Lance Bass learns he’s distantly related to Britney Spears
An ancestry test has revealed that Lance Bass is distantly related to long-time friend and fellow pop star Britney Spears.
The “Bachelor in Paradise” host learned about his unexpected family connection during an episode posted online Monday of Ancestry’s “2 Lies and a Leaf.” As part of the show, Bass competed against his husband, actor Michael Turchin, to answer questions about their family histories. Bass incorrectly guessed that he might have been related to the “King of Rock and Roll,” Elvis Presley, while Turchin correctly guessed Bass’ connection to Spears.
Here are some memorable photos of ‘N Sync singer Lance Bass through the years.
1999: ‘N Sync at the WB Radio Music Awards, held at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
2000: Lance Bass, Joey Fatone Jr., Joshua Scott Chasez, Christopher Alan Kirkpatrick and Justin Timberlake of ‘N Sync at the 2000 Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles on February 23, 2000.
2001: Performers ‘N Sync (Justin Timberlake, J.C. Chasez, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick) perform during the halftime show January 28, 2001, at Super Bowl XXXV between the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Giants at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
2002: ‘N Sync singer and prospective space tourist Lance Bass joins Space Adventures on one of its scheduled Zero-Gravity training flights in August 2002 above Star City, Russia.
2003: ‘N Sync singers Justin Timberlake, J.C. Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone and Lance Bass arrive at Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy Gala at the Regency Hotel’s Grand Ballroom on February 22, 2003, in New York City.
2004: Lance Bass during the Kelly Slater Invitational Fiji – Day 3 – Celebrity Surf at Restaurants in Tavarua Island, Fiji.
2005: Singer Lance Bass and Julie Manna attend a celebration for B.B. King’s 80th birthday at the home of Sam and Mary Haskell on September 20, 2005, in Encino, California.
2006: Actress Haylie Duff and Lance Bass attend "The Envelope Please" Oscar Viewing Party held at The Abbey on March 5, 2006, in West Hollywood, California.
2006: Actor Reichen Lehmkuhl and singer Lance Bass arrive at the William Rast Spring 2007 "Street Sexy" fashion show at Social Hollywood on October 17, 2006, in Los Angeles.
2008: Singer Lance Bass performs on stage during Bravo’s First "A-List Awards" show on June 4, 2008, at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York.
2009: Actress Christina Applegate and singer Lance Bass speak onstage during the Rock A Little, Feed Alot benefit concert held at Club Nokia on September 29, 2009, in Los Angeles.
2010: Recording artist Lance Bass and actress Joanna Garcia attend the 20th annual Enviornmental Media Association Awards at Warner Brothers Studios on October 16, 2010, in Burbank, California.
2011: Alex Lundqvist, Lance Bass, Andy Cohen and Ward Simmons attend the 2nd Annual amfAR Inspiration Gala at The Museum of Modern Art on June 14, 2011, in New York City.
2012: Singer Lance Bass attends the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012, in Los Angeles.
2013: Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone, Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez and Lance Bass of ‘N Sync perform during the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards at the Barclays Center on August 25, 2013, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.
2014: Michael Turchin and singer Lance Bass attend the 22nd annual Elton John AIDS Foundation’s Oscar Viewing Party on March 2, 2014, in Los Angeles.
2015: Michael Turchin and singer Lance Bass attend the L.A. premiere of Disney’s "Newsies" at the Pantages Theatre on March 26, 2015, in Hollywood, California.
2016: Singer Lance Bass attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards on August 28, 2016, in New York City.
2017: TV personality Lance Bass, actor Jamie-Lynn Sigler and comedian Kathy Griffin attend the 24th annual Race to Erase MS Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on May 5, 2017, in Beverly Hills, California.
2018: Members of the iconic ’90s boy band ‘N Sync, Chris Kirkpatrick, Lance Bass, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone and Justin Timberlake, were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 30, 2018, in Hollywood, California.
2019: Lance Bass attends the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential Center on August 26, 2019, in Newark, New Jersey.
2020: Lance Bass and Michael Turchin attend the opening night of Rock of Ages Hollywood at the Bourbon Room on January 15, 2020, in Hollywood, California.
2021: AJ McLean of Backstreet Boys, Joey Fatone of ‘N Sync, Nick Carter of Backstreet Boys and Lance Bass of ‘N Sync attend "Bingo Under the Stars" in celebration of Pride at the Grove on June 18, 2021, in Los Angeles.
Earlier in the show, Bass said he knew little about his ancestors, but added, “It’s something I’ve been interested in my whole life.”
>> Related: ‘N Sync singer Lance Bass, husband Michael Turchin welcome twins
“I wanted to be related to the queen (of England), well, now I’m related to the Queen of Pop,” the 42-year-old said after learning that he and Spears are sixth cousins, once removed. “That is so crazy though because I mean, I feel like she’s my little sister, and this whole time she’s been my little cousin.”
The former ‘N Sync crooner and Spears, 39, have known each other since they both rose as teen superstars in the ‘90s. Bass noted on “2 Lies and a Leaf” that he and Spears were born about an hour away from each other in Mississippi.
“For some reason, I always felt we looked like family, even when we were kids,” he said. “I mean, this means so much to me. … She is like family to me, so the fact that we are blood related is amazing.”
In a 2019 episode of “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen,” Bass said that he came out to Spears in 2004, two years before he came out publicly.
In a July appearance on the “Heather Dubrow’s World” podcast, Bass said that he hadn’t spoken to Spears in years and voiced support for the #FreeBritney movement aimed at giving her autonomy from her 13-year conservatorship.
>> Related: Judge suspends Britney Spears’ father from conservatorship
“We’ve been kept away from each other for quite a while,” he said, according to Billboard.
Here are some memorable moments from pop star Britney Spears’ life in the public eye.
1998: Britney Spears at the 1998 American Music Awards.
1999: Teen pop sensation Britney Spears performing at Universal Ampitheater for her "Baby One More Time" tour in Universal City, California, on July 31, 1999.
2000: Perfromer Britney Spears, winner of the awards for "Albums of the Year" and "Biggest One Week Sales of an Album by a Female Artist," arrives at the 2000 Billboard Music Awards on December 5, 2000, at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.
2001: Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake of N’Sync at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
2001: Britney Spears onstage performing at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards held at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center in New York City on September 6, 2001.
2002: Britney Spears and boyfriend Justin Timberlake arrive at the premiere of her movie "Crossroads" at the Mann Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, on Feb. 11, 2002.
2003: Singers Britney Spears (left), Madonna and Christina Aguilera perform onstage during the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on August 28, 2003, in New York City.
2004: Singer Britney Spears and husband Kevin Federline arrive at the 2004 Billboard Music Awards on December 8, 2004, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, in Las Vegas.
2005: Musicians Britney Spears and Kevin Federline arrive at the 2006 Grammy Nominees party with Kanye West, hosted by Verizon Wireless and Rolling Stone Magazine, at the Avalon Hollywood on February 6, 2005, in Hollywood, California.
2006: Singer Britney Spears and husband Kevin Federline arrive at the Sony BMG Grammy Party held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on February 8, 2006, in Hollywood, California.
2007: Singer Britney Spears performs on stage during the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards held at The Palms Hotel and Casino on September 9, 2007, in Las Vegas.
2008: Singer Britney Spears performs during the Bambi Awards 2008 Show on November 27, 2008, in Offenburg, Germany.
2009: Singer Britney Spears arrives at the 2009 Teen Choice Awards held at Gibson Amphitheatre on August 9, 2009, in Universal City, California.
2010: Singer Britney Spears and Jason Trawick arrive at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards held at Staples Center on January 31, 2010, in Los Angeles.
2011: Singers Britney Spears and Rihanna perform onstage during the 2011 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 22, 2011, in Las Vegas.
2012: TV personality Kim Kardashian, honoree Sir Richard Branson and singer Britney Spears attend Clive Davis and the Recording Academy’s 2012 Pre-Grammy Gala and Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Richard Branson held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 11, 2012, in Beverly Hills, California.
2013: In this handout photo provided by the LA Dodgers, Britney Spears poses with sons Jayden James Federline (left) and Sean Preston Federline during a game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on April 17, 2013, in Los Angeles.
2014: Singer Britney Spears (right) and cast members from the "Jubilee" show attend a "Britney Day" event at The LINQ Promenade held to celebrate Spears’ Las Vegas residency show "Britney: Piece of Me" on November 5, 2014, in Las Vegas.
2015: Musician Iggy Azalea and musician Britney Spears attend the 2015 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2015, in Las Vegas.
2016: Singer Britney Spears performs at the Jingle Ball 2016 on December 2, 2016, in Los Angeles.
2017: Singer Britney Spears attends Pre-Grammy Gala and Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Debra Lee at the Beverly Hilton on February 11, 2017, in Los Angeles.
2018: Honoree Britney Spears attends the 29th annual GLAAD Media Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on April 12, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California.
2019: Britney Spears and Sam Asghari attend Sony Pictures’ "Once Upon A Time … in Hollywood" Los Angeles Premiere on July 22, 2019, in Hollywood, California.
In September, a Los Angeles judge suspended Spears’ father from acting as her conservator, a role he had been in since 2008. In June, Britney Spears told Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny that she wanted to end the conservatorship, calling it “abusive.”
A judge is set to hear petitions to end the conservatorship in its entirety on Friday, according to USA Today.
