From “I Want It That Way” to “I’ll Never Break Your Heart,” the Backstreet Boys are known for their hit love songs, but what do their personal love lives look like? Over the years, all five members of the group – AJ McLean, Howie Dorough, Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson, and Brian Littrell – have gotten married and started families of their own.
Most of the band members actually have really sweet stories of how they met their wives. One of them actually met their significant other on the set of a Backstreet Boys music video, while another met his wife before Backstreet Boys fame when he was still working at Disney World. And apparently, tours are now often family affairs.
“We have a family room backstage for the family and the wives and the kids to hang out in,” Richardson told People in 2018. “It used to be the VIP room, stocked with alcohol for our friends and different people that come to see the show, but now it’s the family room.”
In the same interview, Dorough opened up about how meaningful starting their families has been for the whole band. “We got a little jaded, but having our own families gives you those goosebumps all over again,” he said.
So, just who are the Backstreet wives? Get to know more about them ahead!
Related: The Backstreet Boys’ Evolution Is Truly Larger Than Life
Getty / Walter McBride
Leighanne Littrell, Brian Littrell's Wife
The couple has the Backstreet Boys to thank for their romance. Brian first met the actor on the set of the band’s “As Long as You Love Me” music video in 1997. On Christmas Eve in 1999, Brian proposed to Leighanne, and the two tied the knot in September 2000 in Atlanta, per People. The pair have one child together, a son named Baylee, who was born in November 2002.
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Leigh Boniello, Howie Dorough's Wife
Dorough first met the film producer in 2000 when Boniello was working as the Backstreet Boys’ webmaster. He proposed on New Year’s Eve in 2006, and the couple wed in December 2007 in Orlando, FL, per People. Together, they have two sons: James, who was born in May 2009, and Holden, who was born in February 2013.
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Rochelle DeAnna McLean, AJ McLean's Wife
AJ started dating the hairstylist sometime in early 2009, and they got engaged nearly a year later when AJ proposed on stage, per People. In December 2011, the two tied the knot during a “goth-themed” wedding in Beverly Hills, per the publication. AJ and Rochelle are parents to two daughters: Elliot, who was born in November 2012, and Lyric, who was born in March 2017.
In March 2023, AJ revealed that he and Rochelle had decided to separate temporarily. “Marriage is hard, but worth it. We have mutually decided to separate temporarily to work on ourselves, and on our marriage with the hope of building a stronger future,” the couple said in a joint statement shared with POPSUGAR. “The plan is to come back together and continue to nurture our love for one another, and our family. We ask for respect and privacy at this time. Separation is hard enough without the commentary, please be kind and remember there are children involved.” The status of their relationship is currently unclear.
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Lauren Kitt, Nick Carter's Wife
Carter first met the fitness expert on a blind date in 2008, per Rolling Stone. After dating for four years, the singer proposed in the Florida Keys in February 2013, according to Us Weekly, and the pair tied the knot in April 2014 in Santa Barbara, CA. The duo are parents to a son named Odin, whom they welcomed in April 2016, a daughter named Saoirse, whom they welcomed in October 2019, and another daughter named Pearl, who was born in April 2021.
Getty / Cindy Ord / Vivien Killilea
Getty / Cindy Ord / Denise Truscello
