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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteThe five men who defined the Backstreet Boys’ classic lineup are still the members fans see today: A.J. McLean, Brian Littrell, Howie Dorough, Kevin Richardson, and Nick Carter. Formed in Orlando in 1993, the group has moved from the late-1990s teen-pop boom through the Millennium era, the DNA World Tour, its 30th-anniversary celebrations, and the 2025–2026 Millennium 2.0 and Into The Millennium era without changing its core membership.
Here is a dated then-and-now look at all five current Backstreet Boys, with ages calculated as of August 11, 2026.
The Backstreet Boys then and now at a glance
| Member | Born | Age on August 11, 2026 | Place in the group |
|---|---|---|---|
| A.J. McLean | January 9, 1978 | 48 | Vocalist; the group’s early edgy stage presence |
| Brian Littrell | February 20, 1975 | 51 | Vocalist; prominent tenor and ballad voice |
| Howie Dorough | August 22, 1973 | 52 | Vocalist and member of the original five |
| Kevin Richardson | October 3, 1971 | 54 | Oldest member; vocalist and Brian Littrell’s cousin |
| Nick Carter | January 28, 1980 | 46 | Youngest member; vocalist and major teen-pop figure |
The ages above are calendar calculations from the listed birth dates. Dorough turns 53 on August 22, 2026.
A.J. McLean
Licensed late-1990s breakthrough-era photograph of A.J. McLean
Recent official or credited portrait of A.J. McLean
Alexander James McLean was born on January 9, 1978, in West Palm Beach, Florida. At 48, he is the second-youngest member of the current five-person lineup.
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McLean was the first member recruited into the group. During the Backstreet Boys’ original rise, his look often stood apart from the ensemble’s polished styling: close-cropped or carefully styled hair, sunglasses, bolder clothing, and a more visibly edgy stage persona. That contrast became part of the group’s visual identity without separating him from its vocal-centered format.
He remains one of the five official Backstreet Boys and has also maintained a solo identity under his own name. The important then-and-now point is continuity: the performer who supplied a distinctive edge to the late-1990s group is still part of its active lineup and current promotional and performance work.
Brian Littrell
Licensed early-era photograph of Brian Littrell
Recent official or licensed portrait of Brian Littrell
Brian Thomas Littrell was born on February 20, 1975, and is 51 as of August 11, 2026. He joined the group in 1993 after his cousin Kevin Richardson contacted him about becoming part of the developing lineup.
Littrell’s early public image was clean-cut and comparatively understated, while his high tenor made him especially prominent in the group’s ballads and vocal arrangements. His voice helped define the softer side of the Backstreet Boys during the era of Backstreet Boys, Backstreet’s Back, Millennium, and Black & Blue.
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He remains a Backstreet Boy and has also sustained a Christian-music solo career. His family connection with Richardson is more than a piece of trivia: it helps explain how the final classic five-member lineup came together.
Howie Dorough
Licensed early Backstreet Boys photograph of Howie Dorough
Recent official or licensed image of Howie Dorough
Howard Dwaine Dorough was born on August 22, 1973. He is 52 on August 11, 2026, and turns 53 later that month.
Dorough was part of the Orlando vocal network that connected several of the group’s early members. In the first wave of Backstreet Boys photographs, he appears in the coordinated styling associated with the group’s earliest albums and tours, sharing the ensemble’s polished look while serving as one of its principal vocalists.
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His role has remained steady even as the group’s presentation has changed. Dorough continues to appear alongside McLean, Littrell, Richardson, and Carter in official Backstreet Boys promotional and performance material.
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Licensed early-career photograph of Kevin Richardson
Recent official or licensed portrait of Kevin Richardson
Kevin Scott Richardson was born on October 3, 1971, making him 54 on August 11, 2026. He is the oldest member of the group and Brian Littrell’s cousin.
Richardson helped connect Littrell to the group, completing the classic lineup that audiences came to know in the 1990s. His early image was often more formal and mature than those of the other members, particularly in contrast with Nick Carter’s younger persona. That difference gave the group a visible age range and a built-in older-brother presence.
Richardson did temporarily leave the group during the 2006–2012 period before returning. That history matters when reviewing old photographs or lineup descriptions, but it should not be confused with a permanent reduction to four members. The current Backstreet Boys lineup is five: Richardson, Littrell, Dorough, McLean, and Carter.
Nick Carter
Licensed photograph from the Millennium or Black & Blue era
Recent official or licensed image of Nick Carter
Nickolas Gene Carter was born on January 28, 1980, and is 46 as of August 11, 2026. He remains the youngest of the five current members.
Carter became one of the most recognizable teen-pop figures of the Backstreet Boys’ peak period, particularly during the Backstreet Boys, Backstreet’s Back, Millennium, and Black & Blue years. Because his appearance and styling changed quickly across those album and publicity cycles, a “then” photograph should be labeled by era rather than presented as a generic image of his youth.
Today, Carter remains one of the five Backstreet Boys and has also pursued solo recording and touring between group projects. His continuing place in the lineup is the clearest answer to the “then and now” question: the youngest member of the original pop phenomenon is still part of the group’s adult touring and recording era.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the five-member lineup stayed together
- 1993: The group forms in Orlando with A.J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson, and Brian Littrell.
- 1996–1997: The group’s international and U.S. breakthrough establishes the recognizable five-member visual identity.
- 1999–2000: Millennium and Black & Blue define the group’s peak global-pop period.
- 2006–2012: Richardson takes a temporary departure and later returns. The modern lineup is again all five members.
- 2022–2023: The group releases A Very Backstreet Christmas and completes the DNA World Tour, which the official group history describes as exceeding 150 shows across multiple regions.
- 2024: The Backstreet Boys celebrate their 30th anniversary with fans in Cancún.
- 2025–2026: The group releases Millennium 2.0 and performs the Into The Millennium residency at Sphere in Las Vegas. Official listings also include 2026 Las Vegas dates; availability should be checked at publication time.
For a deeper visual history
Readers who want more than a pair of comparison photographs may enjoy the Backstreet Boys 30th Anniversary Celebration book, a tribute volume built around tour photography, member profiles, and fan memories. It is a more useful keepsake for this subject than generic celebrity merchandise because it follows the group’s history and the five members together. Quarto lists Amazon among its retail channels, although edition and availability should be verified before linking.
Older archival options include the 1997 Virgin publication Backstreet Boys: The Official Picture Book, which includes photographs and six posters, and André Csillag’s 2000 photo essay Backstreet Boys: The Official Book. These may be used or intermittently available, so collectors should expect resale-market conditions rather than assume current retail stock.
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How to choose the pictures
A strong then-and-now feature depends as much on image sourcing as on the captions. For the early side, use licensed archival press photographs, editorially permissible album artwork, or images supplied by a photo agency or rights-cleared archive. For the current side, prioritize official press images, credited event photography, or compliant embeds from the original platform.
- Label every photograph with the date or era whenever it is known.
- Add the location and photographer or agency to the publishing record and caption when available.
- Confirm that the license covers the site, the article, social promotion, and any commercial use.
- Do not assume an image is reusable because it appears on the official Backstreet Boys website.
- Avoid fan-posted screenshots, downloaded social-media images, and unattributed before-and-after collages.
- Do not use changes in appearance to imply facts about health, relationships, finances, or family life.
The official social page is useful for confirming the identities of the five current members and locating their individual channels, but it is not a blanket image license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the original five Backstreet Boys still together?
Yes. The current five-member lineup is A.J. McLean, Brian Littrell, Howie Dorough, Kevin Richardson, and Nick Carter. Kevin Richardson’s temporary 2006–2012 departure does not change the fact that the active lineup is five members.
Who is the oldest Backstreet Boy?
Kevin Richardson is the oldest member. He was born October 3, 1971, and was 54 on August 11, 2026.
Who is the youngest Backstreet Boy?
Nick Carter is the youngest. He was born January 28, 1980, and was 46 on August 11, 2026.
Are the Backstreet Boys still performing in 2026?
The group’s official history documents the 2025–2026 Into The Millennium residency at Sphere in Las Vegas and lists 2026 Las Vegas dates. Ticket availability and exact performance dates should be checked on the official event listing immediately before publication or purchase.
The Bottom Line
The most notable “then and now” fact is continuity: despite changing styles, eras, and occasional individual projects, A.J. McLean, Brian Littrell, Howie Dorough, Kevin Richardson, and Nick Carter remain the Backstreet Boys’ current five-member lineup.
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