Former HGTV star Jonathan Knight and his New Kids on the Block bandmates are grieving the sudden death of their longtime tour manager, Vic Popovic.
A social media post from the band on December 13, 2025, said, “We are heartbroken by the unexpected loss of our dear friend Vic Popovic. Vic was more than a tour manager but a member of the family.”
The caption continued, “We were lucky to have him by our side for many years and his humor, dedication and spirit brought so much joy to our days on the road and beyond. Our hearts and prayers are with his family and loved ones. We will miss him dearly. 💔”
Vic Popovic Went From Hating to Loving New Kids On the Block
Popovic started out handling security for NKOTB years ago, band member Danny Wood explained on his podcast in 2021, but was later promoted to tour manager.
Details on Popovic’s death have not been shared; his son Vince announced his death in a post on December 14. In February, Popovic posted on Instagram that he was undergoing shoulder replacement surgery, and during Wood’s podcast, he talked about getting healthy after once weighing 376 pounds.
Popovic admitted to Wood that he hated NKOTB when he was growing up because the girls in his grammar school paid no mind to him and only cared about the band, but he changed his tune when a friend began doing security for them and convinced Popovic how great they were with their fans. After working with them for years, he said he shifted into teling people, “That’s my family.”
One of Popovic’s roles, he said on the podcast, was making sure the band had everything they needed as soon as they woke up in the morning — from Wood needing a quality gym to work out in to Knight needing a Starbucks nearby.
New Kids on the Block Fans & Stars Pay Tribute to Vic Popovic
At the time of publication, Knight — who revealed in June that HGTV decided not to renew his renovation show, “Farmhouse Fixer” — had not individually commented on Popovic’s death. He last posted on December 14 about celebrating the beginning of Hanukkah with his husband’s family.
Donnie Wahlberg did share a post on December 15, calling Popovic a “real friend and a true brother,” and thousands of fans flooded the band’s post about Popovic with comments.
One wrote, “He was such a kind and gentle soul, loved by so many of us. I will kling tightly to my sweet memories of his hugs and laughter, as I know we all are today. I know also how hard this hits the band and can only imagine how you all are hurting today. Rest peacefully Vic and thank you for your generous presence in our lives 😢💔🙏🕊️”
Meanwhile, New Kids on the Block member Joey McIntyre shared photos of Popovic in his Instagram Stories with a broken heart emoji.
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