AJ McLean Shares Which Iconic Backstreet Boys Song His Oldest Daughter Hates ‘With A Passion’

AJ McLean may be a global superstar, but at home, he’s just Dad—and like many dads, he enjoys embarrassing his kids.

The Backstreet Boys singer recently shared a hilarious parenting moment involving his 12-year-old daughter, Elliott, and one of the band’s biggest hits.

A Backstreet Boys Classic That’s Not So Classic at Home

While millions of fans still belt out “I Want It That Way” with passion, Elliott isn’t one of them. In fact, she absolutely despises it.

“My oldest daughter hates that song, hates it with a passion,” McLean revealed on the red carpet at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards. “Because she gets teased at school when she walks in.”

Apparently, Elliott’s classmates can’t resist breaking into the song’s iconic “Tell me why” lyrics whenever they see her. Naturally, McLean, being the playful dad he is, takes it a step further.

“When I drop her off, the boys [sing the lyrics], ‘Tell me why,’ and she’s like, ‘Stop doing that,’” he said. “And then I start doing it to embarrass her because that’s what dads do.”

Despite her protests, McLean believes Elliott secretly enjoys his music—just not when it makes her the center of attention at school.

A Nostalgic Comeback: Millennium 2.0

While Elliott may not be a fan of “I Want It That Way,” Backstreet Boys fans have plenty to be excited about. The legendary boy band is reviving their iconic 1999 album Millennium with a fresh take—Millennium 2.0.

Set to drop on July 11, 2025, the album celebrates 25 years since the original Millennium dominated the Billboard 200 for ten weeks.

The special anniversary release will feature remastered versions of every song from the original album, plus previously unreleased demos and live recordings from the Into the Millennium World Tour.

As part of the celebration, the group recreated their classic album cover, bringing nostalgia full circle for longtime fans.

McLean shared his excitement for the project, explaining, “The fact that we get to redo this album again live, it’s kind of reinvigorating, this excitement about what it was back in ’99.”

Las Vegas Residency: A Backstreet Boys Summer Takeover

Alongside Millennium 2.0, the Backstreet Boys are gearing up for a Las Vegas residency at The Sphere, aptly titled Into the Millennium. The residency will launch the same day as the album’s release and run through early August.

This highly anticipated show will offer fans a chance to relive the band’s golden era with live performances of their biggest hits. Tickets are already available on the band’s official website.

Honoring Liam Payne: McLean’s Emotional Tribute

Beyond his work with the Backstreet Boys, McLean has taken on a deeply personal role in Netflix’s upcoming talent show, Building the Band.

Originally, former One Direction member Liam Payne was a judge on the series before his tragic passing on October 16, 2024. Payne, 31, died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

McLean, who developed a close friendship with Payne, spoke about his late friend with heartfelt words.

“Liam Payne and I got very close. He was just a dream to work with. He was a light, so talented, so funny, so genuine, but I get it,” McLean shared. “I still have the last text conversation we had. I refused to delete it.”

As a tribute, Building the Band will be dedicated to Payne and his family, ensuring his legacy lives on through the show.

“It’s a great way for fans to remember him as he truly was—just witty and fun and so outspoken and so supportive of the talent on this show,” McLean said.

He added, “It’s just very sad. It really is, but I know he’s safe where he is now and he’s no longer in pain. Hopefully, we can make him proud.”

The series is expected to premiere later in 2025, featuring Nicole Scherzinger and Kelly Rowland as fellow judges.

A Big Year Ahead for McLean and the Backstreet Boys

Between celebrating Millennium’s 25th anniversary, returning to the Las Vegas stage, and honoring a late friend, McLean’s year is shaping up to be an emotional yet exciting one.

Whether McLean is making headlines for a major career move or just being a fun-loving dad, one thing is clear: the Backstreet Boys aren’t going anywhere, and neither is McLean’s playful spirit.

Be sure to catch up on everything happening with AJ McLean right now. Come back here often for all AJ McLean’s spoilers, news, and updates.

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