Backstreet Boys

The Backstreet Boys, often called BSB, are an American vocal group and pop boy band. The group includes Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, AJ McLean, and cousins Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson. They formed in 1993 in Orlando, Florida.

The Backstreet Boys became very famous with their first album, Backstreet Boys, released in 1996. Their next albums, Backstreet's Back and another self-titled U.S. album, both from 1997, helped them gain even more worldwide popularity. Their big break came with the third album, Millennium, in 1999. The song "I Want It That Way" became a huge hit, and their next album, Black & Blue, followed in 2000.

Over the years, the group has released many more albums, including Never Gone in 2005, Unbreakable in 2007, and This Is Us in 2009. Kevin Richardson left for a short time but returned in 2012. They celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2013 and released several more albums, including In a World Like This and DNA, which reached number one on the charts in 2019. In 2022, they released their first Christmas album, A Very Backstreet Christmas, and in 2025, they re-released their famous album Millennium with extra tracks.

The Backstreet Boys have sold over 130 million records worldwide, making them the best-selling boy band of all time. They were the first group since Led Zeppelin to have their first ten albums reach the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart. Two of their albums, Backstreet Boys and Millennium, are certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America. They also have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and have performed many successful concerts, including residencies in Las Vegas.

History

The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group and pop band. The group formed in 1993 in Orlando, Florida, with members Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, AJ McLean, Kevin Richardson, and Brian Littrell.

The group rose to fame with their debut album, Backstreet Boys, released in 1996. This album brought them international success and established them as one of the most popular bands of the late 1990s. Their catchy songs and energetic performances helped them gain a huge fan following around the world.

Artistry and legacy

The Backstreet Boys are known for their beautiful vocal harmonies. They worked hard to show they were more than just a typical boy band by singing live as often as possible. They were inspired by groups like Boyz II Men and wanted to create their own special sound.

Over the years, their music has changed a lot. Their first albums mixed R&B and dance music. Later, they moved more toward pop and pop rock. In 2005, they changed again with an album that used only live instruments instead of electronic sounds. Their music continues to evolve, mixing many different styles like pop, dance, and even a bit of country.

Partnerships and other ventures

The Backstreet Boys worked with many brands over the years. In 1999, they had a sponsorship with Sears for their tour, which included a special advertisement and a sweepstakes for fans. In 2000, member Nick Carter worked with famous comic book writer Stan Lee to create a special comic book called Backstreet Project, which was sold at concerts and online.

They also made deals with Burger King in 2000, appearing in commercials and offering special music packages and toys. Later, they appeared in commercials for Old Navy, NetOnNet, Doritos, Downy, Lincoln, and T-Mobile. In 2022, they performed a special concert for WeChat users in China, which was watched by millions of people.

Charity

The Backstreet Boys have helped many charities over the years. They have supported groups like Children's Miracle Network, City of Hope, and Kids Wish. In April 2022, they gave $25,000 to a young band called First Day of School so they could share it with their favorite charities. The group has also taken part in events to help children’s mental health, working with experts at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Individually, members like Nick Carter have hosted special events to support families in need.

Band members

The Backstreet Boys are made up of five talented singers. They are AJ McLean, Howie Dorough, Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson, and Brian Littrell. All of them have been singing together since 1993, except Kevin Richardson, who took a break from 2006 to 2012.

Discography

The Backstreet Boys have released many albums over the years. Some of their popular albums include:

• Backstreet Boys (1996)
• Backstreet's Back (1997)
• Millennium (1999)
• Black & Blue (2000)
• Never Gone (2005)
• Unbreakable (2007)
• This Is Us (2009)
• In a World Like This (2013)
• DNA (2019)
• A Very Backstreet Christmas (2022)

Filmography

Awards

Main article: List of awards received by Backstreet Boys

The Backstreet Boys have been honored with many awards for their music. As of 2019, they received nine nominations for the Grammy Award, including five in the year 2000. They also won two American Music Awards, five Billboard Music Awards, two MTV Video Music Awards, and a Juno Award, among other recognitions.

Tours

The Backstreet Boys have gone on many tours to perform for their fans. Some of their big headlining tours include the We Wanna Be with You Tour, Backstreet Boys: Live in Concert Tour, and Backstreet's Back Tour. They also had other famous tours like the Into the Millennium Tour, Black & Blue World Tour, and DNA World Tour.

They sometimes shared the stage with other artists, like during the NKOTBSB Tour with New Kids on the Block. The group has also had special performances called residencies, such as Backstreet Boys: Larger Than Life.