Boyz II Men, the ‘90s musical group, on Tuesday released a new rendition of the Chili’s Grill & Bar “Baby Back Ribs” jingle, aptly titled "I Want My Baby Back," the parent company announced Tuesday.
The Dallas-based parent, Brinker International Inc., said Boyz II Men members Wanyá Morris, Shawn Stockman and Nathan Morris were often mistakenly credited with originating the jingle.
"The original Baby Back Ribs Jingle and our fourth studio album Evolution were both released in 1997. This was an unforeseen connection that bonded us to Chili's and the jingle that year,” said the group in a statement. “It feels natural for us to re-release the Baby Back Ribs Jingle and pay homage to Chili's legendary menu item in a nostalgic way.”
The company said the jingle will serve as the basis for advertisements that will run across streaming services, online and social media throughout November. In addition, fans are encouraged to use the “duet” feature on TikTok to add their own flair to the jingle or add it to their favorite playlist on Spotify.
A limited-edition vinyl record — featuring the Boyz II Men version of the jingle — and a '90s-inspired Boyz II Men tour t-shirt will be available for purchase via the Chili's online merchandise shop.
The original “Baby Back Ribs” jingle was sung by William “Willie” McCoy, who died in 2022.
George Felix, Chili’s chief marketing officer, added: "We are embracing our history and the things that make Chili's such a beloved brand. This reboot is certainly part of that push as we're paying respect to the original jingle while having Boyz II Men lend it their Grammy-winning sound. We can't wait to watch our fans make their own versions of the jingle on TikTok.”
Chili’s has more than 1,600 restaurants in 29 countries and two territories. Brinker also owns the Maggiano’s Little Italy concept and the virtual It’s Just Wings brand.
Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]
Follow him on X/Twitter: @RonRuggless