Drew Lachey
Is it possible to go from boy band member to reality show star and host? It is if you are Drew Lachey!
Drew was born in Cincinnati, OH on August 8, 1976. He is the younger brother of Nick Lachey (who has also been involved with reality television on his MTV show Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica). The brothers were both members of the boy band 98 Degrees, but Drew had many odd jobs before that. He was a combat medic with the United States Army Reserves, a worker at a deli, and even a camp counselor.
98 Degrees was formed independently and then signed with a record label, unlike many other boy bands, which were put together by a producer. The band formed in 1997 and had a great run before they disbanded in 2002. They had eight Top 40 singles and their records sold over 10 million.
After the band broke up, Drew made a few television appearances, most notably on “Hollywood Squares” in 2001 and on his brother’s reality show. He married his high school and college sweetheart, Lea Dellacave, on October 14, 2000. He was featured in one episode of “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” and “MTV Bash: Carson Daly” in 2003. He performed as the character Mark Cohen in the musical Rent on Broadway in 2005.
He was chosen to appear on the popular show “Dancing with the Stars” on the second season and his career took one a new life. He and partner Cheryl Burke earned three perfect scores – one for their tango, one for their Paso Doble, and one for their freestyle. Finally, in February 2006, they were chosen the winners of the second season over NFL legend Jerry Rice and his partner Anna Trebunskaya.
Drew co-hosted the 2006 Miss USA pageant with Access Hollywood’s Nancy O’Dell on April 21, 2006. But that must have paled in comparison to his big news for spring 2006 – the birth of his first child, daughter Isabella Claire on March 23. In the winter of that year, Drew toured the U.S. and Canada on the “Dancing with the Stars” tour. He appeared on the season four finale, performing the freestyle dance that helped him and partner Cheryl Burke win.
With show co-host Samantha Harris giving birth this fall, the producers of “Dancing with the Stars” had to find someone to fill her position this season. They chose Drew to help Tom Bergeron through Samantha’s maternity leave.
What is in the near future for Drew? He will host the new midseason dance show “Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann, which will show the judges forming performance troupes that face off each week.
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