Nick Jonas is the youngest of the Jonas Brothers, the pop trio that took the teen music scene by storm in the 2010s. Growing up in Little Falls, New Jersey, Nick was raised alongside his brothers Joe and Kevin—sons of an Assembly of God minister and a sign-language teacher. While their younger brother Frankie was around, he was too young to join the band. Interestingly, it was Nick Jonas who first stepped into the spotlight, landing roles on Broadway as a pre-teen, including a memorable performance in Beauty and the Beast. At just 12 years old, Nick released his self-titled debut album, which was produced to echo the classic vibes of groups like the Jackson Five and the Osmond Brothers. The record came out under Columbia’s Christian rock imprint, but unfortunately, it didn’t gain much traction commercially.
Eventually, the label suggested that Nick collaborate with his brothers for the next project, leading to the release of It’s About Time. That album also struggled, but it opened the door to something big—Disney. This partnership turned things around completely. Their self-titled 2007 album, released through Hollywood Records (a Disney-affiliated label), marked a major shift in sound, trading earlier punk and R&B influences for polished bubblegum pop. Promoted heavily across Disney channels and TV appearances, the Jonas Brothers quickly became household names among teens. Nick Jonas often took the lead vocals and co-wrote songs, starting with “Hold On”—the second single from the album. (Their first single, “Year 3000,” was actually a cover of a Busted track.)
The momentum continued with A Little Bit Longer, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts. Hits like “Burnin’ Up” and “Lovebug” featured writing credits from all three brothers, showing their growing creative input. By 2010, their fame had reached such heights that Paul McCartney personally selected the Jonas Brothers to perform “Drive My Car” at a White House tribute honoring him—an incredible milestone in their career.
When the group disbanded in 2014, Nick Jonas didn’t slow down. He dove right back into both acting and music. Prior to the split, he had already co-hosted the Miss USA 2013 pageant, showcasing his versatility. Then came guest roles on the rebooted Hawaii Five-0 (CBS, 2009–), followed by a standout part in the Audience Network drama series Kingdom (2014–16), where Nick Jonas held a recurring role across three seasons. Musically, he served as a creative director and frequent performer on Demi Lovato’s 2014 tour. With her support, Nick launched another self-titled solo album and later joined her again for a co-headlining tour in 2016.
Nick Jonas began shaping a more mature, edgy image during this era, leaning into sultry pop sounds and high-profile collaborations. His single “Close,” featuring Tove Lo, cracked the Top 20 and appeared on his second post-Jonas Brothers album, Last Year Was Complicated. As an actor, he kept pushing boundaries—landing a serious role opposite James Franco in the intense 2017 drama Goat, proving that Nick Jonas was far more than just a pop star.
Nick Jonas’s most acclaimed film to date is Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road (2021), which received widespread praise and recognition. On the other hand, his least favorably reviewed movie is Careful What You Wish For (2015), which didn’t quite resonate with audiences or critics as strongly. While he’s known for his music, his film roles have had varying levels of success, with these two films representing the high and low points in his acting career so far.