Ain't No Lie: JC Chasez Makes Rare Appearance to Perform Iconic *NSYNC Songs with Darren Criss

Mar. 15, 2025

It’s gonna be JC.

Former*NSYNCmemberJC Chasezgraced the stage in a rare performance over the weekend alongside formerGleestarDarren Crissin a delightfully 2000s throwback boy band moment.

The surprise appearance and performance took place at Elsie Fest — considered Broadway’s music festival — in New York City on Sunday, Sept. 8, and included acoustic covers of “Bye Bye Bye” and “It’s Gonna Be Me.”

“You still remember the words?” Criss teased Chasez before the pair launched into the songs. “My favorite verse from one of my favorite singers!”

JC Chasez and Darren Criss.Stephanie Augello/Getty

Stephanie Augello/Getty

“Bye Bye Bye” is having its moment in pop culture once again after the 2000 pop hit was used in the beginning of the summer blockbuster filmDeadpool & Wolverine, which ended up grossing more than $1 billion worldwide. The track also ended up on the Top 10 ofBillboard’s Global Excl. U.S.at the No. 8 positionthe week of Aug. 12.

The resurgence of the track even reunited Chasez with his former *NSYNC band membersLance Bass,Chris KirkpatrickandJoey Fatoneat the New York City premiere ofDeadpool & Wolverineon July 23.Justin Timberlakedid not make an appearance at the time since the premiere clashed with his European tour dates.

The band toldEntertainment Tonightat the premiere that they’ve been “talking about [a possible reunion tour] for a while," and that they are “kicking the tires, seeing if the car will still drive, and, you know, we’ll see where it leads."

*NSYNC in the early 2000s.Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Other surprise performances at this year’s Elsie Fest included a collaboration betweenRachel ZeglerandLizzy McAlpine, songs fromJordan Fisherand even a surpriseGleereunion between Criss and his former costarChord Overstreet.

As for the *NSYNC moment, Criss told PEOPLE exclusively, “I’ve known JC Chasez a long time from my time in Los Angeles. We were writing music together and he’s just been such a bench in my life.”

“I’ll ask him to show up for shows that I’ll play, if I’m doing ‘90s songs, he’ll come up and say yes, which is beyond my wildest dreams,” Criss continued. “I have to play it cool as if I think I belong singing his songs with him on stage. I think people say this to be nice in interviews, like, ‘I was such a fan.’ But I was a f—ing fan! I am a f—ing fan of *NSYNC. I know that whole album like the back of my hand,No Strings Attached. And he was always one of my favorite singers so getting to be with him is pretty amazing.“Along with the surprise performances with Criss, 37, Chasez also exclusively announced his upcoming newmusical theater concept album,Playing With Fire,set to release in October.“It’s a musical basically about Frankenstein,” the 48-year-old told the crowd. “We’re writing songs that will connect to one another and tell a bigger story and it’s one of the most fun things I’ve ever done.”

*NSYNC in 1999; JC Chasez and Darren Criss.Bob Berg/Getty; Joy Malone/Getty

Bob Berg/Getty; Joy Malone/Getty

source: people.com