Teen Beat with Danielle Fishel
Episode: More Time With: Drew Lachey
Release Date: April 3, 2026
Host: Danielle Fishel
Guest: Drew Lachey (singer, Broadway performer, former member of 98 Degrees)
Episode Overview
In this lively and nostalgic episode, Danielle Fishel chats with Drew Lachey about his own coming-of-age moments in and out of the spotlight. They swap stories about embarrassing onstage mishaps, kids’ perspectives on parental fame, and the pursuit of “normalcy” after superstardom. The conversation ranges from funny listener stories to Drew’s favorite 98 Degrees memories, his theater ventures, parenting, and the return to midwestern roots.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Listener Embarrassment Story (Music Mishaps)
[03:29 – 05:26]
- Rachel from Omaha shares her tale of embarrassment when, during a solemn post-9/11 town parade, a family friend shouted about her "hemorrhoid medicine" in front of the crowd while she was first chair clarinet in a marching band.
- Danielle and Drew laugh about the timing and how such stories become folklore.
- Danielle: "At any other time in history, this joke goes down in history. And if you're there to witness that moment, you talk about it with people like it's one of your stories." [05:01]
- Drew: "You gotta tip your hat. That's pretty impressive." [05:26]
2. Good-Natured Stage Disasters & Broadway Life
[05:45 – 07:48]
- Danielle: "Has there ever been a really embarrassing moment for you while you were performing?" [05:45]
- Drew recalls blanking on lyrics while starring in Rent on Broadway, and lists other mishaps: tripping, falling, splitting pants, dropping mics.
- Drew: "I've done all those things... the list goes on and on.” [06:03]
- He discusses his post-98 Degrees love for theater and his current off-Broadway project with his wife:
- The musical is called “Labelists”—opening off-Broadway in the summer. Drew wrote 4–5 of the 16 songs, his wife choreographed and co-directed.
- Drew: "It's our new passion that we've been working on for eight years. It's gonna be an eight-year overnight success." [07:28]
3. Onstage Antics with 98 Degrees
[07:53 – 09:08]
- The bandmates try to break each other during performances, exchanging inside jokes and pulling pranks (like dropping the mic stand for Drew, who’s shorter).
- Drew: "We're ridiculous around each other... If we're having a good time, the audience is going to have a good time." [08:03]
- In case something goes wrong (like tech issues), Drew takes over with impromptu stories to cover.
4. Living Life Off-Stage: Pee Breaks and Routine
[09:11 – 10:16]
- Danielle asks how bands handle the mundane—like needing a bathroom break mid-show.
- Drew: There are no intermissions for 98 Degrees, but they manage with quick cover stories or slip away during costume changes if desperate.
- "Or you just run off the side of the stage, find a bucket somewhere. Tree. Look what you got to do." [10:12]
5. 90s TV Crossover: Drew on Sabrina the Teenage Witch
[15:02 – 16:28]
- Danielle: "You were a fellow TGIF alum... you did not play yourself. What was that like?" [15:02]
- Drew: Found it strange singing on a reality show within the sitcom; enjoyed the surreal experience but jokes, "I don't think Michael B. Jordan has anything to worry about." [15:52]
- Did not work with the famous animatronic cat, but was “in proximity.” [16:17]
6. Fame at Home: Parenting and Perspective
[16:28 – 20:56]
- Danielle: "Do your kids know how cool we were back in the day?"
- Drew: Prefers his kids see him as dad rather than a celebrity, minimizes pressure but shares fun stories about run-ins with other stars.
- "For me, the less they think of me as that, the better." [16:53]
- They joke about teachers embarrassing his kids with his fame.
- Discusses move back to Ohio for normalcy—a conscious decision so their kids could have a typical childhood close to family.
- "...Just the normal life that you can give our kids." [18:04]
- Music in the Family:
- Daughter is a “theater kid” and arts lover; son is music-obsessed, listens to everything from Fleetwood Mac to hip-hop, plays sports.
- Drew: "I'm the fourth best dancer in my own house. My son's got more potential than I do, my daughter can do whatever, my wife is amazing." [20:37]
7. Greatest 98 Degrees Memory
[20:58 – 22:39]
- Danielle: "If you had to pick one moment from 98 Degrees... what would it be?"
- Drew: Performing “True to Your Heart” (from Disney’s Mulan) with Stevie Wonder on The Tonight Show. Stevie declined to be interviewed unless the band joined him on the couch—a huge moment of validation for Drew.
- Drew: "That moment of validation from somebody who is arguably the greatest musician of all time... the fact that you're able to see that humanity from somebody of that level… kind of made me be like, oh, you don't have to be an ass in this business." [21:13–22:28]
- Danielle: "He still had all his own light. He was just able to share it with you..." [22:28]
8. Wrapping Up & 90s Nostalgia
[22:39 – 23:25]
- Danielle reminisces about 90s Con and suggests a reunion Mexico trip if Drew wins “Rock the Block.”
- Drew: "No booze cruises this time." [23:18]
- Danielle: "No, thank you. We'll pass on that. We want to remember this one.” [23:18]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “You gotta tip your hat. That’s pretty impressive.”
— Drew Lachey on the marching band hemorrhoid cream story [05:26] - “I completely forgot the words... I’ve done all those things. I’ve tripped and fallen on my face, I’ve slid off the front of the stage, I’ve split pants, I’ve, you know, dropped microphones...”
— Drew on stage mishaps [05:55–06:10] - “It's our new passion that we've been working on for eight years. It's gonna be an eight-year overnight success.”
— Drew about his family's musical, Labelists [07:28] - "We’re ridiculous around each other... If we’re having a good time, the audience is going to have a good time."
— Drew on 98 Degrees camaraderie [08:03] - “I'm the fourth best dancer in my own house.”
— Drew, humbly, on his family’s talent [20:37] - "The fact that you're able to see that humanity from somebody of that level in that moment... made me be like, oh, you don’t have to be an ass in this business."
— Drew on Stevie Wonder's generosity [22:28]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 03:29 – Listener's Embarrassing Music Story (Rachel, Omaha)
- 05:45 – Drew's Onstage Mishaps and Broadway Memories
- 07:14 – New Off-Broadway Musical: "Labelists"
- 07:53 – Band Pranks and Onstage Hijinks
- 09:11 – How Bands Handle Bathroom Breaks in Concerts
- 15:02 – Drew's Cameo on Sabrina the Teenage Witch
- 16:28 – Parenting Famous Kids and Ohio Roots
- 18:56 – Musical Interests of Drew’s Kids
- 20:58 – Drew’s Favorite 98 Degrees Memory (Stevie Wonder and The Tonight Show)
- 22:39 – 90s Con Reunion & Goodbye
Tone & Takeaway
The conversation is light, funny, self-deprecating, and warm, full of mutual respect and nostalgia. Both Drew and Danielle share honestly about their own embarrassing moments, the value of “normal” after fame, and balancing legacies with raising kids. Listeners are treated to both behind-the-scenes tidbits and genuine life lessons about humility, resilience, and staying grounded despite living in the limelight.