AJ McLean
AJ McLean is a founding member of the Backstreet Boys, a solo singer and songwriter performing as Alexander James, and the host of Netflix’s Building the Band.
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Latest
AJ’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Backstreet Boys
Solo music
Netflix
Solo music
VH1Overview
- Full name
- Alexander James McLean
- Born
- January 9, 1978 · West Palm Beach, Florida
- Work
- Singer, songwriter, dancer and television host
- Group
- Founding member of Backstreet Boys
- Solo name
- Alexander James
- First solo album
- Have It All · 2010
Mini bio
How it started.
Born in West Palm Beach, Florida, AJ worked in dance and acting as a child before finding his place in a vocal group. He auditioned for the project that became the Backstreet Boys as a teenager. The final five-member band officially formed on April 20, 1993, and played its first big show together at SeaWorld in Orlando that May.
The songs fans grew up with.
The Backstreet Boys’ 1996 debut and 1997 follow-up built their audience before Millennium arrived in 1999. Its songs include I Want It That Way, Larger Than Life and Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely. AJ’s work with the group continued through albums including Black & Blue and DNA, alongside his own solo recordings.
Getting to know Alex.
His first solo album, Have It All, came out in 2010. Later songs explored country-pop as well as pop and R&B. In 2025 he introduced hi my name is Alex, followed by My Name Is Alexander James in January 2026. He has explained that the Alexander James name lets listeners meet the person behind his familiar initials.
Beyond the records.
AJ won RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race as Poppy Love in 2022, supporting Trans Lifeline. In 2025 he became the host of Netflix’s Building the Band, drawing on his experience in a vocal group to guide a new generation of performers.
Creditschronological, newest first
Music
- 2026Into Your HeartSolo artist and music video co-director
- 2026FlowersCo-artist with Ty Dolla $ign
- 2026My Name Is Alexander JamesSolo artist
- 2025Hi My Name Is AlexSolo artist; co-writer on tracks including Arizona and Y.O.U
- 2019DNABackstreet Boys vocalist
- 2010Have It AllSolo artist
- 1999MillenniumBackstreet Boys vocalist
Television
- 2025Building the BandHost
- 2022RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag RacePoppy Love; season 2 winner
- 2020Dancing with the StarsSeason 29 contestant
Awards
- RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race winner2022 · Won season 2 as Poppy Love, earning $100,000 for Trans Lifeline.
- GRAMMY nominations with Backstreet Boys2000 · Millennium received Album of the Year and Best Pop Album nominations; I Want It That Way was nominated for Record of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
- Hollywood Walk of Fame2013 · Honored with a star as a member of the Backstreet Boys.
Quotes
I want the world to get to know Alex.AJ McLean, The Jennifer Hudson Show, reported by ABC Audio
On October 20, 2025, he explained why he was introducing his solo work under his full given name.
Trivia
- He has also performed under the alter ego Johnny No Name.
- My Name Is Alexander James arrived on January 9, 2026, his 48th birthday.
- He has said the Jackson 5 influenced the Backstreet Boys’ Sphere setlist.
- His drag persona Poppy Love won a charity prize for Trans Lifeline.
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