How Donnie Wahlberg Balanced Being in New Kids on the Block and Starring inBlue Bloodsat the Same Time

Mar. 15, 2025

Donnie Wahlberg on stage with New Kids on the Block (left) and on ‘Blue Bloods’ (right).Photo:Manny Carabel/Getty; CBS

Manny Carabel/Getty; CBS

From performing in a boy band to locking up bad guys on screen,Donnie Wahlberghas had his hands full lately — but he’s not complaining.

While speaking at PaleyFest’sBlue Bloodspanel on Thursday, Oct. 17, Wahlberg, 55, opened up about how he’s been able to balance his responsibilities performing with his band,New Kids on the Block, and starring on the CBS police procedural over the years.

In the late ’80s, Wahlberg found musical fame alongside his bandmatesDanny Wood,Joey McIntyreandbrothers JonathanandJordan Knight. When he cast as Detective Danny Reagan in 2010 inBlue Bloods, the actor had to learn how to keep cool from the pressure and deliver in both of his roles.

“I worked my whole life to be in this position, to be part of something this magical,” Wahlberg said. “And I think there are years where I was very successful as a young man and then wasn’t very successful at all. These aren’t the most difficult problems in the world. I didn’t struggle the way my dad struggled or my mom struggled, but it took me a long time to find what I was doing next in my life.”

(L-R) New Kids on the Block: Joey McIntyre, Jonathan Knight, Danny Wood, Jordan Knight and Donnie Wahlberg.Jeff Hahne/Getty

Jeff Hahne/Getty

While there are times the going gets tough, the Wahlburgers co-founder said he’s worked his “whole life” and dreamed to face such a dilemma.

“There’s no pressure to do what I do,” he added. “There’s no pressure to get off of a plane at 6 a.m. and run to the set and go to the dinner scene. In fact, it’s a dream come true.”

“I remember in season one, I performed at the American Music Awards on a Sunday night,” Wahlberg recalled. “It was New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys together. I came to work the next morning andTom [Selleck]was in the makeup trailer and he walked up, he said, ‘I saw your performance last night. Your baseball hat was a little low. I would have liked to see your eyes.'”

(L) Donnie Wahlberg and Tom Selleck on ‘Blue Bloods’.Craig Blankenhorn/CBS via Getty

Craig Blankenhorn/CBS via Getty

After that fateful moment, the actor said he no longer needed “any sleep.”

“It was like, Tom Selleck watched my band,” he continued. “These are things I could only dreamed of as a little boy and I’m truly blessed to be able to do this.”

In November 2023, CBS announcedBlue Bloodswould beconcludingwith its 14th and final season. While Wahlberg’s chapter on the crime drama is coming to a close, he and his bandmates on NKOTB are still going strong.

The band released their first album in over a decade,Still Kids, in March — several months after the they announced their massive Magic Summer Tour from mid-June to late-August.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Blue Bloodsseason 14 midseason premiere airs Friday, Oct. 18 at 10 p.m. ET on CBS.

source: people.com