Jay Shetty & Nick Jonas ON The Real Story Behind Fame

Have you ever wondered what happens to a child star when the weight of real-world responsibilities settles in?

In this On Purpose episode, Jay Shetty interviewed global superstar Nick Jonas about his journey in the public eye, from his early days on Broadsway days to the success of the Jonas Brothers and his solo career and the launch of his fifth solo album, Sunday Best. He opened up about his personal life and how important it is to be kind to yourself while also fulfilling the roles of husband and father.

The New Nick Jonas

Nick Jonas admitted to Jay Shetty that his identity evolves as he experiences more of life, but the most profound shift that impacted him has been the transition into parenthood with his wife, Priyanka Chopra Jonas. The arrival of his daughter, Malti Marie, completely challenged his perspective on himself and his work. Prior to her birth, Jonas felt he had a solid grasp of his identity, but his daughter has become a new source of inspiration for his songwriting.

Jonas's latest project reflects his recent evolution; he speaks directly to his audience as peers navigating similar life milestones. Since the birth of his daughter, he now feels a newfound freedom to express the intimate realities of his life through his lyrics.

How It All Started

Nick Jonas began his career as a child performer at an age when most children are still forming a basic sense of self. He told Jay Shetty that, growing up in New Jersey as the son of a minister, music was always a central pillar of their household. His first performances were on the Broadway stage at age 8.

Jonas shared with Jay Shetty how a serendipitous trip to a hair salon with his mother changed his life: while he was singing show tunes there at age six or seven, a woman overheard him and mentioned that her son was currently performing in Les Misérables. After this encounter, Nick Jonas auditioned with talent manager Shirley Grant, but she told him to learn actual show tunes instead of pop music. At the time, he felt devastated, but he went back home and practiced with his father. Six months later, he returned and secured his first show, which led to his global success and current music career.

From Church to Disney

Nick Jonas told Jay Shetty that being a pastor's child meant that people's attention was always on them, and so they needed to behave at all times and sit in the front pew every Sunday. This environment trained him for the intense scrutiny the brothers would later face when performing for Disney.

The Jonas Brothers' path to success was winding; they were dropped from their first label and were hundreds of thousands of dollars in credit card debt before Hollywood Records called. He told Jay Shetty that once Disney popularized them, their exposure became immediate and worldwide.

Nick Jonas admitted to Jay Shetty that he used to feel ashamed by some of his Disney-era projects, like Camp Rock, while trying to establish himself as an adult artist. However, looking back, he is deeply proud of the fearlessness of that period and is thankful to his parents for helping the brothers navigate that intense era without falling into the common pitfalls many child stars face.

From One Crisis to Another

Nick Jonas opened up about a period of intense hardship that began just after their career seemed to stall. After a decade of service, his father lost his job at the church due to internal politics, and the family was forced to move out of the church-owned parsonage and into a small rental house in Little Falls, New Jersey.

At the same time, while on a school tour meant to support the band, Nick Jonas started to feel strange, experiencing extreme thirst and weight loss. He revealed to Jay Shetty that he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes shortly after. It all came down together, and Jonas remembers vividly falling from the safety net provided by the church, while simultaneously struggling with health issues. He admitted that losing his family home, his community, and his health, and dealing with career uncertainty, was a tough period of his life.

It All Started in the Basement

Despite the overwhelming pressure of debt and illness, Nick Jonas's family found their grounding through music. He told Jay Shetty that his parents set up an electronic drum kit and a small guitar rig in their basement. The brothers went there every single day, desperately trying to write their best songs yet. It took nine months to create the demo CD that became their self-titled multi-platinum album.

While writing songs from a place of desperation isn't ideal, it was the motivation that the Jonas Brothers needed to overcome their unfavorable situation. Jay Shetty noted that action and creating from a place of intense emotion are important in such moments. Nick Jonas also credits his father for encouraging them to listen to musicians such as The Beatles and Stevie Wonder, while also embracing the mid-2000s emo-pop scene, which became fundamental to their early sound.

"The Shy One"

Nick Jonas admitted to Jay Shetty that it wasn't always easy to establish a personal identity within the group once they became famous. He used to be pigeonholed as "the shy one" or "moody creative one," to the point that he started seeing himself that way. Jonas changed his internal dialogue to fit his public persona, and that was draining.

The ministry-heavy background of Jonas's parents made it difficult to seek therapy, because it was regarded as taboo. The family often relied on church counseling instead of mental health support. Nick Jonas even went through a period when he questioned his faith and organized religion, although his direct relationship with God remained intact.

Jonas told Jay Shetty that the early labels chosen by the larger public became limiting caricatures. He is grateful for the grit he developed while dealing with the challenges of being constantly in the public eye, although he wishes he had access to therapy sooner.

Facing the Inner Critic

Nick Jonas's new single, Gut Punch, addresses self-criticism and the challenge of turning the heat down. He told Jay Shetty that his inner critic became particularly loud after his diabetes diagnosis, and he wasn't sure whether he was taking the disease too seriously or not seriously enough. He remembers how, during a televised performance with Kelsea Ballerini, he blanked and played a wrong note. The memory haunted him for a long time.

Because he had centered his identity on being a musician, that one slip made him question whether his talent had been taken away. He admitted to Jay Shetty that he often felt people were talking about his mistakes, even though they had long moved on. Jonas's perception of being constantly judged led him down a spiral of self-criticism. The song Gut Punch, particularly the bridge about the inner child, serves as an attempt to reconnect with the fearless eight-year-old boy he once was.

Starting Family Life in the NICU

Nick Jonas opened up to Jay Shetty about the birth of his daughter, Malti Marie. Born via surrogate, Malti Marie arrived much earlier than anticipated, weighing only 1 pound 11 ounces. He recalls the visceral memory of the NICU, where he and Priyanka Chopra Jonas did 12-hour shifts for three and a half months. Jonas is forever grateful to the NICU nurses, whom he calls "angels."

Seeing his daughter intubated and undergoing six blood transfusions was a frightening experience for Nick Jonas. He acknowledged that this difficult start has instilled in her a deep sense of gratitude, as she now approaches each day with excitement and a sense of magic. Jonas told Jay Shetty that he and Priyanka Chopra Jonas needed to be patient and a supportive shoulder to cry on, lifting each other up.

Family As a Safe Space

Nick Jonas shared with Jay Shetty the start of his romance with Priyanka Chopra Jonas. It all began when he DM'd her on Twitter; they messaged back and forth for a year before their first date at the Peninsula in Los Angeles. It took only a few dates for Jonas to know he would marry her.

Nick Jonas assured Jay Shetty that the age gap and cultural differences between him and his wife are the reasons why their relationship works so well. He has fully embraced the Indian culture and loves celebrating Diwali. However, they protect their privacy by prioritizing quiet family moments and focusing on creating a safe environment for their daughter to grow.

To Jonas, being a good husband means being reliable and trustworthy, especially since he is his daughter's model for her future relationships. While he still sometimes struggles with defensiveness, he is working on choosing a hug over becoming defensive. He added that becoming a father reset him to "factory settings"; he is now happy to be silly, do kid voices, and play make-believe, without feeling embarrassed.

More From Jay Shetty

Listen to the entire On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast episode “NICK JONAS: The REAL Story Behind a Lifetime of Fame, His Inner Critic, and How Fatherhood Changed Everything” now in the iTunes store or on Spotify. For more inspirational stories and messages like this, check out Jay’s website at jayshetty.me.