AJ McLean Reveals His Daughter’s Hilarious Feud with Backstreet Boys’ Iconic Hit
Of course, the child of a Backstreet Boys member would have a complicated relationship with their dad’s music—because nothing says “awkward adolescence” like being serenaded with “I Want It That Way” by your classmates. AJ McLean, the eternally youthful 47-year-old Backstreet Boy, spilled the tea at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards, revealing that his 12-year-old daughter, Eliott, despises the band’s 1999 anthem with the fiery passion of a thousand middle school eye rolls. Apparently, the boys at her school have made it their mission to greet her with the song’s iconic opening line, “Tell me why,” every time she walks in. And, as any self-respecting dad would, McLean leans into the cringe by joining in to embarrass her further. Because what’s parenthood if not a series of expertly timed humiliations?
But don’t let Eliott’s public disdain fool you—McLean insists she secretly has her favorite Backstreet Boys tracks. (Though, let’s be real, she’ll probably deny it until she’s 30.) Meanwhile, the band is gearing up for a nostalgic extravaganza with their upcoming Las Vegas residency, “Into the Millennium,” at the Sphere. The residency will feature a reimagined version of their 1999 album *Millennium*, aptly titled *Millennium 2.0*, complete with six new demos and remastered tracks. McLean describes the project as “reinvigorating,” which is code for “we’re cashing in on nostalgia while pretending it’s art.”
And speaking of nostalgia, McLean predicts that bandmate Kevin Richardson will be a sobbing mess during performances of “Back to Your Heart,” a song Richardson wrote himself. “Guarantee you, he bawls his eyes out,” McLean says, adding that he’ll likely join in the waterworks, creating a domino effect of emotional breakdowns onstage. Because nothing says “boy band reunion” like grown men crying over their own lyrics.
The residency kicks off in July and runs through August, promising nine nights of tearful ballads, awkward dad jokes, and, presumably, Eliott avoiding eye contact with her classmates.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine
Image Credit: Attribution from EXIF: Artist: Glenn Francis
