The Jonas Brothers Reveal THE TRUTH Behind Their Breakup & Comeback

The School of Greatness

Published: Mon Jul 07 2025

The Jonas Brothers reveal 20 years of hard-earned wisdom about surviving fame, financial loss, and family business while building sustainable creative careers. This raw conversation covers everything from Kevin losing 90% of his wealth to their six-year breakup and the mindset shifts that made their reunion stronger than ever.

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Jonas Brothers Reveal THE TRUTH Behind Their Breakup & Comeback

Podcast Information:

Title: The School of Greatness
Host: Lewis Howes
Episode: The Jonas Brothers Reveal THE TRUTH Behind Their Breakup & Comeback
Release Date: July 7, 2025

Introduction

In this heartfelt and candid episode of The School of Greatness, host Lewis Howes sits down with the Jonas Brothers—Nick, Joe, and Kevin—to dive deep into their tumultuous journey over the past two decades. This marks one of the few times all three brothers have appeared together, offering an unfiltered glimpse into their personal and professional lives. The conversation navigates through their breakup, subsequent comeback, and the lessons they've learned about fame, success, and family dynamics.

Lessons on Fame, Success, and Money

Fame vs. Success: Joe Jonas opens the discussion by distinguishing fame from success and money. He emphasizes, “[00:04:03] It's been interesting to have this relationship with fame for as long now as we have because fame often doesn't equal success. It doesn't equal money” (Joe Jonas, [04:04]). Joe highlights the necessity of redefining success beyond public acclaim to maintain personal happiness and creative integrity.

Sustainable Business Model: Joe further explains their approach to sustaining their brand without relying solely on chart-topping hits. “We have built the foundation to sustain without the need for an anomaly” (Joe Jonas, [05:37]). This strategy encompasses multiple revenue streams, including touring and business ventures, ensuring stability regardless of a single song's performance.

Financial Savvy and Business Challenges: Kevin Jonas shares a personal financial setback, revealing, “I almost lost all my money down to the one, like, 10% left” ([08:34]). This experience underscored the importance of wise financial management and the value of a supportive team in navigating business complexities.

Nick’s Perspective on Success: Nick Jonas redefines success as finding balance and happiness. “Success was used to be like plaques on the wall and sold-out stadiums... now it's just like a quiet morning and quiet time with my kids” (Nick Jonas, [08:19]). He stresses the importance of personal fulfillment over material achievements.

Family Conflict and Breakup

Core Issues: The brothers candidly discuss the internal conflicts that led to their breakup. Joe reveals, “We weren't confident that people that we wanted to work with would work with us” (Joe Jonas, [36:13]). This lack of confidence hindered their artistic growth and led to creative stagnation.

Reconciliation and Trust: After stepping away, the Jonas Brothers returned with a renewed sense of trust and collaboration. Nick explains, “We needed to step away from the band to focus on family and figuring out who we were” (Nick Jonas, [35:40]). This period allowed them to address underlying issues and rebuild their relationship both personally and professionally.

Embracing Collaboration: Nick emphasizes the shift towards a more collaborative environment in their creative process. “We opened the door a bit more for other creatives to be part of this project” (Nick Jonas, [45:29]). This openness has led to a more authentic and dynamic musical output.

Creativity and Flow

Maintaining Creative Integrity: The brothers discuss the challenges of staying creative amidst the pressures of fame. Joe shares, “Anytime I'm in my creative flow and doing something that's making me happy, the results are better” (Joe Jonas, [04:16]). They stress the importance of creating art that resonates personally, regardless of commercial reception.

Overcoming Industry Challenges: Nick touches on the evolving music landscape, noting, “The algorithms on streaming services make it harder for things to break through” (Nick Jonas, [05:37]). Despite these challenges, they focus on staying true to their art and nurturing a loyal fanbase.

Embracing Authenticity: Joe underscores the power of authenticity, stating, “Authenticity wins, like always” (Joe Jonas, [05:47]). By being genuine and vulnerable, they build deeper connections with their audience, fostering trust and loyalty.

Rebuilding After Rock Bottom

Facing Criticism and Maintaining Positivity: Joe discusses how negative criticism can overshadow positive audience feedback. “[24:17] ...the critics' voice just rose to the top and became the narrative” (Joe Jonas). Despite this, they focus on the real-time reactions and the joy of their performances to stay motivated.

Support Systems: The importance of leaning on friends and family is highlighted as a crucial support system during tough times. Joe mentions, “Talking to friends and family helps me get through what's happening outside of work” (Joe Jonas, [25:14]).

Embracing the Journey: Nick reflects on their journey, stating, “We needed to step away from the band to focus on family and figuring out who we were” (Nick Jonas, [35:40]). This introspection was key to their sustainable comeback.

Advice to Younger Selves

Kevin’s Insights: Kevin Jonas offers practical advice, including the humorous reminder, “Don’t forget your guitar” ([17:44]). More profoundly, he advises to “enjoy the moments and celebrate the little victories” ([17:44]).

Nick’s Reflection: Nick emphasizes the importance of intrinsic motivation over the desire for fame. “If you're getting into it for fame, it's just not what it's about” ([14:01]). He encourages younger artists to seek personal fulfillment through their art.

Joe’s Guidance: Joe encourages trusting one's instincts: “Trust my first instinct and stand by it” ([18:00]). He advises against second-guessing oneself, promoting confidence in decision-making.

Balancing Personal Life and Artistry

Parental Responsibilities: All three brothers share how becoming fathers has reshaped their priorities. Nick highlights the importance of being present: “Putting devices away and being present” ([56:00]). Joe echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the magic of connecting with their children.

Work-Life Harmony: Kevin discusses the challenges of balancing a demanding career with family life. “Finding the balance between priorities” ([63:02]). They collectively stress the need to prioritize family while pursuing their artistic passions.

Personal Growth Through Parenthood: Joe narrates their initial fears and triumphs in parenthood, particularly during their daughter's early months in the NICU. “Staying calm and leaning on family and friends” ([59:14]). This experience reinforced their resilience and commitment to family.

Definition of Greatness

Joe’s Perspective: Joe defines greatness as achieving significant accomplishments while maintaining personal integrity. “Seeing that it is possible to achieve great things and remain a good person” ([85:08]).

Nick’s View: Nick echoes Joe’s sentiment, adding the importance of kindness and learning from role models. “If you can do what you love and be kind along the way, that's greatness” ([85:50]).

Kevin’s Insight: Kevin ties greatness to healthy relationships and personal fulfillment. “Having a healthy relationship with my family... truly makes me feel like I've achieved the most” ([85:52]).

Upcoming Projects: Album and Tour

New Album - "Greetings from Your Hometown": The Jonas Brothers are excited to release their new album, "Greetings from Your Hometown", set to drop on August 8th. This album symbolizes a celebration of their 20-year journey, featuring a mix of their classic hits and new material from their solo projects. The album aims to capture the essence of their roots, evoking memories of their early days with their father playing music in their living room.

Upcoming Tour - MetLife Stadium: Kicking off their tour at MetLife Stadium, the Jonas Brothers are thrilled to perform in the dream venue they envisioned growing up. Joe shares, “It’s about celebrating our 20-year journey... creating a version of what it was like to be in our living room with our dad playing music” ([78:14]). The tour includes special features like collaborations with Marshmello and support from The All-American Rejects, promising an emotional and uplifting experience for fans old and new.

Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

In a touching conclusion, the Jonas Brothers share personal lessons they intend to leave behind for their daughters, emphasizing kindness, compassion, and the importance of family. Joe encapsulates their shared values by highlighting their father as the epitome of greatness—balancing achievements with personal integrity and kindness.

Lewis Howes wraps up the episode by commending the Jonas Brothers for their authenticity and vulnerability, celebrating their enduring impact on the world both artistically and personally.

Notable Quotes:

Joe Jonas on Fame and Success: “[04:04] It’s been interesting to have this relationship with fame for as long now as we have because fame often doesn’t equal success. It doesn’t equal money.”
Nick Jonas on Defining Success: “[08:19] Success was used to be like plaques on the wall and sold-out stadiums... now it’s just like a quiet morning and quiet time with my kids.”
Kevin Jonas on Financial Lessons: “[08:34] I almost lost all my money down to the one, like, 10% left.”
Joe Jonas on Creativity: “[05:47] Authenticity wins, like always.”
Nick Jonas on Being Present as a Parent: “[56:00] Putting devices away and being present.”
Joe Jonas on Greatness: “[85:08] Seeing that it is possible to achieve great things and remain a good person.”

Conclusion

This episode of The School of Greatness offers an intimate look into the Jonas Brothers' lives, exploring their struggles, triumphs, and the wisdom they've gained over 20 years in the spotlight. Their honest conversation serves as an inspiration for listeners striving to balance personal happiness with professional success, emphasizing the power of authenticity, family, and continuous personal growth.

Timestamps Overview:

Intro: [00:00] – [03:20]
Fame, Success, and Money: [04:00] – [08:39]
Family Conflict and Breakup: [35:40] – [44:44]
Creativity and Flow: [04:16] – [05:47]
Rebuilding After Rock Bottom: [24:17] – [27:03]
Advice to Younger Selves: [17:44] – [19:26]
Balancing Personal Life: [55:12] – [73:11]
Definition of Greatness: [85:08] – [86:11]
Upcoming Projects: [77:55] – [79:31]
Final Lessons for Daughters: [80:36] – [85:52]
Closing Remarks: [86:18] – [87:04]

Note: This summary excludes advertisements, promotional segments, and non-content sections to focus solely on the substantive discussions and insights shared by the Jonas Brothers.