Joe Jonas Reflects on ‘Challenging Season’ When He Couldn’t Escape Headlines — and How He Got Through Performing

Daniela AvilaTue, August 11, 2026 at 10:30 PM UTC

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Joe Jonas on The School of Greatness podcastCredit: Lewis Howes/YouTube -

Joe Jonas reflected on performing during a difficult time — and how he got through it

He credited vulnerability and authenticity with helping him connect with fans during challenging moments

A director’s advice inspired him to prioritize the audience’s experience despite personal struggles

For Joe Jonas, the only way out of a challenging season was through.

The Jonas Brothers appeared on an episode of The School of Greatness podcast and were asked about how they get through tough times while still showing up for work every day.

“There was a season in my life where it was probably the most challenging season of my life. I couldn’t escape comments and negativity and headlines,” Joe, 36, said. “That was the forefront of my day or getting a call like, ‘Hey there’s this from a PR person.’”

Despite everything going on, Joe said he knew he needed to show up on stage to perform — and he remembered something a director once did that inspired him to keep going.

“There was a director I worked with, JD Dillard, and above his monitor he said, ‘What do you want them to feel?’ And I wrote that on my backstage mirror every night,” Joe explained. “You realize that this is their show. The audience’s show and they deserve the best.”

Joe also realized it was “okay to be vulnerable” with his fans — and that made it easier to go out onstage night after night.

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“I think you fight that for so long to be like, ‘I got to show these people that it doesn’t matter.’ It’s totally okay to be like, ‘Yeah this is tough and this is a challenge, but I’m here.’ I think people respect it more,” he said. “Authenticity wins like always. It’s not always easy.”

He continued, “There was times when I’d just break down to these guys and would have real conversations like, ‘Do you want to cancel tonight or do you want to not sing this song or that song? I’m like, ‘Nope, I’ll do it all because I feel like that’s what they deserve.’ I know we’re not hyper unique individuals going through certain situations in our life. Everyone’s going through something.”

Joe Jonas in Inglewood, California in September 2025Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty

Though Joe didn’t specify the challenging time, he did go through a headline-generating divorce with ex-wife Sophie Turner in 2023. At the time, the Jonas Brothers were on tour for Five Albums. One Night. The World Tour.

Days after he filed for divorce from Turner, Joe seemingly addressed it onstage before singing the group’s song “Hesitate” — which was inspired by the Game of Thrones actress — from their 2019 album Happiness Begins.

“It’s been a crazy week,” he said at their Dodger Stadium show in Los Angeles on Sept. 9, 2023.

“I just want to say, if you don’t hear it from these lips, don’t believe it. Okay?” Joe — who was not wearing his wedding ring — continued. “Thank you, everyone, for the love and support to me and my family. I love you guys.”

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”