AJ McLean facts for kids

Quick facts for kids AJ McLean
McLean at GalaxyCon Raleigh in 2023
Born	Alexander James McLean (1978-01-09) January 9, 1978 (age 47) West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
Other names	Johnny No Name Bone Alexander James
Alma mater	Osceola High School
Occupation	Singer
Years active	1986–present
Spouse(s)	Rochelle Karidis ​ ​ (m. 2011; div. 2024)​
Children	2
Musical career
Genres	Pop R&B pop rock country pop
Labels	Jive Avex Podwall
Signature

Alexander James McLean (born January 9, 1978), known as AJ McLean, is an American singer. He is a founding member of the famous pop group Backstreet Boys.

Early life

AJ McLean was born on January 9, 1978, in West Palm Beach, Florida. His mother, Denise, worked in a hospital and later became an author. His father, Robert, was a musician. His parents divorced when he was two years old. AJ was raised by his mother and grandparents. He reconnected with his father in 1997 and they have stayed in touch since.

Career

Discovering his talents

From a young age, AJ loved to perform. When he was four, he started taking dance lessons every day. He learned many styles, including ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, and even gymnastics.

When he was about five, AJ also began modeling. He appeared in catalogs and fashion shows. His grandmother, who was very important to him, taught him to play the piano. She also took him to many auditions.

At age six, AJ performed in a school play called Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. He played the character Dopey. Before he was 11, he also appeared in other musicals like The Nutcracker and The King and I. By the time he was 12, he had been in 27 school plays!

AJ was also a serious dance student. He once said that dancing was "really my thing in the early days." When he was 12, he even started his own dance group. They went to competitions, which helped him learn a lot.

Early acting roles

In 1986, when he was eight, AJ acted in his first film, Truth or Dare?. In 1990, AJ and his family moved to Kissimmee, Florida. This move helped him focus more on his acting and singing. He attended a private acting school for four years.

In 1991, AJ got a role in the Nickelodeon comedy series Hi Honey, I'm Home!. However, he was too tall for the part after the pilot episode.

When he was 11, AJ won a talent competition at a Latin festival. He performed a 45-minute show, singing, acting, and doing a puppet show. At this festival, he met Howie Dorough, who would later become his bandmate.

AJ also appeared on other Nickelodeon shows like Welcome Freshmen and Guts. He also appeared in a Muppets commercial. He met Howie Dorough and Nick Carter at Nickelodeon auditions.

Backstreet Boys

McLean performing in 2009

In March 1992, an advertisement appeared in a local newspaper. It was looking for young men to audition for a new music group. Even though AJ was only 14, he tried out for the group. By April 1992, AJ McLean was the very first member to join the new group, the Backstreet Boys.

After joining the band, AJ finished high school through special courses. He had a tutor who helped him while he was traveling. In 1993, AJ, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Kevin Richardson, and Brian Littrell officially formed the Backstreet Boys. The group became very famous in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Solo music projects

Johnny No Name

AJ McLean created a special character called "Johnny No Name." This is like his other self when he is not performing with the Backstreet Boys. Johnny No Name is similar to AJ in some ways. For example, both were raised by single mothers and their grandparents.

AJ has performed as Johnny No Name in rock clubs. He also started the JNN Foundation. This foundation helps fund research for diabetes and supports music programs in schools. He even went on a tour to help raise money for music education.

Have It All

In 2008, AJ started performing his own solo shows. He sang his own songs and a solo version of the Backstreet Boys' hit, "Incomplete." His first solo album, Have It All, was released on January 20, 2010.

For this album, AJ worked with other famous musicians like Ryan Tedder from OneRepublic. The album featured a mix of pop, rock, and R&B music. The first song from the album was "Teenage Wildlife."

Collaborations

On May 22, 2013, a Finnish rapper named Redrama released a song called "Clouds" that featured AJ McLean. The song became very popular in Finland.

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AJ McLean released a song called "Live Together" on September 4, 2015. This song was named after a charity foundation he started. A music video was made to help raise money for a school that had its musical instruments stolen.

... and Bodies

In 2018, AJ McLean talked about making country music. He released a song called "Back Porch Bottle Service" in June 2018. He also released the song "Boy and a Man" in March 2019.

During the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, AJ released "Love Song Love" in April 2021. This song showed his support for the LGBT community. He also released a new song called "Smoke" in July 2022 with his group ATCK. AJ announced that his second solo album, called ... and Bodies, was set to be released.

On February 14, 2024, AJ released a new song called "Electric" under his full name, Alexander James. In March 2024, AJ announced that he and NSYNC member Joey Fatone would go on tour together.

Other projects

On July 22, 2015, AJ McLean launched a line of liquids for electronic cigarettes called Skulleeroz Vapor.

In 2020, AJ announced his own nail polish line called Ava Dean Beauty. He was inspired by his daughters to create it.

Television and film appearances

In 1992, AJ McLean was a contestant on the kids' game show Nickelodeon Guts. In April 2002, he was a guest voice on the Static Shock episode "Duped."

AJ also appeared with the Backstreet Boys on shows like Arthur, Sesame Street, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and Saturday Night Live. The Backstreet Boys also appeared in the 2013 comedy movie This Is the End.

In September 2018, AJ provided the voice of a character named Kuchimba on an episode of Disney's The Lion Guard. In 2019, he voiced Lucy the Fairy in an episode of The Bravest Knight. In November 2021, AJ announced he would host the second season of Fashion Hero, which filmed in South Africa in 2022.

Dancing with the Stars

In August 2020, AJ McLean was one of the celebrities who competed on season 29 of Dancing with the Stars. He finished in seventh place in the competition.

RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race

AJ McLean was a contestant on RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race as a character named Poppy Love. On September 30, 2022, Poppy Love was crowned the winner of the season. Because of his win, a charity called Trans Lifeline received a $100,000 award.

Building the Band

In 2025, AJ McLean is the host of a new Netflix reality competition series called Building the Band. He hosts alongside judges Nicole Scherzinger and Kelly Rowland. The series was dedicated to the memory of Liam Payne, who was also a judge.

Personal life

AJ McLean has been married and has two daughters. He married Rochelle Deanna Karidis on December 17, 2011. The other members of the Backstreet Boys were there for the wedding. In January 2024, after 12 years of marriage, the couple announced their decision to divorce.

Discography

Albums

Singles

As main artist

Promotional singles

Duets

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: AJ McLean para niños

• Backstreet Boys