Lance Bass says new NSYNC song on Justin Timberlake's upcoming album made his mom cry

Lance Bass is no "troll," but don't tell his kids.

The 44-year-old, of NSYNC fame, is best known to his 2 1/2-year-old twins as being in "Trolls Band Together," the movie which included a highly-anticipated NSYNC reunion song, "Better Place," on its soundtrack. It was the first new song the group recorded in 20 years.

Now, NSYNC is reuniting again on member Justin Timberlake's new album out March 15, "Everything I Thought It Was," with song "Paradise."

"We recorded that a long time ago when we recorded 'Better Place,' so we've been sitting on this for a while," Bass says over a Zoom call from Los Angeles. "Hard not to talk about it. But I'm glad that it's about to come out because it is such a special song. One of my favorites I've ever recorded. My mom cried immediately when she heard it. So it's Mom-approved."

Check out more below from Bass, who chatted about all things '90s, boy bands, reality TV, Taylor Swift and his late friend Aaron Carter.

How Lance Bass really feels about frosted tips

Bass' kids Alexander and Violet don't know much about their father's teen royalty past, though they have seen him serving plenty of looks on red carpets. But don't expect him to embrace any nostalgic '90s trends floating around Gen Z these days.

"I just didn't think any of the styles would ever come back," he says. "I mean hair, the frosted tips, the baggy jeans ... the fact that this young generation is just loving the '90s is hilarious to me."

Though it's been a minute since his music megastardom, Bass is up-to-date on all things music from K-pop to Taylor Swift. But what was the deal with Bass holding up a sign that read "Not Taylor Swift" at an NFL game last fall? He was up in the box and got a tip cameras would be on him soon. Instinct told him to grab a piece of paper and a marker.

"It was the (fever pitch) of everyone complaining Taylor Swift was being shown on TV, which I think is so silly," he says. "So it was definitely a joke to make fun of the people that care so much about Taylor Swift being on TV. So I did just want to remind them that I wasn't Taylor at that moment."

Lance Bass' dream job involves reality TV

Bass' dream gig? Hosting "Big Brother," though he knows Julie Chen won't give that up easily. He previously hosted gay dating show "Finding Prince Charming" and "definitely (thinks) there's room for gay dating shows right now."

"People don't realize just having silly things like that on television really helps move the needle into acceptance," he says. "And, a small town kid like myself watching this on television, to be able to look at a contestant and be like, 'Oh, my gosh, I relate to that person. You're just like me.' It changes your life to be able to have someone that you see that represents you."

And while he loves reality murder-mystery game "The Traitors," he doesn't have interest in appearing as a contestant. Would he appear in a different capacity? "It's just so dramatic and over the top, and I love that camp," he says. "But I don't think I would do it. One, I don't think I'd have time to do it at this point. But it would be so much fun. But hosting a show like that, or maybe coming in and hosting a challenge on 'The Traitors,' now that I would do in a heartbeat."

Bass reflects on late Aaron Carter: 'It's so sad to see it coming'

Bass also discussed the death of his friend Aaron Carter, the pop star who died in November 2022 after drowning in a bathtub due to drugs.

"The more that I would push or try, the more I felt like, he would push back and then create stories that you were trying to do something bad," he says.

"It's so sad to see it coming and knowing it was coming," he adds.

More details: Aaron Carter's death an accident, result of drowning due to gas, drug effects, autopsy finds

'I will be a star for that'

Elsewhere on Bass' horizon: A movie detailing his ill-fated prom night with "Boy Meets World" star Danielle Fishel (it's written!) and a show he's producing looking for the next great American boy band. He recognizes the days of the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC are over, and even a group like BTS may not make it today given how segmented fans are across streaming platforms. There's no uniting program like "TRL" to tell everyone who to check out.

"To get the whole world behind you is really hard these days," Bass says.

Whatever happens, though, he and his family will always have "Trolls." He says, "If I do nothing else, I will be a star for that right there."

'I need to stop pretending I'm 21' Lance Bass on aging, fatherhood

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lance Bass on new NSYNC song, explains that 'Not Taylor Swift' sign