards. They sang a mix of "Girlfriend" and "Bye Bye Bye". After this, Lance Bass said the group had no plans for more tours or new music. In April 2019, the band reunited without Justin Timberlake. They performed with Ariana Grande at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. People often wonder if NSYNC will fully reunite. Joey Fatone has said, "Never say never."

On September 12, 2023, all five members of NSYNC appeared together. They presented the Best Pop Award at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards. Two days later, on September 14, it was confirmed they recorded a new song. The song is called "Better Place". It was for the DreamWorks Animation movie Trolls Band Together. The song came out on September 29, 2023. It quickly reached No. 1 on the US and Canadian iTunes Charts. It also reached No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100.

After the new song came out, Joey Fatone said there were no immediate plans for more NSYNC music. However, he mentioned the band could release a new album in the next two years. This would depend on how well "Better Place" did and if Justin Timberlake was involved.

Acting Roles

In 2002, Joey Fatone played Cousin Angelo in the comedy movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding. He played this role again in the TV show My Big Fat Greek Life. He also returned for the sequel movie in 2016. That same year, he started acting on Broadway. He played the main role in the musical Rent in New York.

He also acted in the movie The Cooler. He had smaller roles in the movie Red Riding Hood and Homie Spumoni. He returned to Broadway in 2004 in a show called Little Shop of Horrors. Later, he appeared in other musicals like The Producers and 42nd Street. He also performed in Rock of Ages in Las Vegas.

Joey Fatone played himself in a funny skit called "Enter the Fat One" on the TV show Robot Chicken. He appeared on the show many times. He also played himself in the movie Jersey Shore Shark Attack. He was in the TV series Return of the Mac and the Comedy Central movie Cursed Friends. Joey has also been a guest star on Disney Channel shows. These include Hannah Montana, Imagination Movers, and Kim Possible. He has also appeared in other TV shows and some horror films.

Hosting and TV Appearances

In 2005, Joey Fatone was the "ringmaster" for the NBC show Celebrity Circus. In 2007, he hosted The Singing Bee in the US and Australia. That same year, he became a red carpet host for TV Guide.

From 2010 to 2015, Joey was the announcer for Steve Harvey on Family Feud. At the same time, he hosted the show My Family Recipe Rocks. He also hosted the cooking competition Rewrapped on Food Network. He was a guest host for The Price Is Right Live! in Las Vegas. In January 2012, Joey was one of eight celebrities on the Food Network show Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off. He won $5,000 for his charity, the Fatone Family Foundation.

In February 2014, Joey Fatone appeared on the hidden camera show Impractical Jokers. He filled in for one of the show's regulars. He has appeared on the show many times since. This includes an episode in 2017 about his hot dog restaurant in Orlando, Fat One's. Joey is the regular host of the spin-off show Impractical Jokers: After Party. He also had a small role in Impractical Jokers: The Movie in 2020.

Joey Fatone was the "Rabbit" on the first season of The Masked Singer. He finished in fourth place. He is currently the host of the game show Common Knowledge. This show started on January 14, 2019, on the Game Show Network. In 2021, he was a judge on the Irish talent show Last Singer Standing.

Dancing with the Stars

On February 1, 2007, the ABC TV network announced that Joey Fatone would be on Dancing with the Stars. He competed in season 4, which started on March 19, 2007. He came in second place, losing to Apolo Anton Ohno. His dance partner was Kym Johnson.

Joey competed again in season 15 for another chance to win. He danced with Kym Johnson again. They were the second couple to be eliminated. He later returned in season 27 as a trio partner. He danced with John Schneider and Emma Slater.

In February 2013, Joey Fatone appeared on "Dancing with the Stars at Sea." This was on a cruise ship called the MS Eurodam. He returned to "Dancing with the Stars at Sea" in January 2014. He was paired with Lacey Schwimmer. This was not a competition, so there were no eliminations.

Personal Life

Joey Fatone met his wife, Kelly Baldwin, in high school in 1993. After he joined NSYNC two years later, their relationship was on and off.

There was a rumor that Joey briefly dated singer Pink in early 2000. Pink said that Joey "took me to Friendly's as a casual date, not like a date-date. I just wanted ice cream. We were in the friend zone." She said that even though they technically went on a date, it was more like a friendship. She also said Joey was "a total sweetheart."

Joey and Kelly got back together shortly after that same year. Kelly became pregnant in the spring of 2000. Their first child, Briahna, was born on March 21, 2001. This was exactly one year after NSYNC's album No Strings Attached came out. Joey and Kelly got engaged in the fall of 2002.

On September 9, 2004, Joey married Kelly Baldwin. The wedding was at Oheka Castle on Long Island, New York. All of his NSYNC bandmates were there. Joey and Kelly have two daughters: Briahna Joely, born in March 2001, and Kloey, born in January 2010. Joey's best friend, Lance Bass, is their godfather.

Music Albums (with NSYNC)

• NSYNC (1997)
• No Strings Attached (2000)
• Celebrity (2001)

Stage Shows

• Rent – Mark Cohen (2002) - Broadway
• Little Shop of Horrors – Seymour Krelborn (2004) - Broadway
• The Producers – Franz Liebkind (2010)
• 42nd Street – Bert Barry (2013)
• Rock of Ages – Dennis (2015)
• & Juliet - Lance (2025) - Broadway

Filmography

Movies

Television Shows

Music Videos

Dancing with the Stars Scores

Season 4: Results

Season 15: Results

See also

In Spanish: Joey Fatone para niños