Timmons was the founding member of 98 Degrees. While studying psychology at Kent State, Timmons decided to move to Los Angeles to pursue a career in entertainment. Although he received several acting jobs (including a commercial for the U.S. Navy), his passion belonged to music and he formed a singing group subsequently. Timmons (along with Justin Jeffre, and brothers Drew and Nick Lachey) formed independently and were later signed to the Motown label in the mid-1990s.