A Guide to the Backstreet Boys’ Love Lives Over the Years

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A Guide to the Backstreet Boys’ Love Lives Over the Years

As long as you love them! The Backstreet Boys have been tugging on fans’ heartstrings with their love songs since the '90s, but the band members’ real-life romances have been just as sweet. Nick Carter married fitness trainer Lauren Kitt in April 2014 after six years of dating. The pair went on to welcome son Odin in 2016 and daughters Saoirse and Pearl in 2019 and 2021, respectively. Kitt opened up to Us Weekly in June 2021 about how parenthood brought her and Carter closer as a couple. “It just solidified everything that we’ve always had between each other — it’s just friendship and trust and love and also support,” she gushed at the time. “He’s supporting me now, and it’s been good in that respect to see us pulling together because we’re in the trenches. Like, it’s hard with three kids under 5.” Before the New York native settled down with his wife, his romantic life wasn’t always rosy. In his 2013 memoir, Facing the Music and Living to Talk About It, Carter reflected on his experience dating Paris Hilton for seven months in 2004. “Paris was the worst person in the world for me to hook up with,” he wrote. “[She] fed my worst impulses as far as partying.” [jwplayer 1azXQJYC-zhNYySv2] The other members of the boy band — AJ McLean, Howie Dorough, Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell — also found love amid their musical success. Richardson and Littrell — who are cousins — got married the same year, exchanging vows with Kristin Richardson (née Willits) and Leighanne Littrell, respectively, in 2000. Dorough, for his part, wed Leigh Boniello in 2007. McLean, meanwhile, opened up about going through a rough patch in his marriage with wife Rochelle McLean (née Karidis) in March 2023. “Marriage is hard, but worth it. We have mutually decided to separate temporarily to work on ourselves and on our marriage with the hope of building a stronger future,” the duo told Us Weekly in a statement at the time. The estranged couple explained that the separation would hopefully not last forever. “The plan is to come back together and continue to nurture our love for one another and our family,” they continued. “We ask for respect and privacy at this time. Separation is hard enough without the commentary, please be kind and remember there are children involved.” AJ and Rochelle share daughters Elliott and Lyric, born in 2012 and 2017, respectively. Keep scrolling to see the Backstreet Boys’ full dating histories:

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AJ McLean

The Florida native dated Marisa Jackson — who appeared in the music video for the Backstreet Boys’ debut single, “We’ve Got It Goin’ On" — for six years in the '90s. After the pair split, Jackson wrote the 1999 book Loving A.J.: My 6-Year Romance With a Backstreet Boy. 

AJ moved on with Amanda Latona of the girl group Innosense, dating his fellow musician from 1998 to 2000. The “Smoke” singer then dated singer Sarah Martin. In March 2002, he told VH1 that he and Martin were engaged, however, the pair called off their engagement later that year.

The Dancing With the Stars alum sparked a romance with Rochelle in 2006. The duo got married at the Beverly Hills Hotel in California in December 2011 and welcomed daughters Elliott and Lyric in 2012 and 2017, respectively. 

After more than a decade of marriage, AJ and Rochelle announced their decision to “temporarily” separate in March 2023. 

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Howie Dorough

The Sweet D., Inc cofounder dated Canadian model Claudia Opdenkelder from 1999 to 2000. The same year they split, Dorough met his wife, Boniello, who was working on the Backstreet Boys official website at the time. The pair tied the knot in December 2007 and welcomed sons James and Holden in 2009 and 2013, respectively. 

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Nick Carter

During a September 2006 interview with Howard Stern, the New York native revealed that he dated Debra LaFave in high school. One year prior, LaFave pleaded guilty to lewd or lascivious battery against a teenager. The charges stemmed from a sexual encounter the former teacher had with a 14-year-old student in mid-2004.

“I always thought I wanted to go back and rekindle it with her but now it’s too late for that,” Carter told Stern of the convicted sex offender. 

The pop star went on to date Willa Ford from 1997 to 2000 and Hilton for seven months in 2004.

“We learned a lot together,” Ford said of her relationship with Carter during an August 2001 interview with the Associated Press. “We went through so much at such a young age. We were put in front of all these people so quickly and were so ridiculed.”

The House of Carters alum wed Kitt in 2014. The twosome share son Odin, born in 2016, and daughters Saoirse and Pearl, born in 2019 and 2021, respectively.

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Kevin Richardson

The Kentucky native married his wife, Kristin, in 2000. The pair met in 1992 when they were both employees at Disney World. They share sons Mason and Maxwell, born in 2007 and 2013, respectively.

Kevin wished his wife a happy 22nd anniversary via Instagram in June 2022.

“Lake hair, don’t care!” he captioned a photo of the Shut Up and Kiss Me! actress kissing him on the cheek. “One of our first few dates was on the chain lakes in Orlando. I was already hooked, but when I saw you slalom, it was officially game over. Happy 22nd Anniversary @kristinkayphoto!”

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Brian Littrell

Brian met his wife, Leighanne, in 1997 shortly after he split from high school sweetheart Samantha Stonebraker. The couple — who met on the set of the Backstreet Boys’ music video for “As Long As You Love Me” — tied the knot in September 2000.

"We ran into each other at that perfect time," Brian told Entertainment Tonight of his wife in September 2020. "Neither one of us were looking for love. We didn't really need it at that time, we were focused on our careers and that's just kind of how life happens. It is a blessing that we were opened to this joint venture."

The twosome welcomed their son, Baylee, in November 2002. The Georgia native is following in his dad’s footsteps and pursuing a career in music. He released his debut album, 770-Country, in November 2019.