Nick Lachey Reveals 98 Degrees Received Age of Consent Guidebook

Nick Lachey has revealed that during the early touring days of the pop group 98 Degrees, the band was provided with a guidebook detailing the age of consent laws for every state in the U.S. The singer shared this detail in the Investigation Discovery docuseries Boy Band Confidential, which is scheduled to premiere on April 13, 2026, on Roku.

Lachey stated that the book was given to the group by someone at their record label. The band, which consisted of Nick and Drew Lachey, Jeff Timmons, and Justin Jeffre, kept the manual on their tour bus during their first tour in 1999. At the time, the members were between 21 and 24 years old.

While Lachey admitted that the practice sounds super shady in hindsight, he explained that the guidebook was intended as a safeguard to prevent the group from getting into legal trouble while interacting with fans. He noted that there were people looking to tear you down during their rise to fame.

Financial Realities and Industry Pressures

In the same documentary, Lachey discussed the contrast between the group’s public image and their financial situation after signing with Motown. He revealed that the band received a very nominal advance on their contract and were aware that all expenses were recoupable.

To manage their spending, 98 Degrees avoided luxury perks common among other boy bands of the era. Lachey recalled that the group would eat at Wendy’s during breaks and relied on public transportation to get back to Brooklyn after recording sessions in New York that ended at 4:00 a.m.

Lachey also contrasted the mental health support available to modern artists with the expectations placed on his group during their peak years between 1998, and 2000. He cited current artists like Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes, who have canceled tours to prioritize mental health, as an example of a standard that did not exist for 98 Degrees.

That was not an option when we were out there. You went out there and you did the show. Then you came back after the show and you broke down and you cried and you kicked a hole in the wall. Or you did whatever you had to do. But you didn’t bow out.

Nick Lachey

Lachey emphasized that the pressure to maintain momentum was immense because the group had worked hard to achieve their position and could not afford to let your foot off the gas.

Production and Cast of Boy Band Confidential

The docuseries Boy Band Confidential is executive produced by Joey Fatone of *NSYNC. The series explores the internal dynamics and challenges of the boy band phenomenon, featuring interviews with several prominent figures from the genre.

• Nick Lachey (98 Degrees)
• Lance Bass and Joey Fatone (*NSYNC)
• AJ McLean (Backstreet Boys)
• Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman (Boyz II Men)
• Ashley Parker Angel (O-Town)
• Brad Fischetti (LFO)

The series is set to debut on Investigation Discovery on April 13 and April 14, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET, with later streaming availability on HBO Max.

The revelations come as 98 Degrees continues to manage their legacy, having released Full Circle in May 2025, an album featuring updated versions of six of their biggest hits and their first non-Christmas project in over a decade.