Last updated: October 2026
Quick answer: The Backstreet Boys are Nick Carter, Brian Littrell, AJ McLean, Howie Dorough and Kevin Richardson. The five-man group formed in Orlando, Florida, in 1993. Kevin Richardson (born 1971) is the oldest and Nick Carter (born 1980) is the youngest, and Brian and Kevin are cousins. All five are still in the band.
Key takeaways
- Five members: Nick Carter, Brian Littrell, AJ McLean, Howie Dorough and Kevin Richardson.
- Formed in 1993 in Orlando, Florida, and named after Orlando’s Backstreet Market.
- Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson are cousins from Lexington, Kentucky.
- Kevin left in 2006 and returned in 2012, so the lineup is the original five.
- Best-selling boy band of all time, with more than 150 million records sold.
Backstreet Boys members at a glance
| Member | Full name | Born | Age (Oct. 2026) | Hometown | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Carter | Nickolas Gene Carter | January 28, 1980 | 46 | Jamestown, New York | Youngest member; solo albums from Now or Never (2002) to Love Life Tragedy (2025) |
| Brian Littrell | Brian Thomas Littrell | February 20, 1975 | 51 | Lexington, Kentucky | Kevin’s cousin; last to join (April 20, 1993); Christian solo album Welcome Home (2006) |
| AJ McLean | Alexander James McLean | January 9, 1978 | 48 | West Palm Beach, Florida | First to audition for the group |
| Howie Dorough | Howard Dwaine Dorough (“Howie D”) | August 22, 1973 | 53 | Orlando, Florida | Orlando native who met AJ through a vocal coach in 1989 |
| Kevin Richardson | Kevin Scott Richardson | October 3, 1971 | 55 | Lexington, Kentucky | Oldest member; Brian’s cousin; left in 2006 and rejoined in 2012 |
Ages are as of October 2026.
Who’s who in the Backstreet Boys
Nick Carter (born January 28, 1980, age 46)
Nick Carter is the youngest Backstreet Boy and one of the group’s lead vocalists. He was born in Jamestown, New York, and was picked at Lou Pearlman’s open auditions in Florida. Outside the group he has released four solo albums, Now or Never (2002), I’m Taking Off (2011), All American (2015) and Love Life Tragedy (2025), plus a duet album with Jordan Knight of New Kids on the Block, and he starred in the reality shows House of Carters and I (Heart) Nick Carter.
Brian Littrell (born February 20, 1975, age 51)
Brian Littrell grew up in Lexington, Kentucky, singing in church choirs with his cousin Kevin Richardson. After a phone call from Kevin, he flew to Orlando and formally joined the group on April 20, 1993, the date the band still celebrates as its anniversary. He released the Christian album Welcome Home in 2006, is the father of country singer Baylee Littrell, and was inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame with Kevin in 2015.
AJ McLean (born January 9, 1978, age 48)
Alexander James “AJ” McLean was born in West Palm Beach, Florida. He was the first person to audition for Pearlman’s new vocal group, making him the band’s first member, and he had already been singing with Howie Dorough after the two met through a vocal coach.
Howie Dorough (born August 22, 1973, age 53)
Howard “Howie D” Dorough is an Orlando native. He met AJ McLean through a mutual vocal coach in 1989, and the two later teamed up with Nick Carter as a trio before the five-member lineup came together.
Kevin Richardson (born October 3, 1971, age 55)
Kevin Richardson is the oldest Backstreet Boy and Brian Littrell’s cousin. He moved from Kentucky to Orlando in 1990 and worked at Walt Disney World, where he played characters including Aladdin. He left the group in June 2006 to pursue other projects and start a family, then rejoined in 2012. He and Brian entered the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame together in 2015.
How did the Backstreet Boys form?
In 1992, Orlando businessman Lou Pearlman placed an ad in the Orlando Sentinel looking for singers for a new vocal group. AJ McLean was the first to audition, in Pearlman’s living room. Hundreds of hopefuls tried out at open calls in Kissimmee, Florida, and Nick Carter, Howie Dorough and Kevin Richardson made the cut. Kevin then called his cousin Brian Littrell in Kentucky, who flew to Orlando and joined on April 20, 1993.
Pearlman named the group after Orlando’s Backstreet Market, a flea market near International Drive. The Backstreet Boys played their first show at SeaWorld Orlando on May 8, 1993, signed with Jive Records in 1994 and recorded their first single, “We’ve Got It Goin’ On,” with producers Max Martin and Denniz PoP in Sweden.
Have the Backstreet Boys always had the same members?
Almost. The lineup has always been the same five men, with one break: Kevin Richardson left in June 2006 after the Never Gone Tour. The other four released Unbreakable (2007) and This Is Us (2009) as a quartet, and Kevin rejoined in 2012, in time for the group’s 20th anniversary.
Who is the lead singer of the Backstreet Boys?
The Backstreet Boys don’t have one lead singer. Nick Carter and Brian Littrell take many of the leads, but all five members trade lead lines and harmonies on the group’s biggest songs, including “I Want It That Way.”
Backstreet Boys timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1993 | Group forms in Orlando; Brian Littrell joins on April 20; first show at SeaWorld Orlando |
| 1996 | Debut album Backstreet Boys |
| 1997 | Backstreet’s Back and the self-titled U.S. debut album |
| 1999 | Millennium, featuring “I Want It That Way” |
| 2000 | Black & Blue |
| 2005 | Comeback album Never Gone |
| 2006 | Kevin Richardson leaves the group |
| 2012 | Kevin Richardson rejoins |
| 2013 | Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (April 22) and 20th-anniversary album In a World Like This |
| 2017 | Las Vegas residency Larger Than Life begins |
| 2019 | DNA debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 |
| 2023 | 30th anniversary (April 20) |
| 2025 | Millennium 2.0 reissue and the Into the Millennium residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas |
The Backstreet Boys in Los Angeles
The group’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was dedicated on April 22, 2013, two days after their 20th anniversary. The photo at the top of this page was taken at the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles.
Nombres de los Backstreet Boys: integrantes y edades
Los cinco integrantes de los Backstreet Boys son Nick Carter, Brian Littrell, AJ McLean, Howie Dorough y Kevin Richardson. El grupo se formó en 1993 en Orlando, Florida. Brian Littrell y Kevin Richardson son primos.
| Integrante | Fecha de nacimiento | Edad (octubre de 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Nick Carter | 28/01/1980 | 46 años |
| Brian Littrell | 20/02/1975 | 51 años |
| AJ McLean | 09/01/1978 | 48 años |
| Howie Dorough | 22/08/1973 | 53 años |
| Kevin Richardson | 03/10/1971 | 55 años |
El mayor es Kevin Richardson y el menor es Nick Carter. Kevin dejó el grupo en 2006 y regresó en 2012, así que hoy los Backstreet Boys siguen siendo cinco.
Personel Backstreet Boys: Nick Carter, Brian Littrell, AJ McLean, Howie Dorough dan Kevin Richardson.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the Backstreet Boys’ names?
The five Backstreet Boys are Nick Carter, Brian Littrell, AJ McLean, Howie Dorough and Kevin Richardson.
How many members are in the Backstreet Boys?
Five. The group performed as a quartet from 2006 to 2012 while Kevin Richardson was away, and has been a five-piece again since he rejoined in 2012.
How old are the Backstreet Boys?
As of October 2026, Kevin Richardson is 55, Howie Dorough is 53, Brian Littrell is 51, AJ McLean is 48 and Nick Carter is 46.
Who is the oldest and youngest Backstreet Boy?
Kevin Richardson (born October 3, 1971) is the oldest. Nick Carter (born January 28, 1980) is the youngest.
Which Backstreet Boys are related?
Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson are cousins. Both grew up in Lexington, Kentucky.
Who is the lead singer of the Backstreet Boys?
There is no single lead singer. Nick Carter and Brian Littrell sing many of the group’s lead parts, and all five members trade leads and harmonies.
Where did the name Backstreet Boys come from?
Manager Lou Pearlman named the group after Orlando’s Backstreet Market, an outdoor flea market near International Drive that was a teen hangout.
Are the Backstreet Boys still together?
Yes. All five members are still in the group. In July 2025 they launched their second Las Vegas residency, Backstreet Boys: Into the Millennium, at the Sphere.
Sources
- Backstreet Boys, Wikipedia (formation, name origin, lineup changes, sales, residencies)
- Nick Carter, Brian Littrell, AJ McLean, Howie Dorough and Kevin Richardson, Wikipedia (birth dates and birthplaces)
Image credits
- The Backstreet Boys at the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles. From left: AJ McLean, Kevin Richardson, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough and Brian Littrell. Photo: Toglenn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped.
- Who’s who in the Backstreet Boys, from left: AJ McLean, Kevin Richardson, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough and Brian Littrell (2019). Photo: Toglenn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; name labels added by The LA Note.
- Nick Carter in 2023. Photo: Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
- Brian Littrell at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 2025. Photo: TaurusEmerald, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- AJ McLean in 2023. Photo: Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
- Howie Dorough performing in Stockholm, 2008. Photo: Meany, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0.
- Kevin Richardson in 2019. Photo: Toglenn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped.
- The Backstreet Boys at the Sphere in Las Vegas during their 2025 residency. Photo: Laslovarga, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- The Backstreet Boys’ star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, dedicated in 2013. Photo: Benoît Prieur, Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
Vianka Petines is a sharp, versatile writer with a gift for creative flair and the colorful details that make an artist’s story come alive. One of The LA Note’s most prolific contributors, she covers music and entertainment across the board. Away from the keyboard, she’s happiest helping her family and playing with her pets.
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