Good Charlotte frontman Joel Madden has a lot to be proud of these days -- multi-platinum record sales, sold-out arena tours, Warped tour pinup status, even the cover of Rolling Stone.

But the best -- in his case, a pending bundle of joy with girlfriend and frequent tabloid staple Nicole Richie -- is still about four months away.

"It's the biggest thing you can do in your entire life," says Madden, 28, who confirmed his soon-to-be proud papa status via a TV interview with Diane Sawyer last month. "It's definitely the most important thing that I've ever done."

Madden, who's come under his fair share of media scrutiny thanks mostly to his love-life (he also dated Hilary Duff a few years back), will probably be in store for a healthy dose more in coming months, especially since Richie still faces a four-day jail sentence for a DUI charge back in December.

But Madden, who told Sawyer he only agreed to remain with Richie after the incident prompted her to clean up her lifestyle, says there's little about his new status as a father (and possibly a husband, though he's a bit cagey on that topic) that causes him any anxiety.

"I don't really get nervous," he says from Toronto. "I'm just looking forward to it."

Besides, he'd much rather talk about his band's current supporting slot with pop heartthrob Justin Timberlake, a pairing that sounds a bit odd, but makes sense the more you think about Good Charlotte's career arc.

When the band started out in the mid-'90s, they were your typical pop-punk act -- all melodic riffs and guyliner -- but their latest CD Good Morning Revival makes a more concerted play for the pop realm.

That probably helps explain why Madden and his bandmates -- Billy Martin, Paul Thomas, Dean Butterworth and twin brother Benji -- are enjoying such a warm reception on the Timberlake tour.

"There's a vibe to his record, and to his show, that's so different," says Madden. "People kind of group us with certain kinds of bands ... but we've always had kind of a pop side to us, and we've always been wanting to bridge the gap between where we came from, that Warped tour scene, and into pop music."

Of course, there's a right way and a wrong way to make that leap, Madden says, but aligning yourself with the reigning prince of pop can't hurt.

"There's a certain kind of music that can be pop, but still have integrity," he says. "If anyone else does that, it's Justin."

Of the new album, Madden says much of the dance vibe can be attributed to his frequent stints in a DJ booth.

"(There's a) freedom to enjoy the music, and just be a fan," he says, when asked what DJing offers that a band doesn't. "When you're at a party and you're spinning records, it's not about performing for the crowd ... You could play every record you want to hear, and the crowd could hate you, or you could play only music they want to hear, and they'll love you. The choice is yours."

But don't expect him to give up the Good Charlotte gig anytime soon, even if the music biz has changed drastically since he first started hawking his band's tapes 13 years ago.

"There is a part of it that's a job," he admits. "But that's fine, because I have a family now, and I have responsibilities."