Jonathan Knight
Knight in 2011
Knight in 2011
Background information
Birth nameJonathan Rashleigh Knight
Born (1968-11-29) November 29, 1968
OriginBoston, Massachusetts, U.S.
GenresPop
OccupationsSinger
Years active1984–1994, 2008–present
LabelsColumbia (1984–1994)
Interscope (2008–present)
Spouse(s)
Harley Rodriguez
​
(m. 2022)​
Websitewww.nkotb.com

Jonathan Rashleigh Knight-Rodriguez (born November 29, 1968)[1] is an American singer. He is best known for being a member of the boy band New Kids on the Block. The band also includes his younger brother Jordan, and members Donnie Wahlberg, Joey McIntyre, and Danny Wood. He is the oldest member of the band and the first to leave it in 1994 prior to their official split.

Early life

Jonathan Knight was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Canadian parents. (His father, an Episcopal priest, is from Meaford, Ontario; his mother is from Dunnville, Ontario.[2]) He is one of six children, including Allison, Sharon, David, Christopher and Jordan.

New Kids on the Block

From 1986 until 1994, Knight was a member of the American boy band New Kids on the Block (NKOTB). They went on to sell over 80 million records worldwide before splitting in 1994 after he left during the tour for their 1994 album Face the Music. The group attempted to continue the tour claiming Jonathan had been badly hurt by a horse, but in a press conference a few weeks later, they revealed that they were actually splitting.[3]

Knight at the 1990 Grammy Awards

In the spring of 2008, Knight returned to show business, reuniting with the other four members of New Kids on the Block. They released their seventh album (and first in 14 years), The Block, on September 2, 2008. To confirm their reunion and announce the new album, they performed live together for the first time in fifteen years on the Today show[4][5] on May 16, 2008.

A world tour was scheduled to follow the new release and began in Toronto on September 18, 2008. The first single from it, "Summertime", performed well worldwide peaking at #9 in Canada and breaking the top 30 in the U.S. charts (#24 as a digital download). They released "Single", their second single from The Block in August 2008.[6]

Personal life

Jonathan is the older brother of band mate Jordan Knight.

In the years after the group first disbanded, Knight worked as a real estate investor living in Essex, Massachusetts; no longer in the spotlight, he rarely made public appearances or gave interviews. In 2000, he revealed that he suffered from generalized anxiety disorder since his early career with New Kids on the Block.[3] He has since sought medical help and his health has improved.[7] In 2011, he appeared on MTV reality series True Life to help a fan suffering from panic disorder.

In 2009, the National Enquirer published an article from his ex-boyfriend Kyle Wilker, who outed him as gay without his consent. Jonathan Knight said, "I have lived my life very openly and have never hidden the fact that I am gay."[8] In a statement on the New Kids on the Block blog, he added, "Apparently the prerequisite to being a gay public figure is to appear on the cover of a magazine with the caption 'I am gay'. I apologize for not doing so if this is what was expected!"[9]

Since 2008, Knight has been in a relationship with Harley Rodriguez, best known for playing Manny Lopez in the Sweet Valley High television series.[10][11] The two participated in the 26th season of the reality competition series The Amazing Race, which aired on CBS in early 2015, where they placed 9th.[12] On November 15, 2016, while vacationing in Africa, the two became engaged when Knight proposed to Rodriguez.[13] In March 2021, Knight began hosting the HGTV television show Farmhouse Fixer, in which he restores old New England farmhouses for clients.[14]

On August 25, 2022, it was revealed that Knight and Rodriguez had married.[15]

Discography

New Kids on the Block albums

References

  1. ↑ "UPI Almanac for Friday, Nov. 29, 2019". United Press International. November 29, 2019. Archived from the original on December 24, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2020. …singer Jonathan Knight in 1968 (age 51)
  2. ↑ "New Kids on the Block member Jordan Knight talks to omg! Canada about his Canadian connection". OMG!. October 1, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2022 – via Yahoo! News.
  3. 1 2 Tauber, Michelle (November 20, 2000). "Renewed Kid". People. Retrieved February 8, 2009.
  4. ↑ Mascia, Kristen (September 19, 2008). "NKOTB's Danny Wood: 'Opening Night Was Amazing'". People. Retrieved February 8, 2009.
  5. ↑ Premuto, Nicole (May 16, 2008). "New Kids on the Block Return to Today for First Show in 15 Years". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Artist Chart History — New Kids on the Block". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2009.
  7. ↑ Bottomley, C. (April 11, 2001). "Older Kids on the Comeback". MTV. Archived from the original on December 28, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  8. ↑ Wenn (January 29, 2011). "Knight: 'I never hid my sexuality'". contactmusic.com. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  9. ↑ Pep, Steve (January 29, 2011). "Jonathan Knight: I have never hidden the fact that I am gay". Towleroad. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Celebrity gossip juicy celebrity rumors Hollywood gossip blog from Perez Hilton » Blog Archive » Introducing…". perezhilton.com. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008.
  11. ↑ "Sounds like my first time". June 30, 2013.
  12. ↑ Nordyke, Kimberly (January 20, 2015). "'Amazing Race': NKOTB's Jonathan Knight Among Cast, New 'Date Night' Reward Added". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  13. ↑ Kimble, Elizabeth (November 15, 2016). "Making It Official: NKOTB's Jonathan Knight and Harley Rodriguez Are Engaged!". People. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Jonathan Knight Brings His Renovation Expertise to a New Show on HGTV". HGTV. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  15. ↑ Andrew, Scottie (August 25, 2022). "New Kids on the Block's Jonathan Knight marries longtime boyfriend". CNN. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
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