Jonathan Knight
{{Use American English|date=April 2023}}
{{short description|American pop singer (born 1968)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{other people}}{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Jonathan Knight
| image = Jonathan Knight 2011 (cropped).jpg
| image_upright = 0.9
| caption = Knight in 2011
| birth_name = Jonathan Rashleigh Knight
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1968|11|29}}
| spouse =
{{Marriage|Harley
Rodriguez|2022}}
| origin = Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
| occupations = Singer
| genre = Pop
| years_active = 1984–1994, 2008–present
| label = Columbia (1984–1994)
Interscope (2008–present)
| current_member_of = New Kids on the Block
| website = {{URL|www.nkotb.com}}
}}
Jonathan Rashleigh Knight-Rodriguez (né Knight; born November 29, 1968){{cite news |url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2019/11/29/UPI-Almanac-for-Friday-Nov-29-2019/6411574957229/ |title=UPI Almanac for Friday, Nov. 29, 2019 |website=United Press International |date= November 29, 2019 |access-date=January 11, 2020 |archive-date= December 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224110508/https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2019/11/29/UPI-Almanac-for-Friday-Nov-29-2019/6411574957229// |url-status=live |quote=...singer Jonathan Knight in 1968 (age 51)}} is an American-Canadian pop 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 Rashleigh Knight was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Canadian parents of English, Scottish and German descent, and holds both US and Canadian citizenship. He is one of six children, including Allison, Sharon, David, Christopher and Jordan. His father, an Episcopal priest, is from Meaford, Ontario, and his mother is from Dunnville, Ontario.{{cite web| url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/north-stars/kids-block-member-jordan-knight-talks-omg-canada-154314157.html| title=New Kids on the Block member Jordan Knight talks to omg! Canada about his Canadian connection| magazine=OMG!| via=Yahoo! News| date=October 1, 2012| access-date=June 14, 2022| archive-date=June 20, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620051027/https://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/north-stars/kids-block-member-jordan-knight-talks-omg-canada-154314157.html| url-status=live}}
Career
= New Kids on the Block =
{{Main|New Kids on the Block}}
From 1986 until 1994, Knight was a member of the American boy band New Kids on the Block (NKOTB) together with his younger brother Jordan Knight. 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.
File:Jonathan Knight at the 1990 Grammy Awards cropped.jpg]]
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{{cite news |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20227480,00.html |title=NKOTB's Danny Wood: 'Opening Night Was Amazing' |last=Mascia |first=Kristen |date=September 19, 2008 |magazine=People |access-date=February 8, 2009 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303195903/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20227480,00.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/new-kids-on-the-block-return-to-today-for-first-show-in-15-years-20080516 |title=New Kids on the Block Return to Today for First Show in 15 Years |date=May 16, 2008 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=June 14, 2022 |first=Nicole |last=Premuto |archive-date=November 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127215030/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/new-kids-on-the-block-return-to-today-for-first-show-in-15-years-20080516 |url-status=live }} 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 No. 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.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/new-kids-on-the-block/chart-history/ |title=Artist Chart History — New Kids on the Block |magazine=Billboard |access-date=February 8, 2009 |archive-date=November 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121090957/https://www.billboard.com/artist/new-kids-on-the-block/chart-history/ |url-status=live }}
In March 2024, the group announced that their eighth album, Still Kids, would be released on May 17, 2024. The album is the group's first in eleven years and was preceded by the first single and music video for "Kids" on March 5, 2024. The group, along with opening acts Paula Abdul and DJ Jazzy Jeff, will embark on the NKOTB Magic Summer 2024 Tour in June 2024.{{cite magazine |url=https://people.com/new-kids-on-the-block-announce-still-kids-new-album-release-single-8604359 |title=New Kids on the Block Announce Still Kids, Their First Album in Over a Decade, and Release the Pop Banger 'Kids' |first=Sadie |last=Bell |magazine=People |date=March 5, 2024 |access-date=March 7, 2024 |archive-date=March 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306230520/https://people.com/new-kids-on-the-block-announce-still-kids-new-album-release-single-8604359 |url-status=live }}
=Later work=
In the years after the New Kids first disbanded, Knight worked as a real estate investor living in Essex, Massachusetts.
Knight and Harley Rodriguez participated in the 26th season of the reality competition series The Amazing Race, which aired on CBS in early 2015, where they placed 9th.{{cite news| last1=Nordyke| first1=Kimberly| title='Amazing Race': NKOTB's Jonathan Knight Among Cast, New 'Date Night' Reward Added| url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/amazing-race-nkotbs-jonathan-knight-764922| access-date=January 21, 2015| newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter| date=January 20, 2015| archive-date=January 22, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122223133/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/amazing-race-nkotbs-jonathan-knight-764922| url-status=live}}
In March 2021, Knight began hosting the HGTV television show Farmhouse Fixer, in which he restores old New England farmhouses for clients.{{cite web |title=Jonathan Knight Brings His Renovation Expertise to a New Show on HGTV |url=https://www.hgtv.com/shows/farmhouse-fixer/articles/farmhouse-fixer-jonathan-knight |publisher=HGTV |access-date=March 25, 2021 |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326215719/https://www.hgtv.com/shows/farmhouse-fixer/articles/farmhouse-fixer-jonathan-knight |url-status=live }} The series had more than 15 million viewers in the first two seasons. Season three of the show featuring Knight and interior designer Kristina Crestin premiered on April 23, 2024.{{cite news |last1=Bowlby |first1=Katie |title=Jonathan Knight Reveals the "Terrifying" Moment He Had on 'Farmhouse Fixer' Season 3 |url=https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a60559553/jonathan-knight-kristina-crestin-farmhouse-fixer-season-3-interview/ |access-date=May 21, 2024 |work=Country Living |date=April 23, 2024 |archive-date=May 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521202559/https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a60559553/jonathan-knight-kristina-crestin-farmhouse-fixer-season-3-interview/ |url-status=live }}
Personal life
Knight was in a brief relationship with singer Tiffany Darwish from 1989 to 1990.{{cite news |last1=Tailor |first1=Leena |date=June 21, 2019 |title=Jonathan Knight & Tiffany Talk Dating, Coming Out & 31-Year Friendship |url=https://www.etonline.com/nkotbs-jonathan-knight-and-pop-star-tiffany-talk-dating-coming-out-and-31-year-friendship-exclusive |access-date=May 28, 2024 |work=Entertainment Tonight}}
In 2009, the National Enquirer published an article from his ex-boyfriend Kyle Wilker, who outed him as gay without his consent. Knight said, "I have lived my life very openly and have never hidden the fact that I am gay."{{cite news |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news/knight-i-never-hid-my-sexuality_1197332 |title=Knight: 'I never hid my sexuality' |author=Wenn |website=contactmusic.com |date=January 29, 2011 |access-date=December 27, 2013 |archive-date=September 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913120342/http://www.contactmusic.com/news/knight-i-never-hid-my-sexuality_1197332 |url-status=live }} 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!"{{cite web |url=http://www.towleroad.com/2011/01/jonathan-knight.html |title=Jonathan Knight: I have never hidden the fact that I am gay |first=Steve |last=Pep |work=Towleroad |date=January 29, 2011 |access-date=December 27, 2013 |archive-date=June 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617084631/http://www.towleroad.com/2011/01/jonathan-knight.html |url-status=live }}
Since 2008, Knight has been in a relationship with actor and personal trainer Harley Rodriguez,{{cite news |last1=Russell |first1=John |title=Get to Know the Real-Life Loves of New Kids on the Block |url=https://people.com/new-kids-on-the-block-real-life-partners-8648851 |access-date=May 21, 2024 |work=People |date=May 20, 2024 |language=en |archive-date=May 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520172016/https://people.com/new-kids-on-the-block-real-life-partners-8648851 |url-status=live }} best known for playing Manny Lopez in the Sweet Valley High television series.{{cite web |url=http://perezhilton.com/2008-08-20-introducing-28 |title=Celebrity gossip juicy celebrity rumors Hollywood gossip blog from Perez Hilton » Blog Archive » Introducing... |website=perezhilton.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828023541/http://perezhilton.com/2008-08-20-introducing-28 |archive-date=August 28, 2008}}{{cite web |url=http://shazamy.tumblr.com/post/54298853934/kelsie19-jonathan-knight-and-harley-rodriguez |title=Sounds like my first time |date=June 30, 2013 |access-date=July 15, 2014 |archive-date=September 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920150048/http://shazamy.tumblr.com/post/54298853934/kelsie19-jonathan-knight-and-harley-rodriguez |url-status=live }} On November 15, 2016, while vacationing in Africa, the two became engaged when Knight proposed to Rodriguez.{{cite news| last1=Kimble| first1=Elizabeth| title=Making It Official: NKOTB's Jonathan Knight and Harley Rodriguez Are Engaged!| url=http://people.com/music/jonathan-knight-engaged-harley-rodriguez/| access-date=November 17, 2016| magazine=People| date=November 15, 2016}} In an August 2022 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Knight revealed that he and Rodriguez had married.{{Cite web |title=Jonathan Knight Reveals He Secretly Married His Longtime Boyfriend |url=https://www.etonline.com/jonathan-knight-reveals-he-secretly-married-longtime-boyfriend-harley-rodriguez-exclusive-189667 |access-date=January 22, 2024 |website=Entertainment Tonight |language=en-US |archive-date=January 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240122190506/https://www.etonline.com/jonathan-knight-reveals-he-secretly-married-longtime-boyfriend-harley-rodriguez-exclusive-189667 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Andrew |first1=Scottie |title=New Kids on the Block's Jonathan Knight marries longtime boyfriend |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/25/entertainment/jonathan-knight-married-new-kids-on-the-block-cec/index.html |access-date=May 28, 2024 |publisher=CNN |date=August 25, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=July 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240708145417/https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/25/entertainment/jonathan-knight-married-new-kids-on-the-block-cec/index.html |url-status=live }} In 2023, Knight revealed on Lance Bass' podcast that he and Rodriguez had tried, unsuccessfully, to have children for several years saying: "We went through the journey for about five years, and it just didn't happen for us." Knight also took 'Rodriguez' as an additional surname after marrying Rodriguez.{{Cite web |date=June 26, 2015 |title=Jonathan Knight Takes Boyfriend's Last Name After SCOTUS Rules in Favor of Gay Marriage |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/671004/jonathan-knight-takes-boyfriend-s-last-name-after-scotus-rules-in-favor-of-gay-marriage |access-date=February 10, 2025 |publisher=E!}}
=Anxiety disorder=
After leaving New Kids on the Block and no longer in the spotlight, Knight 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.{{cite news |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20132995,00.html |title=Renewed Kid |last=Tauber |first=Michelle |date=November 20, 2000 |magazine=People |access-date=February 8, 2009 |archive-date=February 6, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206092019/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20132995,00.html |url-status=live }} He has since sought medical help and his health has improved.{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1443264/older-kids-on-comeback.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228084709/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1443264/older-kids-on-comeback.jhtml|archive-date=December 28, 2013 |title=Older Kids on the Comeback |last=Bottomley |first=C. |date=April 11, 2001 |publisher=MTV |access-date=December 27, 2013 }} In 2011, he appeared on MTV reality series True Life to help a fan suffering from panic disorder.{{cite news |title='True Life' Check-In: Where Are Your Favorites Now? |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/f5hnkk/true-life-check-in-favorites |access-date=May 21, 2024 |publisher=MTV |date=January 10, 2011 |language=en}}
Discography
{{Main|New Kids on the Block discography}}
;New Kids on the Block albums
- New Kids on the Block (1986)
- Hangin' Tough (1988)
- Step by Step (1990)
- Face the Music (1994)
- The Block (2008)
- 10 (2013)
- Thankful (2017)
- Still Kids (2024)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{cc}}
- [http://www.nkotb.com/ New Kids On The Block official website]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20091020063512/http://www.newkids.info/ New Kids On The Block videos]
- {{IMDb name|id=0460964|name=Jonathan Knight}}
- {{IMDb title|id=tt9426360|title=Farmhouse Fixer}}
{{New Kids on the Block}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Knight, Jonathan}}
Category:20th-century American LGBTQ people
Category:20th-century American male singers
Category:20th-century American singers
Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people
Category:21st-century American male singers
Category:21st-century American singers
Category:American gay musicians
Category:American LGBTQ singers
Category:American male dancers
Category:American male pop singers
Category:American people of Canadian descent
Category:American people of English descent
Category:American people of German descent
Category:American people of Scottish descent
Category:American real estate brokers
Category:American television hosts
Category:Columbia Records artists
Category:Interscope Records artists
Category:LGBTQ people from Massachusetts
Category:Musicians from Worcester, Massachusetts
Category:New Kids on the Block members