BACKSTREET Boys star AJ McLean has revealed he wants to be called by a new name.
The 46-year-old singer wants to lean into his full name of “Alexander James” after going on a “self-journey” in which he dealt with “past traumas.”
AJ said he wanted to leave behind his identity as “one-fifth” of the Backstreet Boys.
He made the revelation while appearing on fellow boyband star Lance Bass’ podcast, Frosted Tips with Lance Bass.
“I hear you want to start going by Alex more than AJ,” Lance said.
“AJ, I’ve now kind of learned is a persona, is a character if you will,” AJ replied.
He added that he went on “this little self-journey” when he spent 10 weeks at an intensive outpatient program called The Meadows.
“Not so much for my sobriety,” AJ said.
“But really to kind of get to the roots and clean out the pipes and, you know, deal with some past traumas and whatnot.”
He said he learned the “two key words” – “boundaries” and “authenticity” – during the experience.
The singer praised author Brené Brown for “inspiring the s**t out of me” and said he tattooed her term “braving,” on his arm.
“Which stands for boundaries, reliability, accountability, fault, integrity, non-judgment and gratitude,” AJ explained.
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“So Alexander James is me being my true, authentic self.”
AJ’s new identity comes after he announced his split from Rochelle DeAnna McLean after 12 years together.
“As you all know we have been separated for over a year now,” they wrote on Instagram in January.
“While we have hoped for reconciliation we have decided to officially end our marriage.
AJ’s struggle with drugs and alcohol
AJ McLean has been open about his past addiction to drugs and alcohol, which tormented him for 20 years.
The singer, who found global fame in the 1990s with the Backstreet Boys, said he was a “late bloomer” and didn’t really drink until he was 25.
“I was anti-cigarettes, anti-tattoos, anti-drinking, anti-drugs,” he told People in 2020.
He says he later “fell into that world of low self- esteem and seeking external validation,” and began abusing drugs and alcohol.
The singer chose to get help after hitting “rock bottom” while attending a Shania Twain concert in January 2020.
“Before I even got on the plane, I had already mapped out the whole night. I knew where I was going to go get my drugs. I knew where I was going to go get drunk,” he recalled.
The singer eventually came home to his then-wife and two kids after two missed flights “reeking” of alcohol and recalled how his daughter Lyric, then 3, said he didn’t smell like her dad.
AJ said the moment made him feel “disgusting” and he chose to finally seek help and started attending a 12-step program.
The former boyband revealed in 2023 that he had been sober for two years and is going to weekly meetings.
“It is with deep love and respect that we have made this decision.”
They married in December 2011 in Los Angeles after meeting in 2008 while she was waitressing at a restaurant.
The exes share two daughters – Elliott, 11, and Lyric, 7.
AJ is currently on tour with former *NSYNC star Joey Fatone.
Joey described the show as “a journey through the magic of *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys and everything in between.”
“I’ve known AJ as long as I’ve known my own band members. We’ve worked together in the past on one-off projects here and there but never had the opportunity to create something together,” he said in a statement.
“This tour gives us the chance to combine the best of both musical worlds.”
