35 Years After New Kids on the Block Released Their Hit Album, Donnie Wahlberg Still Remembers His Mom's Sage Advice

If you’ve ever wondered if your advice to your kid goes in one ear and out the other, Donnie Wahlberg is a testament that not only are they listening, but that your words have a major impact. The New Kids On The Block singer told TODAY.com that his late mom always believed in him.

“Somehow I think she instilled in me, because of our connection, that there was something great out there if I just believe and stay the course, and I did,” he said.

Even 35 years after the hit NKOTB album was released, he still thinks about and stands by her words. If he had a chance to give his younger self some advice, Donnie said he would tell himself exactly what Mama Wahlberg said.

“Her advice would be the advice that I would give to young Donnie,” Wahlberg explains. “I think Donnie took that advice and stayed the course, no matter what challenges came his way. I think her advice is the advice that I would give right back to me again — because it worked.”

We have to wonder if Donnie’s mom said the same thing to all nine of her children, including actor Mark Wahlberg, all of whom seemingly stayed on their own courses.

After Alma’s passing in 2021, Donnie shared an emotional tribute video, including a clip from his wedding to Jenny McCarthy where Regina Belle sang If I Could for their mother-son dance. He wrote a beautiful, moving message on Instagram, saying his mom was “such an amazing woman,” “the epitome of the word grace,” and that she was “without a doubt, the most loving human being [he has] ever known.”

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