98 Degrees has responded to rumors about potentially performing at the Super Bowl halftime show alongside Boyz II Men and Backstreet Boys. The popular vocal group from the 90s, consisting of Jeff Timmons, Nick and Drew Lachey, and Justin Jeffre, did not confirm or deny the talks for the coveted slot at next year’s Super Bowl in Las Vegas.
In an interview with Us Weekly, Nick expressed their desire for the opportunity, stating, “We’d love for that to happen.” Jeff acknowledged feeling pressure to compete with other boy bands like *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys but emphasized that they always saw themselves as different.
He explained, “We considered ourselves more of an R’n’B vocal group. We had nothing against those bands – we loved them and were friends with them – but we believed we were distinct. When the media started comparing us to Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC, we wondered if we needed to incorporate more dancing.”
Nick added, “It was both a blessing and a curse. The boy band craze had so much momentum, and it was nice to be a part of it. But it also brought about pressure.” Drew further discussed the challenges they faced, mentioning the unattainable standards set for them.
He said, “The bar was set extremely high. Selling two million records in the first week is an anomaly that doesn’t happen often.” Jeff recalled an incident where they were projected to break a sales record but ultimately fell short after Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys achieved success in the same timeframe.
“An article came out predicting that we would do the same after Britney, Backstreet Boys, and *NSYNC broke records consecutively,” Jeff reminisced. “Unfortunately, we only sold 536,000 records in the first week, which was disappointing for us.”
Drew concluded by emphasizing their current perspective and enjoyment of their music. He stated, “At this point, we have a better understanding of it all. We savor the moment more. We release projects that we’re proud of, and whatever happens, happens.”
To date, 98 Degrees has sold more than 10 million records worldwide.