January 2003

Joey Fatone told MTV.com he expected the group to begin writing songs in September. A transcript from Channel V Australia captured Justin Timberlake saying he hoped recording would begin toward the end of the year. 1 – MTV.Com published an article in which Joey Fatone mentioned an anticipated start for the the next *NSYNC album.Continue reading “January 2003”

Lost & Found – Post 1

This Lost & Found post contains sources that were recovered after the sources for their respective years in the Riddle On Her Mind timeline. In January 2001, Ted Casablanca from E! News shared The Awful Truth that *NSYNC’s upcoming album might be their last for a while, claiming that all members of the group wantedContinue reading “Lost & Found – Post 1”

December 2002

JC Chasez appears on TRL, outlining tentative plans for the group to return to studio work by fall of 2003. His comments reinforce the notion of an extended—but temporary—pause. 1 – During an appearance on MTV’s Total Request Live JC Chasez answered a question about *NSYNC’s plans for the following year. According to the WikipediaContinue reading “December 2002”

November 2002

As Justified hit shelves, Justin Timberlake reassured fans in a New York Post interview that his solo career and *NSYNC were not mutually exclusive, stating the group was “in no danger” and that the hiatus was intentional and agreed upon. MTV News reported that Timberlake’s solo tour wouldn’t begin until the following summer, and whenContinue reading “November 2002”

October 2002

As Justin Timberlake’s solo debut neared release, questions about *NSYNC’s future lingered in both media and fan spaces. A small feature in J-14 Magazine, tied to the group’s Challenge For the Children event, claimed *NSYNC couldn’t break up because they owed Jive Records another 3 albums —an assertion preserved only through a now-removed eBay listingContinue reading “October 2002”

September 2002

As Justin Timberlake’s solo rollout gained momentum, media outlets began to frame *NSYNC’s hiatus as potentially permanent. In an Entertainment Weekly feature, manager Johnny Wright remarked that the five-member boy band format was “starting to fizzle,” casting doubt on the group’s long-term trajectory. Meanwhile, fan forums buzzed with gossip: a Popdirt.com summary of a JJBContinue reading “September 2002”

August 2002 – Part II

Lance Bass’ astronaut training continued and confirmation for the Soyuz mission seemed imminent. Bass participated in a fan chat hosted by NASA, where he shared personal reflections on his training and reaffirmed *NSYNC’s intention to regroup after his mission. The chat marked a rare moment of direct fan engagement and offered reassurance that the hiatusContinue reading “August 2002 – Part II”

August 2002 – Part I

Joey Fatone comments on reunion plans in the New York Post, saying that the group would be apart until the end of the year. Media outlets offered conflicting reports about Lance Bass’s chances of launching into space that fall. While some sources suggested the mission was on track, others hinted at financial and logistical setbacks.Continue reading “August 2002 – Part I”

July 2002

Joey Fatone’s Broadway debut in RENT receives coverage from The New York Times, linking the group’s hiatus to new artistic pursuits. Lance Bass was formally nominated for space travel by M.V. Sinelschikov of the Russian Aviation and Space Agency, and MTV.com reported that a contract had been signed for his participation in the Soyuz mission.Continue reading “July 2002”

May 2002

Following the announcement of *NSYNC’s “hiatus”, updates on individual member activities began to surface. On May 20th, road manager Melinda Bell posted a journal entry outlining what each member was working on—marking one of the first public summaries of the group’s post-hiatus direction. Lance Bass underwent heart surgery in Russia amid conflicting reports about hisContinue reading “May 2002”