Why the Backstreet Boys Credit Their Kids With Band’s Longevity

Why the Backstreet Boys Credit Their Kids With Their Longevity as a Group

Everybody in the Backstreet Boys knows that the importance of family is larger than life.

Though they’ve been hitting the stage for three decades now, bandmates Nick Carter, AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, Howie Dorough and Kevin Richardson—stressed that becoming fathers has reframed how they look at their careers.

"It's something that we all share," AJ—who shares daughters Elliott, 13, and Lyric, 9, with estranged wife Rochelle McLean—exclusively told E! News at The One Party by Uber in New York City June 12. "We all now know about balance. Obviously, family comes first. We try to balance our work and our personal lives. We all spend quality time together when we're on the road with our families."

Dad of two Kevin concurred with his sentiments, saying, "Having kids has changed all of our lives for the better."

As Nick—who shares kids Odin, 10, Saoirse, 6, and Pearl, 5, with wife Lauren Kitt Carter—put it simply, "We do everything for our children, now."

In fact, Howie—who shares sons James, 17, and Holden, 13, with wife Leigh Dorough—pointed out that becoming fathers has made them all more "selfless" as they navigate life.

So, amid their busy schedule, they are making sure to carve out some quality time on Father’s Day with their loved ones.

"Father's Day is gonna be an awesome day," he gushed. "I can't speak on behalf of the rest of the guys, but I'm just gonna be with my girls. They're gonna cook me dinner, so we'll see how that goes. But it's gonna be nice to be home."

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Uber

But beyond navigating the work-life balance, the "I Want It That Way" hitmakers believe that having a source of support at home has been the key to their longevity as a group.

"Hard work, communication, team work, sacrificing for each other, supporting one another, good support structure at home," Kevin, dad to sons Mason, 19, and Maxwell, 12, with wife Kristin Richardson, shared when asked how they've been able to stay together for three decades. "We got five great women that have supported everything we've done. Our families, good management, great fans, good music, hard work, heart and soul."

And while they're unsure that there will be a next generation Backstreet Boys super-group made up of all of their children, Brian did make sure to shout out his son Baylee, 23—who he shares with wife Leighanne Wallace—as the American Idol alum paves his own path as an artist.

"My son is in the music business, as well," the 51-year-old gushed. "He's following in Daddy's footsteps, so we'll see."

"As fathers, that's all we do," he added, "is support our kids no matter what they do. It doesn't matter; we love them anyway."

While the Backstreet Boys have no doubt had staying power, keep reading for some other boy bands that you may have forgotten about from over the years...