What Are the New Kids on the Block Members Doing Now?

After their debut album sold poorly, New Kids on the Block — often abbreviated as NKOTB — had to convince their label to let them make a second album. Yep, everyone’s beloved boy band didn’t exactly have a smooth beginning but they eventually found their footing.

The first album’s exclusively bubblegum pop sound wasn’t a hit with the members (or the general public for that matter) and the band advocated for more input in their second album’s sound. They released their sophomore effort under Columbia Records, Hangin’ Tough in 1988, with little success, and the lead single “Please Don’t Go Girl” didn’t fare any better than their first album, getting modest airplay on local radio stations. NKOTB seemed destined to become a footnote in pop history as just another failed boy band, until a DJ decided to spin the track on a radio station in Tampa, Florida.

The single quickly became the station’s most requested song and the success inspired Columbia to invest heavily in the boys’ promotion by shooting a music video and pushing it to every radio station across the nation. The song became their first top ten hit on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart and the rest is history.

The group was massive until lip-syncing allegations hurt their reputation and when their fourth album, the aptly titled Face the Music, under-performed, the band broke up in 1994. After embarking on solo projects, the band reunited after months of speculation with the song “Sunshine” in 2008. It may come as a surprise to casual fans of the group but NKOTB continues to tour and release music, most recently coming out with the song “Bring Back the Time,” a nostalgic track featuring Rick Astley, En Vogue, and Salt-N-Pepa.

In addition to touring as a band, the individual members have kept busy with families and individual careers. Nearly four decades into their careers, the boys are no longer boys and have discovered their own niches over time. Here’s what each member of New Kids on the Block is up to now.

Jonathan Knight

Jonathan Knight was the first member to leave the group, exiting shortly before the group officially split. He chose to live privately, staying away from the entertainment industry until reuniting with his bandmates in 2008. In a 2000 issue of People magazine, he revealed he left the group because he was suffering from generalized anxiety disorder and now openly speaks about mental health. After the band broke up, he started a real-estate business in 1996 and realized a lifelong passion for renovating and selling houses which eventually led to his own HGTV show. Since 2021, Knight has been the host of Farmhouse Fixer where he restores old farmhouses rather than knocking them down in favor of new architecture.

In 2022, Knight revealed he married his longtime partner Harley Rodriguez in a private ceremony. The couple has been together since 2008 and after competing in a season of The Amazing Race, Knight proposed to Rodriguez in 2016. Though the two planned a larger ceremony with friends and family on their Massachusetts farm, COVID-19 foiled their plans.

Jordan Knight

Jordan Knight pursued a solo career after the dissolution of the group and released his first single “Give It To You” in 1999. The song was a hit, reaching number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, and preceded his first solo album Jordan Knight. The album did well, peaking at number 29 on Billboard‘s 200 after selling over 500,000 copies. In addition to still touring with NKOTB, he continues to make his own music on the side and released his third solo album Unfinished in 2011. In 2014, he collaborated with fellow boy band veteran, Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys, on a joint album called Nick & Night.

Knight married his wife Evelyn in 2004 and they have two sons together. In an interview with Pioneer Press, Knight opens up about being a stay-at-home dad when he’s not touring and proudly talks about supporting his children at their respective sporting events. In addition to parenting, Knight has invested in the Italian restaurant Novara since 2016. Unlike the other NKOTB members, Night recently deactivated his social media and currently has no active accounts.