Hapsburg. Bourbon. Do any of these great families hold a candle (or for that matter, a note) to the almighty Jonas Brothers? When it came to teen idols of the early 2000s, the Jonas Brothers were an essential part of any pop culture diet. From 2005 to 2013, Kevin, Nick, and Joe toured the world and sold millions of albums as one of the biggest names in youth music, television, and even film. It goes without saying that the Jonas Brothers didn’t just sell music. They also sold headlines. In fact, people these days are just as likely to remember their tumultuous dating lives (and public purity policies) as much as their catchy lyrics. Enjoy this throwback with 42 scandalous facts about the Jonas Brothers.
1. Different Strokes, Different States
While they have a lot in common—such as being homeschooled by their mom—all three Jonas brothers were born in different US states. Kevin (b. 1987) was born in New Jersey, Joe (b. 1989) in Arizona, and Nick (b. 1992) in Texas.
2. Fourth Wheel
Not unlike the Three Musketeers, there exists a fourth Jonas brother. Frankie Jonas was born in 2000 and is sometimes referred to as the “Bonus Jonas” or “Biff.” He is also an actor—his first role in a film was voicing the character Sosuke in the English dub of the Studio Ghibli film Ponyo.
3. Never Too Old to Make Print
In 2008, the Jonas Brothers became the youngest band to make the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. Take that, The Beatles!
4. (Don’t) Say My Name
Being Kevin Jonas ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. For one, his name isn’t even Kevin. He was named after his father, Paul Jonas Sr. Everything we know is a lie!
5. Redubbed
The Jonas Brothers had an old band name, which they hated. Originally called “J3,” the trio had a last-minute change of heart right before their first concert tour. Joe asked his brothers, “Do you want our name to be J3 for the rest of our lives?” They did not. Thus, at the next show, Joe was the first to declare to the audience, “Hey, we’re the Jonas Brothers.” That was easy.
6. Trouble in Paradise
When the band broke up in 2013, Nick Jonas was the first to bring up the topic. Joe was the most vocally resistant.
7. Bury My Heart With Punk Rock
Joe Jonas recorded a solo album that, in his words, never “saw the light of day.” According to Joe, the unheard record took heavy inspiration from Hall & Oates, as well as Freddy Mercury. Apparently, punk-rock has been his favorite genre since childhood, so it's understandable that he'd try to branch out from his pop roots.
8. It’s Hard to Be PG
The “pure” image of the Jonas Brothers was both a hot topic (and hot joke) in the early 2000s. It was also a persona forced onto them by Disney. To be a part of the House of Mouse, the young men had to be on their best behavior—more than most teenagers are expected to uphold in that messy time. Joe admits how the purity politics put an immense hamper on their creative impulses. Even basic lyrics such as “I’m alone in a room with you” were declared too racy for the record and sent back.
9. Put a Ring On It
The “purity” rings were a huge part of the Jonas Brothers’ image. “Proudly” displaying their abstinence, the accessories were a natural culmination of the Disney brand, who wanted the boys to be pristine—the ultimate family-friendly icons. It goes without saying, all three brothers have done away with the bling.
10. Better to Break a Promise Than A Condom
In a 2016 Reddit AMA, Joe Jonas admitted he broke the “vow” represented by his brothers’ rings. When he was 20, he slept with someone for the first time—his then-girlfriend, Ashley Greene of the Twilight series. Joe did put “safety first, kids” (his words) by basically demolishing his drummer’s room in search for contraception.
11. Just One Hit
In 2016, Joe confessed to smoking illegal substances with Disney Channel colleagues Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato.
12. Knock Out
In general, Joe has expressed anxiety about toxic drugs. This is partly a leftover of his tightly-controlled Disney days. When he tried drinking for the first time at the age of 17, he “thought the world was going to collapse” until he remembered they were in a country where it was legal. For his 21st birthday, Joe really got a little too loose and fell down a flight of stairs.
Knocked unconscious, his entourage and team were deathly scared that someone would take a picture and cause a scandal. Oh, and that he was unconscious was concerning too, I hope.
13. For the Fans
Joe Jonas and his Camp Rock co-star Demi Lovato really dated for a month. However, Jonas was quite unhappy for most of it, partly due to Lovato’s substance issues. Joe admits he kept things together for the brand, but he felt trapped nevertheless. Unfortunately, fans were really invested in the stars’ relationship, which also put pressure on them to make it work out.
14. Not a Walk in the Park
Nick Jonas recalls an awkward date with Disney cohort member Selena Gomez. The pair went to Central Park, but—for reasons that remain unclear to us—Nick preferred to walk about 20-25 feet apart from her the whole time. He admits it “ruined” her first time in the iconic park.
15. Communication Is Hard
We all know Taylor Swift's version of her breakup with Joe Jonas. According to Swift, Joe dumped her via a 30-second phone call and promptly started seeing actress Camilla Belle. Joe’s version (revealed in the most 2008 way: MySpace)? The relationship (and conversation) was cut-off because “phone calls can only last as long as the person on the other end of the line is willing to talk.”
16. Love in the Fanclub
In an interview, Joe Jonas admitted that he “took advantage of the opportunities” to date fans during the height of his fame. At the age of 16, he invited a fan to a movie, where the two “just made out the entire time.”
17. Who Go the Last Laugh?
Demi Lovato takes credit for getting Nick Jonas to break up with his 2015 girlfriend, Miss Universe Olivia Culpo. In the songstress’ words, she “didn’t like [Culpo] anyway” and felt Nick needed someone more humorous.
18. The Spies Who Sang to Me
The Jonas Brothers meet 007? Shocking but true. Their Disney Channel sitcom Jonas was originally to be titled “J.O.N.A.S.” for “Junior Operatives Networking As Spies.” By the time the show went into production, after the 2007-08 Writers’ Strike, the premise was reworked to be more “at home” with the music-industry focused antics of Disney sitcoms like Hannah Montana and Sonny With a Chance, which meant trading in the gadgets for guitars.
19. Forever Young
Joe has complained that the Jonas sitcom had him shave every day to convincingly play a 16-year-old… even though he was 20.
20. Law & Order: Special Witness Unit
When FIFA corruption meets Paul McCartney and money laundering, there entered Kevin Jonas, ready to testify for the prosecution. In 2017, the eldest Jonas brother was ordered to testify in court regarding a 2010 bribery scandal. Juan Angel Napout was accused of money laundering, racketeering, and wire fraud. In his defense, Napout's lawyers denied that a certain Paul McCartney concert ever took place. Kevin was called in to help establish a timeframe and argued, yes, the concert in question did happen.
21. Down the Rabbit Hole…
In 2014, Kevin Jonas and his wife Danielle Delisa announced that they were pregnant with their first child. Fans literally thought this was too good to be true. A “fake pregnancy” conspiracy circulated, and users obsessively picked apart posts to suggest this was a hoax. When their daughter Alana was born anyways, this still did not give up. One fan even went back to an earlier social media post to argue that a 15-week ultrasound depicted a fully-grown fetus, ergo... the baby was fake?
22. God is Personal
Considering their roots in Christian rock (and those purity rings), it’s little surprise that the Jonas Brothers are Christian. However, the family left the Church in their early teens due to a stolen money scandal. Now they are, in Joe’s words, “not religious in any way.”
23. Casting a Short Net
In 2015, Joe Jonas began to date model Gigi Hadid. Did we mention Hadid was one of the best friends of his ex, Taylor Swift? Who says high school has to end?
24. Above and Beyond
Columbia Records, the band’s first label, initially had little faith in the brothers’ debut album—and the feeling was mutual. In fact, the brothers felt really unsupported at Columbia and hoped to leave soon for a new label. Columbia gave their first album a limited release—only 50,000 copies. That little first album would go on to sell 1.75 million copies.
25. Nothing “Basic” About Those Numbers
Before their sitcom, the Jonas Brothers got their acting big break thanks to Miley Cyrus. Their acting debut was in a Hannah Montana episode! The episode was seen by over ten million people and became the most-watched basic cable broadcast in television history.
26. Better On Screen Than In Your Year
While their 3D biopic Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience (2009) is the sixth high-grossing concert film of all time, the follow-up album failed to meet the same success. Lines, Vines and Trying Times “only” sold one million copies in the US.
27. Here to Slay
After 2009, the Jonas Brothers spent some time apart to explore solo projects. In Nick’s case, that included Broadway (but only after his solo album became a commercial failure). He played Marius Pontmercy in the West End showing of Les Misérables. Originally, he was only to be performing for three weeks, but the continued hiatus of the Jonas Brothers enabled him to extend his run another month.
28. Mr. Jonas Goes to Washington
At the age of 13, Nick Jonas was diagnosed with Type I diabetes. In 2009, he testified before the US Senate to lobby for more funding towards diabetes research.
29. Together 4Ever
On 18 July 2018, Nick Jonas became engaged to Quantico actress Priyanka Chopra. The two had a traditional Punjabi Roka engagement ceremony in August.
30. In the Game of Love, You Win or You Die
Nick isn’t the only Jonas Brother to couple up with a small-screen star. In October 2017, Joe Jonas announced his engagement to Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner.
31. Down to Business
Kevin is the oldest and most lowkey of his brothers, at least when it comes to being in the spotlight. After the split, Kevin didn’t turn towards music and film like his brothers, but he instead focused on business ventures. His portfolio includes founding a construction company (of all things) called JonasWerner, being the co-CEO of the communications company The Blu Market, creating the Yood food app, and entering a partnership with We Heart It in 2016.
32. Watch or You’ll Miss It
Kevin Jonas and his wife starred in their own E! reality series, Married to Jonas. Unfortunately, the show only lasted two seasons. At least that’s more time to look after all those businesses?
33. Totally Lit
In a 2008 interview, Joe Jonas revealed his favorite book was A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. Hope he liked the movie that came out only ten years later.
34. Chipping In To Help
In 2002, Nick Jonas made his musical debut as Chip in the stage version of Beauty and the Beast. At nine years old, then “Nicholas Jonas” took over the role from another actor for the last few months of the musical’s run.
35. Acting is Magic
Joe Jonas auditioned for the role of Justin Russo in Wizards of Waverly Place. Considering the star, Selena Gomez, dated his brother Nick, Joe’s subpar acting skills might have saved him a few seasons of awkwardness.
36. Legacy
The Jonas Brothers’ dad was himself a songwriter and musician. Of course, he did not reach the same heights of fame as his sons, but he did become an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God.
37. Understudy
In 2012, Nick got the honor of replacing Daniel Radcliffe in an iconic franchise. Not Harry Potter, but rather the Broadway show How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.
38. You Gotta Laugh At Yourself
Joe Jonas actually loves the 2009 South Park episode that makes fun of them, the purity rings, and the whole Disney company. While their manager at the time forbid reporters from asking them about it, the brothers watched and enjoyed it. Wait, doesn’t Mickey Mouse brutally beat Joe in that episode? Yes, and while Nick isn’t a fan, Joe loves that part especially.
39. Hands-Me-Ups
Nick and Joe were living together when Nick got a part in the Jumanji remake. So while his younger brother was off making movies, Joe made liberal use of his wardrobe. Is clothes budgeting still a problem at this stage?
40. Blow Out
Joe Jonas admits to modeling his peak-Jonas Bros hair after the lead singer from the band Tokio Hotel's anime style. It took him 30 minutes a day to get just right.
41. Kind of Cheesy
Nick Jonas is most embarrassed about their song “Pizza Girl,” which they wrote for their show. For one, the premise is kind of ridiculous; it was the network who ordered the brothers to write a song where “you fall in love with the pizza girl and then you eat pizza every day.” Not exactly dramatic stuff. Nick also laments how they couldn’t even get it to rhyme.
42. Three Broke Bros
The Jonas Brothers’ breakup shocked fans everywhere, but according to Joe, it was a long time coming. They were no longer “jelling” in the studio. Likewise, it became clear that the brothers themselves wanted to go in different creative directions. Yelling at each other, it was one vague “band-breaking” argument that finally broke the well-coifed camel’s back.
Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18