Nick Jonas is one third of one of the most famous bands in the world, the Jonas Brothers. Nick has been in the spotlight for most of his life. He’s the youngest in the band, but what a lot of people might not know? Nick got his start way before the Jonas Brothers were even a thing, being the first one out of the three to have a solo album.
Nick’s early solo endeavors were a catalyst for the brothers to become a band, and their careers only took off from there. Over the years, we’ve literally watched Nick grow up right before our very eyes, becoming the now very famous musician, actor, and now husband. We’re learning more and more about Nick Jonas as his career continues to flourish.
These are 18 facts about Nick Jonas that have recently surfaced.
18 He Was Discovered In A Barber Shop
Most people might not realize how Nick Jonas was discovered, and it was actually in a barber shop. When he was just six years old, he was with his mom in the barber shop while she was getting a haircut. He was referred to a professional show business manager, and his career took off from there.
17 He Started Off On Broadway
After being discovered in the barber shop, Nick began his career on Broadway. When he was seven he played Tiny Tim in a production of A Christmas Carol. He also was a replacement alternate in Les Miserables and Beauty and the Beast as well as Annie Get Your Gun.
16 He Had A Song On Broadway's Equity Fights AIDS Album
Nick wrote a song called “Joy To The World (A Christmas Prayer),” and was selected to appear on the 2002 annual Broadway Equity Fights AIDS album, Broadway’s Greatest Gifts: Carol for a Cure Vol. 4. Nick recorded the song with backing vocals from the Beauty and the Beast cast.
15 He Hit It Big On Christian Solo Radio
In 2003, Nick’s song “Joy To The World (A Christmas Prayer),” was received by INO Records, where the label decided to release the song to Chirstian radio stations. The song quickly gained in popularity, and was soon at the top of the Record & Radio’s Christian Adult Contemporary Chart.
14 He Was Signed As A Solo Artist In 2004
With all of the success of “Joy To The World (A Christmas Prayer),” and it’s release to the radio, Columbia records took interest in Nick and his song. The record label approached him, and soon signed him to their label. He became a signed solo artist in 2004.
13 He Released A Solo Album Before The Jonas Brothers
A lot of people might not realize that Nick was a solo artist before the Jonas Brothers. He released two singles after he was signed, a re-recorded version of “Joy to the World (A Christmas Prayer) and a new song, “Dear God.” His album came out on September 5, 2005 and was titled Nicholas Jonas.
12 His Brothers Helped Write His Solo Album
Even though it was Nick’s solo album, his brothers actually had a hand in helping him with it. The album contained 11 tracks, and in fact, a few of them were written by Nick along with Kevin and Joe such as “Time For Me To Fly” and “Please Be Mine.” The Jonas Brothers were sort of the Jonas Brothers and they didn’t even know it yet!
11 The Jonas Brothers Were Born From His Album
Steve Greenberg, the president of Columbia Records really liked Nick’s voice and really liked “Please Be Mine,” one of the tracks that his brothers helped write. As a result, he signed all three of them to Columbia Records as a group, and the Jonas Brothers were born.
10 He Went Back To Broadway In 2012
In 2012, Nick went back to his roots, and returned to Broadway, where everything started for him. This time he had a much bigger role on Broadway, instead of just an alternate. He took the stage only to replace Daniel Radcliffe and Darren Criss in How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.
9 He Has Type 1 Diabetes
Nick Jonas has overcome a lot of challenges during his lifetime. In 2005, he made a medical discovery about his health. He was formally diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was on tour. Nick wears an insulin pump to help manage his condition, and has been very outspoken about the disease.
8 He Has His Own Foundation For Diabetes
Nick has made a point to be very outspoken about diabetes, wanting to bring awareness to the disease that affects so many people. He has his own foundation, the Change for the Children Foundation that’s partnered with five different charities where they raise money and awareness for diabetes.
7 He Made A Public Service Announcement For Diabetes
Nick is very passionate about wanting to bring awareness to diabetes that he’s willing to do whatever it takes to spread his message. He partnered with the Washington Nationals to create a public service announcement to support care for diabetes at Children’s National Medical Center In Washington D.C.
6 He's A Diabetes Ambassador
On top of all that, Nick is also a diabetes ambassador. In 2008 he partnered with Bayer Diabetes Care to become an ambassador for diabetes, where he testified in the U.S. Senate to promote research and funding for diabetes, and promote the idea for young people to take better care of themselves and manage the disease.
5 He Married His Wife After A Few Months
Over the years that Nick has been in the spotlight, he’s dated quite a few famous names like Miley Cyrus. In May of 2018, Nick started dating actress Priyanka Chopra. The two took things rather quickly, and in July the couple got engaged. Not wanting to waste any time, the two then got married in December of 2018 and have been together ever since.
4 He Has His Own Record Label
Nick decided that he wanted to take things a step further with his music career. He teamed up with his good friend, Demi Lovato, along with their manager and music executive Phil McIntyre to create their own record label, Safehouse Records. Demi even released her own music under the label.
3 He's Dabbled In Acting
Nick did a little bit of acting when he was with his brothers, but as he got older he wanted to step out on his own a bit. In 2014 he played a mixed martial arts fighter for three seasons on Kingdom. He also starred in the movie Careful What You Wish For, as well as Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.
2 He Was In A Chuck E. Cheese Commercial
Way back in the day, Nick made his real acting debut. He starred in some commercials, and perhaps, one of the most iconic ones was for Chuck E. Cheese. He was in a commercial from the early 2000s, where he plays a kid having the time of his life in the arcade. If you blink, you might not even notice that it was him.
1 He Has Matching Tattoos
Nick has quite a few tattoos of his own, the “Mercy” tattoo on his forearm, just being one of them. Even though all three brothers have tattoos, only Nick and Joe have matching ones with each other. Before the MTV Video Music Awards, he and Joe got two arrow tattoos on their arms, matching one another. Maybe they’ll all get a matching one some day!