2004

January - PopDirt published excerpts from a British GQ interview, attributed to Justin Timberlake, in which he reaffirmed *NSYNC as a priority. Later that month, JC Chasez appeared on Atlanta’s Q100 radio station and confirmed that the group planned to begin writing songs in the summer, aiming for an album release by late 2004 or early 2005. These comments suggested that, at least publicly, the group was still aligned on regrouping.

February - JC Chasez appeared on ET on MTV and reiterated that *NSYNC hadn’t parted ways, saying, “We never even left each other… There will be [another album] down the line.” Days later, during an appearance on Total Request Live, JC gave a more non-committal response when asked about leaving the group, suggesting that future decisions would depend on the rest of the members. Lance Bass reportedly told FOX that a new *NSYNC album would arrive in 2005—after Justin Timberlake completed filming Edison and released another solo album.

March - A New York Daily News column claimed that Chris Kirkpatrick was overheard saying *NSYNC would love to tour again, but Justin Timberlake “doesn’t want to do a reunion.” Meanwhile, JC Chasez gave an interview to HipOnline.com in which he reiterated plans to begin exchanging ideas with the group in late spring. Joey Fatone, in a separate Daily News blurb, floated the idea of a comedy album and acknowledged that side projects were still active: “Once that dies down, we’ll start picking back up again.” Later in the month, People.com’s Daily Insider quoted both Joey and Lance Bass expressing optimism about a reunion, with Lance projecting a new album by 2005.

April - JC Chasez appeared on the UK television program CDUK, where he reiterated that *NSYNC hadn’t officially broken up, but gave no firm timeline for regrouping. Around the same time, Undercover.com published a speculative blurb claiming the group would reunite for a charity event later in the year, followed by a return to the studio with no set deadline. Meanwhile, GrooveVolt.com’s gossip column alleged that Justin was requesting increased visibility and pay if he were to rejoin the group.

May - The Times UK published a profile on JC Chasez and his solo album Schizophrenic, suggesting that JC “should have jumped at the chance to reinvent himself as a serious artist,” but instead chose to wait for *NSYNC to reform. His comment reinforced the idea that, despite solo efforts, some members still viewed *NSYNC as an active priority, though public momentum was beginning to shift.

June - JC Chasez gave two interviews, one with andPOP.com and another with Boston’s KISS 108, that reinforced the idea that *NSYNC hadn’t officially disbanded. In both, he emphasized that the group still talked regularly and that a new album was “just a matter of time.”

July - In an interview published in PopRepublic.tv’s August issue (released in July), JC Chasez described each member of *NSYNC as being “in a great space,” pursuing long-held creative goals. He confirmed that the group would reunite at the upcoming Challenge for the Children event and said they planned to “chat schedules” and eventually “cut another NSync record.” Media coverage of the event—including segments from Extra and Total Request Live—featured remarks from Joey Fatone, JC, and Justin Timberlake indicating that internal group discussions were scheduled to take place after the weekend concluded. According to Lance Bass’s memoir Out of Sync, Justin announced his departure from *NSYNC in a group meeting. This meeting likely occurred on Monday, July 26th, following the charity weekend. While Bass doesn’t specify the exact date, the official press release confirms that the event ran from July 23–25. Meanwhile, The Irish Examiner published a rumor claiming that Justin’s reluctance to return had stalled the release of a planned greatest hits album.

August - The September issue of GQ UK, released in August, featured Justin Timberlake expressing uncertainty about rejoining *NSYNC. When reminded of a possible contractual obligation, he was quoted as saying “You’re never contractually obligated to do anything”. MTV News reported that the group reunited at their annual Challenge for the Children event, but Jive Records confirmed that no new music was planned for the remainder of the year. Manager Johnny Wright echoed the uncertainty in a radio interview, saying that any reunion would have to be “in [Justin’s] best interest,” and that timing was a key factor. People Magazine cited unnamed sources claiming that Justin had “dropped the bomb” during a Miami meeting, telling his bandmates he wasn’t interested in recording another album. The report suggested that the rest of the group hadn’t taken the news well, and felt strung along until Justin’s solo career was secure. Joey Fatone and JC Chasez both appeared on Sirius Satellite Radio, denying a formal breakup but offering no updates on new music. Meanwhile, The Times Leader published gossip about the breakup, alleging that Cameron Diaz was a source of friction within the group.

September - People Magazine published two features surrounding Joey Fatone’s wedding to longtime partner Kelly Baldwin. The first, posted online on September 8, noted that *NSYNC had “recently been dealt a blow” by Justin Timberlake’s decision not to participate in a new album. The second, a two-page spread in the September 27 print issue, confirmed that all five members attended the wedding—though the tone of coverage suggested underlying tension. Page Six echoed this sentiment, reporting that Justin’s arrival with a bodyguard surprised the other members, who were “pretty upset” about his lack of support for their solo careers. Meanwhile, Groovevolt.com claimed that Justin had planned a meeting with the group but canceled upon learning that a Jive Records representative would be present. A close associate was quoted saying, “He really has no interest in returning to the fold.”

October

November

December