| 2002 | Co-founded The Format with guitarist Sam Means in Phoenix, Arizona, channeling alt-rock and power-pop influences into a sound that would define his pre-fun. years. |
| 2008 | Formed fun. in New York City with Andrew Dost and Jack Antonoff after The Format dissolved, fusing his melodic instincts with ambitious pop production. |
| 2012 | 'We Are Young' reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, while the parent album 'Some Nights' produced a second top-five hit with 'Some Nights' itself, making fun. one of the year's dominant acts. |
| 2013 | Won Song of the Year and Best New Artist at the 55th Grammy Awards for 'We Are Young,' then scored his second Billboard Hot 100 number one as featured vocalist on P!nk's 'Just Give Me a Reason.' |
| 2014 | Debuted fun.'s new song 'Harsh Lights' on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon', the band's last new material before Ruess stepped away to pursue a solo path. |
| 2015 | Released 'Grand Romantic,' his debut solo album, built around the ballad 'Nothing Without Love,' the opening track 'AhHa,' and 'What This World Is Coming To,' while also appearing as a guest advisor on season 8 of NBC's 'The Voice.' |
| 2021 | Returned to live performances after the pandemic pause, headlining shows that folded fun. catalog favorites 'We Are Young,' 'Some Nights,' and 'Carry On' alongside solo material. |
| 2025 | Reunited with Sam Means for The Format's first tour since 2007, performing three headline shows in Phoenix, New York City (with Ben Kweller), and Los Angeles (with Phantom Planet), the reunion sold out across all three markets. |
| 2026 | Released 'Boycott Heaven,' The Format's first studio album in nearly twenty years, produced by Brendan O'Brien (Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen) and preceded by the single 'Holy Roller,' which hit number one at Alternative Radio. |
Nate Ruess is the front man for Fun., which is currently on hiatus. Before Fun., Reuss was the front man for the Format. In June of 2014, Fun debuted a new song on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon called “Harsh Lights”. It would be the last new Fun song performed before Ruess’ pursuing his career as a solo artist, however the band has made it clear that they are on hiatus, not splitting up. As of 2015, Ruess has been performing solo, and he released his solo debut, Grand Romantic, that year. The ballad, “Nothing Without Love,” is one of many highlights on the effort along with the opening track, “AhHa’” and “What This World Is Coming To.” Ruess, who appeared as a guest advisor on The eighth season of The Voice, tours frequently and he performs Fun’s hits (“We Are Young,” “Some Nights” and “Carry On’), as well as his own material. Carry on Nate Ruess!