# Drew Lachey
**Drew Lachey** (born Andrew John Lachey, 1976) is an American singer and actor best known as a member of the vocal group [98 Degrees](https://www.edgepedia.org/98-degrees), which he joined as the last of its four members, and as the winner of the second season of the television competition *Dancing with the Stars*.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/drew-lachey-mn0001264689) • [2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/drew-lachey/) • [3](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/drew-lachey-on-dancing-with-the-stars-98-degrees-future/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Andrew John Lachey, born 1976 in Cincinnati, Ohio[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/drew-lachey-mn0001264689) |
| Band role | Member of 98 Degrees (Nick Lachey, Jeff Timmons, Justin Jeffre, Drew Lachey), formed in Los Angeles in 1996; Drew was the last to join[4](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/98-degrees-mn0000474787) |
| Before music | Served as a combat medic in the United States Army in the mid-1990s and worked as an ambulance driver[5](https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrities/drew-lachey/) • [6](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/drew-lachey/bio/3000385296/) |
| *Dancing with the Stars* | Won season 2 in 2006 with professional partner Cheryl Burke; eliminated in the third round of the all-star season[3](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/drew-lachey-on-dancing-with-the-stars-98-degrees-future/) |
| Stage work | Performed on Broadway in *Rent* and *Spamalot*[7](https://www.thedailybeast.com/98-degrees-drew-lachey-on-the-bands-comeback-microphone-and-more/) |
| Family | Married Lea Lachey since October 14, 2000; two children, Hudson and Isabella[8](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0480031/bio/) |
## Early life
Lachey was born in [Cincinnati](https://www.edgepedia.org/cincinnati), Ohio, to parents Cate Fopma-Leimbach and John Lachey, and attended the Cincinnati School for Creative and Performing Artists like his older brother Nick.[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/drew-lachey/) Before his music career he served as a combat medic in the [United States Army](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-army) in the mid-1990s and worked as an ambulance driver.[5](https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrities/drew-lachey/) • [6](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/drew-lachey/bio/3000385296/)
## 98 Degrees
98 Degrees was formed in 1996 in Los Angeles, where [Jeff Timmons](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeff-timmons) had called former Cincinnati schoolmates [Nick Lachey](https://www.edgepedia.org/nick-lachey) and Justin Jeffre; Drew soon joined as the fourth member.[4](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/98-degrees-mn0000474787) Unlike most boy bands of the era, the quartet formed itself and was signed afterward, by Motown.[9](https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/bernadette-giacomazzo/nick-lachey-white-jodeci-98-degrees) The group positioned itself as the mature, R&B-leaning alternative to the [Backstreet Boys](https://www.edgepedia.org/backstreet-boys) and 'N Sync, and by 2001 had sold nearly 10 million albums on the strength of *98 Degrees and Rising* (1998) and *Revelation* (2000).[10](https://abcnews.com/Entertainment/story?id=107903&page=1) The group's hits include "Invisible Man," "Because of You," "The Hardest Thing," "I Do (Cherish You)," and the number-one Mariah Carey collaboration "Thank God I Found You."[4](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/98-degrees-mn0000474787)
The band went on hiatus after 2002 and reunited in 2012, touring with [Boyz II Men](https://www.edgepedia.org/boyz-ii-men) and [New Kids on the Block](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-kids-on-the-block) on the Package Tour in 2013 and releasing the album *2.0*.[4](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/98-degrees-mn0000474787) • [3](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/drew-lachey-on-dancing-with-the-stars-98-degrees-future/) In reunion performances, Nick Lachey and Jeff Timmons take most of the lead vocals, with Drew and Jeffre singing the harmony parts.[11](https://riffmagazine.com/album-reviews/98-degrees-full-circle/) The group has continued to record, releasing *Let It Snow* (2017) and *Full Circle* (2025).[4](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/98-degrees-mn0000474787)
## Dancing with the Stars
Lachey won the second season of *Dancing with the Stars* in 2006, partnered with professional dancer [Cheryl Burke](https://www.edgepedia.org/cheryl-burke), who went on to win the following season as well.[3](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/drew-lachey-on-dancing-with-the-stars-98-degrees-future/) • [12](https://www.thedailybeast.com/dancing-with-the-stars-winner-cheryl-burke-42-hits-back-at-body-critics/) He later said the win moved him "from a boy band guy who's also on a reality show to kind of more of a household name."[3](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/drew-lachey-on-dancing-with-the-stars-98-degrees-future/) He returned for the all-star season and was eliminated in the third round.[3](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/drew-lachey-on-dancing-with-the-stars-98-degrees-future/) He also filled in as co-host for Samantha Harris while she was on maternity leave during season five.[13](https://www.mobt3ath.com/uplode/book/book-93712.pdf)
## Acting and other work
During the band's hiatus Lachey appeared on television, including as a recurring presence on his brother's MTV reality series *Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica* (2003–05), and performed on Broadway in *Rent* and *[Spamalot](https://www.edgepedia.org/spamalot)*.[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/drew-lachey/) • [7](https://www.thedailybeast.com/98-degrees-drew-lachey-on-the-bands-comeback-microphone-and-more/) His screen credits include the films *Snow Day* (2000), *The Comebacks* (2007), and *Carol* (2015).[8](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0480031/bio/) In 2013 he became involved with Buckle Up For Life, a child passenger safety initiative developed by [Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center](https://www.edgepedia.org/cincinnati-childrens-hospital-medical-center) and Toyota.[3](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/drew-lachey-on-dancing-with-the-stars-98-degrees-future/)
## Personal life
Lachey married Lea Lachey, his high school sweetheart, on October 14, 2000; they have two children, Hudson and Isabella.[8](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0480031/bio/) He and his brother Nick have matching armband tattoos with the first letter of their surname.[8](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0480031/bio/)
## References
1. [Drew Lachey – Biography, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/drew-lachey-mn0001264689)
2. [Drew Lachey – Singer, Actor, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/drew-lachey/)
3. [Drew Lachey on "Dancing with the Stars," 98 Degrees' future, CBS News (2013)](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/drew-lachey-on-dancing-with-the-stars-98-degrees-future/)
4. [98° – Biography, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/98-degrees-mn0000474787)
5. [Drew Lachey News, Us Weekly](https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrities/drew-lachey/)
6. [Drew Lachey Biography, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/drew-lachey/bio/3000385296/)
7. [98 Degrees' Drew Lachey on the Band's Comeback, The Daily Beast (2013)](https://www.thedailybeast.com/98-degrees-drew-lachey-on-the-bands-comeback-microphone-and-more/)
8. [Drew Lachey – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0480031/bio/)
9. [Nick Lachey Says 98 Degrees Was Pushed to Become the 'White Jodeci', Complex](https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/bernadette-giacomazzo/nick-lachey-white-jodeci-98-degrees)
10. [98 Degrees Dodges Comparisons, Mothers, ABC News (2001)](https://abcnews.com/Entertainment/story?id=107903&page=1)
11. [ALBUM REVIEW: 98 Degrees flex nostalgic muscle on 'Full Circle', Riff Magazine](https://riffmagazine.com/album-reviews/98-degrees-full-circle/)
12. ['Dancing With the Stars' Winner Cheryl Burke Hits Back at Weight Critics, The Daily Beast](https://www.thedailybeast.com/dancing-with-the-stars-winner-cheryl-burke-42-hits-back-at-body-critics/)
13. [Real Men Can Dance, But Not in That Costume (Dancing with the Stars study)](https://www.mobt3ath.com/uplode/book/book-93712.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Pop and R&B singer-songwriters › Pop singers, 1980s and 1990s › Dance-pop and teen pop singers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license