New Kids On The Block star Donnie Wahlberg has given new tour mates TLC a big boost after publicly pledging to donate $10,000 (£6,250) towards the R&B singers' crowdfunding campaign for their fifth and final album.

The Step By Step hitmakers appeared with Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins and Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas on U.S. breakfast show Good Morning America on Tuesday (20Jan15) to announce plans for their joint summer tour, The Main Event, and during the segment, Wahlberg revealed the boy band would be throwing its support behind the surviving Tlc members as they try to raise at least $150,000 (£93,750) on Kickstarter.com to cover the costs of their next project.

However, the singer/actor admitted there would be one stipulation in exchange for the cash - a collaboration with New Kids on the Block.

Sharing the generous donation live on air, Wahlberg said, "We're pledging $10,000, right now. It's going in...! But you've gotta do a duet with us."

A flattered T-Boz replied, "Our pleasure. We'd love that."

The upcoming release will be Tlc's first album of new material in 13 years and their first without the input of late member, rapper Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes, who died in a car crash in 2002. She had previously contributed to Tlc's last disc, 3D, which hit retailers seven months after her death.

T-Boz and Chilli have vowed to "stay true to the Tlc sound" on the project, which they believe is the best way to "keep Lisa's memory alive".

The Kickstarter campaign was launched on Monday (19Jan15) and had already raised over $62,000 (£38,750) in the first 24 hours of going live. Fans have until 19 February (15) to donate to the cause.