Experiencing a band breakup is incredibly challenging — this holds true even when the members are not related by blood.
Although it has been over a decade since the Jonas Brothers took a hiatus in 2013, Joe, Nick, and Kevin still grapple with complex emotions about their separation. The intricacies of their relationship and the impact of their breakup have lingered, showcasing the emotional weight that such decisions can carry.
In a revealing clip from an upcoming episode of Mythical Kitchen’s Last Meals series, which Billboard is exclusively unveiling below, the trio candidly discusses whether they continue to feel any sense of “guilt” regarding their split 12 years ago. Nick Jonas, who initially proposed the idea for the brothers to pursue solo careers after years of collaborative music-making, shares his thoughts, stating that he doesn’t feel “guilt so much as, in reflection, I can definitely see how I could have more lovingly communicated something that needed to be said.”
“It’s often the manner in which we express our thoughts that holds greater significance than the actual content of our message,” Nick elaborates, as his older brothers nod in understanding. “We all recognized … it had reached its conclusion. I just didn’t know how to communicate that in a mature and loving way.”
While acknowledging that the breakup was a tough decision, Joe Jonas states emphatically that “it needed to happen.” His perspective highlights the necessity of such changes for personal growth and artistic evolution.
“We were struggling to be genuinely open with one another back then,” Joe reflects in the interview. “Now, we have significantly improved our ability to communicate, as we no longer fear having difficult conversations.” This shift in communication styles illustrates the evolution of their relationships as both bandmates and brothers.
Following the massive success of their first four albums backed by the Disney Channel, the Jonas Brothers chose to end their group activities in 2013 due to unresolved internal disputes regarding the band’s future direction. Joe’s insights shared on Last Meals echo his previous statements to Billboard regarding their split in 2019.
“At that time, we all yearned to create individually and were attempting to force our ideas into the existing framework,” he explained. “We were merely going through the motions, lacking passion and heart … The way we communicated with each other was no longer healthy.”
Fast forward to 2025, and the Jonas Brothers are excitedly preparing to launch their third album since reuniting. After their comeback in 2019 with Happiness Begins — which marked the band’s first-ever No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the hit “Sucker” — they are set to release Greetings From Your Hometown on August 8, following the success of 2023’s The Album.
In strengthening their bond as a band, Kevin Jonas emphasizes that their connections as family members have also reached new heights. “When there’s a genuine need, we always come together,” he shares on the podcast. “We’re brothers first, and that familial bond is unbreakable.”
The full episode of Last Meals featuring the Jonas Brothers will be available for viewing on Thursday, July 31. Be sure to check out the exclusive clip below.
