How many kids does AJ McLean have? Backstreet Boys singer reveals oldest daughter hates THIS classic song

According to reports, AJ McLean, a member of the Boyband, Backstreet Boys (popular during the late 90s and early 2000s), and father of two kids, just revealed in an exclusive interview with People Magazine that his oldest daughter Eliott (who changed her name from Ava to Elliott in 2022) "hate with a passion" the band's hit song, I want it that way.

On March 17, 2025, McLean, who has two daughters, Elliott, 12, and Lyric, 8, with his former wife, Rochelle, shared this fact with People Magazine during the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards. According to him, his daughter hates the hit song because she gets teased in school. McLean explained that

"My oldest daughter hates that song, hates it with a passion...Because she gets teased at school when she walks into school...When I drop her off, the boys [sing the lyrics], ‘Tell me why,’ and she's like, ‘Stop doing that. And then I start doing it to embarrass her because that's what dads do." - AJ McLean as cited by People Magazine

More about AJ McLean's family

AJ McLean, 47, was married to Rochelle Karidi, 43, but the duo separated in 2024 after more than a decade of marriage. Rochelle, a hairstylist and makeup artist, started dating the Backstreet Boys singer in 2009.

The duo tied the knot in December 2011 with a gothic-themed wedding and welcomed their first daughter, Ava Jaymes, in November 2012. In 2022, Ava changed her name to Elliott because she wanted a unique name, and there were too many Avas in her school. Their second daughter, Lyric Dean, was born more than four years later, in March 2017.

In March 2023, the couple announced that they had decided to temporarily separate, and months later, in January 2024, AJ McLean and Rochelle Deanna Karidis announced that they were ending their 12-year-long marriage.

Backstreet Boys to perform Residency shows at Las Vegas

According to People Magazine, in February 2025, the band announced that they were coming to Las Vegas for a residency titled "Into the Millennium" and would perform their 1999 album Millennium, the album which includes hit songs like "I Want It That Way" and "Larger Than Life," onstage at the at Sphere in Las Vegas in July and August.

The band shared the news of the residency with fans on Instagram with the caption,

"We’re heading ‘Into the Millennium’ once again! 🌐🩵 Relive your Backstreet Boys Y2K memories, but this time… LARGER THAN LIFE at @SphereVegas starting this July!" - Backstreet Boys via Instagram

Furthermore, it was also reported that the band is planning to release a reimagined version of their popular album, Millennium, the reimagined version will be titled Millennium 2.0. According to People magazine, McLean is very excited to redo the album.