Nick Lachey joins the cast of Charmed in its seventh season as Leslie "Les" St. Claire, the ghostwriter hired to take over Phoebe’s (Alyssa Milano) advice column while she is on sabbatical.

If there’s one constant that has accompanied Lachey’s rise from Cincinnati local to his current status as one of the hottest properties in the world of entertainment, it has been his all-encompassing love of music. At every key stage of his life - from studying sports medicine to multi-Platinum success with 98 Degrees, and through the recent years with his marriage to Jessica Simpson and their hit reality TV show Newlyweds - Lachey’s desire to create music has always remained a driving factor in his life.

Lachey’s first memory of music is of his mother playing hits from Stevie Wonder and The Beatles. By the time he was 6, Nick was singing in his local church choir. It was the first stage that set him on the road to enlisting at Cincinnati’s School for the Creative and Performing Arts.

At this time, Lachey was torn between music and his other passion for sports. Despite enrolling at Miami University to study sports medicine, the calling from music proved too much for him to resist, and he found himself spending weekends singing and playing saxophone in a local band playing classic R&B and Motown covers. When the chance arose for Lachey to join 98 Degrees, he needed little convincing to accept what could be a once in a lifetime opportunity. Initially helped in part by the patronage of Stevie Wonder, the band enjoyed a string of hits with singles such as "Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche)" and "Invisible Man," as well as a run of Platinum albums. As the band gradually grew apart, Nick was given the chance to go solo.

The album, entitled SoulO, was released in late 2003. It featured tracks such as "Shut Up," "This I Swear" and the show-stopping "On And On," and marked an impressive start to his solo career. Lachey, who cites George Michael as a major influence, is determined to make his forthcoming album a more rootsy, organic affair.

Currently in the process of recruiting collaborators for the new material, Lachey is planning to work with Rob Thomas, and admits that he would love to work with George Michael and former 98 Degrees champion Stevie Wonder. Lachey’s appearance on Charmed will mark his first major acting role. Other notable guest-star appearances have been on I’m with Her and American Dreams.

This past year, Lachey, along with wife, Jessica Simpson, headlined The Nick & Jessica Variety Hour. Currently, Lachey can be seen on the reality series, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica.

Lachey’s passion for social issues is reflected in his work with the youth mentoring organization Big Brothers Big Sisters. In addition to his Big Brother role, he also acted as a spokesman for the organization’s centennial anniversary.

Lachey and his wife Jessica currently live in Los Angeles.