Brian Littrell
Brian Thomas Littrell (born February 20, 1975) is an American singer, songwriter, and philanthropist best known as a member of the Backstreet Boys, one of the best-selling boy bands in history with over 130 million albums sold worldwide.[1][2] Littrell was born in Lexington, Kentucky, where he grew up singing in the choir at Porter Memorial Baptist Church and later attended Tates Creek High School.[1] In 1993, during his senior year, he received a phone call from his cousin Kevin Richardson inviting him to audition for a new vocal group being formed by manager Lou Pearlman; Littrell joined alongside Richardson, AJ McLean, Howie Dorough, and Nick Carter, forming the Backstreet Boys.[2] The group released their debut single "We've Got It Goin' On" in 1995, achieving initial success in Europe before breaking into the U.S. market with the 1997 hit "Quit Playin' Games (With My Heart)."[1][2] The Backstreet Boys rose to global stardom in the late 1990s with albums like Millennium (1999), which sold 1.1 million copies in its first week and featured the iconic single "I Want It That Way," and Black & Blue (2000), which debuted with 1.6 million first-week sales.[1] The band received a Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist in 1999 and later earned another for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance in 2019 for "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" from their album DNA.[1][3] They were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and performed the National Anthem at Super Bowl XXXV in 2001.[1] During this peak period, Littrell faced significant health challenges; born with a ventricular septal defect (VSD), a congenital heart defect causing a hole in the heart, he underwent open-heart surgery in 1998 to repair it while the group balanced intense touring obligations.[4][5] In addition to his work with the Backstreet Boys, Littrell released the solo contemporary Christian album Welcome Home in 2006, which reached No. 3 on the Billboard Christian Albums chart.[1] He has been active in philanthropy, co-founding the Brian Littrell Healthy Heart Club for Kids to promote heart-healthy lifestyles and serving as an advocate for the Heartfelt Dreams Foundation, which supports children with congenital heart defects, drawing from his own experiences as a survivor.[6][4] Littrell married actress and real estate agent Leighanne Wallace on September 2, 2000, after proposing on Christmas Eve 1999.[1] The couple has one son, Baylee Thomas Wylee Littrell, born on November 26, 2002, who has followed in his father's footsteps as a performer, appearing on Broadway in Disaster! at age 13 and auditioning for season 23 of American Idol in 2025, where he advanced to Hollywood alongside a duet performance with his father.[7] The family resides in Atlanta, Georgia, and Littrell continues to tour with the Backstreet Boys, including their DNA World Tour in 2023 and a residency at Sphere in Las Vegas in 2025–2026.[2][7][8]Early life
Family and childhood
Brian Thomas Littrell was born on February 20, 1975, in Lexington, Kentucky, to Harold Baker Littrell Jr., an IBM employee, and Jacqueline "Jackie" R. (née Fox) Littrell, a church volunteer and former dentist's secretary. He grew up as the youngest of two brothers, alongside his older sibling Harold Littrell III, who pursued a career in acting and singing. The family resided in a middle-class household in Lexington, where both parents actively participated in church activities, fostering a close-knit, supportive environment centered on faith and community.[9] Raised in a devout Baptist family, Littrell attended Porter Memorial Baptist Church regularly with his parents and brother, where the musical and religious atmosphere profoundly shaped his early years. He began singing in the church choir as a young child and performed his first solo at around age seven in front of the congregation, an experience that ignited his passion for music. By age 14, encouraged by his choir teacher, he started performing at local weddings, honing his vocal skills in a faith-based setting that emphasized communal worship and expression.[10][11] The family's strong religious ties extended to Littrell's personal aspirations, influenced in part by his cousin Kevin Richardson, whose own musical pursuits highlighted the potential of a career in performance. During childhood, Littrell balanced these influences with interests in sports, particularly basketball, which he dreamed of pursuing professionally, and music ministry, envisioning a future leading worship through song. This blend of athletic ambition and spiritual calling defined his formative years, laying the groundwork for his later path in music.[12]Education and early aspirations
Brian Littrell attended Tates Creek High School in Lexington, Kentucky, where he developed his interests in music and athletics during his teenage years.[1] He graduated in 1994.[13] At school, Littrell participated in the choir under director Barry Turner, which helped refine his vocal abilities starting from an early age.[14] He also joined the basketball team and played in a church league, showcasing his athletic talents alongside his high school peers.[15] Additionally, involvement in church youth groups at Porter Memorial Baptist Church allowed him to lead worship and perform solos, building his stage presence through community events.[1] Growing up in a Baptist family, Littrell's religious background shaped his early goals, including aspirations to become a music minister after high school.[16] He had planned to attend Cincinnati Bible College on a vocal scholarship to study youth and music ministry.[17] Alongside this, he dreamed of a professional basketball career, participating in local games and talent shows that highlighted his multifaceted talents.[11] These activities, such as school plays and wedding performances beginning at age 14, further nurtured his performance skills before his focus shifted to music.[11]Career
Backstreet Boys involvement
Brian Littrell was recruited to join the Backstreet Boys in April 1993 at the age of 18, when his cousin Kevin Richardson pulled him from his American History class at Tates Creek High School in Lexington, Kentucky, to audition for the newly forming group led by Louis J. Pearlman and Johnny Wright.[2] As a core member, Littrell served as a lead and harmony vocalist, helping define the band's harmonious pop sound across their discography. He also contributed to songwriting, co-writing tracks such as "The One" from the 1999 album Millennium alongside Max Martin and Kristian Lundin.[18] In 1997, Littrell initiated a lawsuit against manager Lou Pearlman and Trans Continental Records, alleging financial mismanagement and breach of contract; the suit claimed the group had received minimal compensation despite generating substantial revenue, prompting the full band to join the action later that year.[19] The legal battle highlighted ongoing disputes over royalties and control, ultimately leading to the group's independence from Pearlman. That same year, Littrell's vocal health concerns began to surface amid intense touring, though they were exacerbated by a major health event the following year. During the band's 1998 European tour, Littrell underwent open-heart surgery on May 8 at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota to repair a congenital ventricular septal defect (a hole in his heart), forcing a temporary hiatus in performances and shifting focus to recovery.[20] The procedure, while life-saving, contributed to long-term vocal challenges, including muscle tension dysphonia and dystonia, diagnosed in 2011, which affected his range but did not end his career.[20] Littrell's involvement was central to the Backstreet Boys' peak commercial success in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The 1999 album Millennium, featuring Littrell's prominent vocals on hits like "I Want It That Way" and his co-written "The One," debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and became the best-selling album of the year in the United States with over 1.1 million copies sold in its first week.[18] The follow-up, Black & Blue (2000), also topped the charts globally, with Littrell delivering key harmonies on singles such as "Shape of My Heart," solidifying the band's international dominance. In 2000, Littrell was recognized as one of Teen People's 25 Hottest Stars Under 25, tying with *NSYNC's Justin Timberlake.[21] The group continued to thrive with Littrell's steady presence through subsequent eras. In 2019, he performed as a lead vocalist on the DNA World Tour, supporting the album DNA and drawing over 1 million attendees worldwide, including special moments like duets with his son Baylee as an opener.[22] After a period of individual pursuits, including Littrell's solo Christian music work, the band resumed high-profile residencies and tours. Their Larger Than Life residency at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, which ran from 2017 to 2021 and attracted over 200,000 fans, marked a return to live performance stability post-pandemic.[23] In 2025, Littrell participated in the band's groundbreaking Into the Millennium residency at Sphere Las Vegas, an 18-show run celebrating their Y2K-era hits with immersive visuals and aerial elements; the residency, initially scheduled for summer 2025, was extended in August 2025 with additional dates in December 2025–January 2026 and February 2026, including a New Year's Eve performance, due to high demand.[24] During performances, his acrophobia led to visible anxiety on a 75-foot floating platform, where he gripped a safety bar for support while delivering vocals.[25] Earlier that year, in March, Littrell and the group appeared at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for a NASCAR event, promoting the Sphere dates by posing with driver John Hunter Nemechek, whose No. 42 car featured Backstreet Boys branding.[26] These activities underscored Littrell's enduring commitment to the band amid evolving vocal adaptations.Solo Christian music career
Littrell's solo career in contemporary Christian music began with the release of his debut album Welcome Home on May 2, 2006, through Reunion Records, a division of Sony BMG. The album, which Littrell co-wrote six tracks for, explores themes of personal faith, family, and spiritual homecoming, reflecting his desire to share his Christian beliefs through music. It debuted at No. 74 on the Billboard 200 chart and reached No. 3 on the Christian Albums chart, selling over 100,000 copies in the United States. The success of this project was enabled by his prominence with the Backstreet Boys, providing a platform for his faith-based solo venture. Littrell received recognition for his contributions to Christian music, including the 2006 GMA Dove Award for Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year for his cover of "In Christ Alone," shared with songwriters Don Koch and Shawn Craig. He earned a Dove Award in 2008 for Special Event Album of the Year as a contributor to Glory Revealed II: The Word of God in Worship. These accolades highlighted his transition into the genre and the impact of his recordings within Christian music circles. In 2010, Littrell released Brian Littrell's Family Christmas, a three-track EP featuring collaborations with his wife, Leighanne, and son, Baylee, including covers of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Winter Wonderland." This was followed by the 2011 EP Christmas with the Littrells, which expanded on family-themed holiday songs such as "Mary, Did You Know?" and "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," again involving Leighanne and Baylee in performances that emphasized seasonal joy and familial bonds. Littrell's motivations for pursuing a solo Christian career stem from his born-again Christian conversion at age 8, which he has described as a foundational influence shaping his musical expression and life choices. Despite the initial acclaim, he has not released any major solo Christian albums since 2011, instead incorporating occasional faith-inspired performances into his broader career while prioritizing group commitments. As of 2025, no new solo projects in the genre have been announced.Television and film work
Brian Littrell has made several guest appearances and cameos in television and film, primarily as himself or alongside his Backstreet Boys bandmates, with a focus on promotional and ensemble roles rather than lead acting parts. His earliest notable screen credit came in the 1998 episode "The Band Episode" of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, where he and the Backstreet Boys performed and interacted with the cast in a battle-of-the-bands storyline.[27] In 1998 and 1999, Littrell appeared as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live with the Backstreet Boys, performing hits like "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" and "I Want It That Way" during episodes hosted by Julianne Moore and Sarah Michelle Gellar, respectively.[28][29] The group also featured in the 2002 Arthur special "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll," providing voice work as animated versions of themselves mentoring young characters on forming a band. That same year, they guested on Sesame Street in Season 33, Episode 4051, collaborating with Elmo on the song "One Small Voice" to promote themes of unity and kindness.[30] Littrell's film cameos include a small role as a horse-drawn carriage driver in the 2001 independent romantic comedy Olive Juice, which starred his wife Leighanne Littrell and also featured bandmate A.J. McLean as a DJ. He later reunited with the Backstreet Boys for a brief appearance in the 2013 apocalyptic comedy This Is the End, playing exaggerated versions of themselves amid celebrity chaos.[31] To promote his 2006 solo Christian album Welcome Home (You), Littrell made talk show appearances, including performances and interviews on CBS's The Early Show and CMT's Studio 330 Sessions.[32][33] In a more personal media moment, Littrell joined his son Baylee on stage during Baylee's audition for the 2025 season of American Idol, dueting on an original song and sharing emotional support as judges praised the family dynamic.[34] Since 2013, Littrell has had no major acting roles, limiting his television and film involvement to occasional promotional spots and group reunions, with no ongoing series commitments.[35]Philanthropy and other ventures
Littrell has been actively involved in philanthropy, particularly supporting causes related to children's health and heart conditions, drawing from his own experience as a survivor of congenital heart defect. In the early 2000s, he founded the Brian Littrell Healthy Heart Club for Kids, a non-profit organization that provides education, exercise programs, nutrition guidance, and rehabilitation support for children aged 6 to 16 with congenital heart problems or at risk for heart disease.[36] Through his work with the Backstreet Boys, Littrell has participated in various charity initiatives, including partnerships with Make-A-Wish America to fund life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses; in 2025, the group ran a fundraising campaign offering fan meet-and-greet opportunities in exchange for donations to the organization.[37] He has also leveraged his basketball background in occasional sports-related charity events, such as challenging rival boy band members to games with proceeds benefiting youth causes.[38] In 2025, Littrell increased his advocacy for heart health by providing a video testimonial for the Heartfelt Dreams Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to improving the treatment experience for congenital heart defect patients and their families through financial aid and awareness efforts.[4] Beyond philanthropy, Littrell has pursued other ventures, including real estate investments; he owns an estate in Alpharetta, Georgia, featuring a custom chateau-style mansion completed in 2020, complete with amenities like an indoor basketball court and pool house.[39] There have been no major entrepreneurial launches from him since 2023.Personal life
Marriage and family
Brian Littrell met actress Leighanne Wallace on the set of the Backstreet Boys' music video for "As Long as You Love Me" in 1997.[40] The couple became engaged on Christmas Eve 1999 and married on September 2, 2000, at Peachtree Christian Church in Atlanta, Georgia, in a ceremony attended by about 300 guests.[41] Their wedding marked a significant personal milestone amid the band's rising fame. The Littrells welcomed their only child, son Baylee Thomas Littrell, on November 26, 2002, in Atlanta.[7] The family resides in a spacious mansion in Alpharetta, a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia, where they have built a close-knit home life.[39] Family collaborations have been a highlight of their dynamics, including the release of Brian Littrell's Family Christmas in 2010 and Christmas with the Littrells in 2011, which featured vocals from Leighanne and young Baylee.[42] Baylee has pursued his own entertainment career, releasing his debut country single "Don't Knock It" in 2018, his first EP Vol. One in 2022, and new music in 2025 inspired by Carrie Underwood.[43] He auditioned for season 23 of American Idol in 2025, where he performed an original song and joined his father onstage for a duet; he advanced to Hollywood Week with a golden ticket but was eliminated before the Top 14 in April 2025.[44][45] The family continues to support one another, with Leighanne and Baylee frequently attending Backstreet Boys performances. In June 2022, Leighanne's mother passed away from a heart condition, an event Baylee later reflected on during his American Idol journey as a pivotal loss that influenced his faith and music.[46]Health challenges
Brian Littrell was born with a congenital heart defect, specifically a ventricular septal defect, which required open-heart surgery on May 8, 1998, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, while the Backstreet Boys were in the midst of their Millennium World Tour.[47] The procedure addressed a hole in his heart that had caused recurrent health issues, including hospitalizations during his childhood, and was postponed initially to fulfill touring commitments, ultimately leading to a brief pause in the group's schedule.[47] In October 2009, Littrell was diagnosed with swine flu (H1N1), prompting the cancellation of several Backstreet Boys promotional appearances in New York and the postponement of related tour elements to allow for his recovery under treatment with Tamiflu.[48] Littrell received a diagnosis of vocal tension dysphonia and muscle tension dysphonia in 2011, conditions that cause excessive strain on the vocal cords, particularly affecting his ability to hit high notes due to neurological and muscular issues rather than structural damage.[20] He has managed these through ongoing vocal therapy and adjustments to his singing technique, which he described as a "work in progress" in a July 2025 interview.[49] During the Backstreet Boys' 2025 residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Littrell continued to navigate the condition by incorporating targeted exercises and modifications to maintain performance quality amid the demanding schedule.[50] As a heart defect survivor, Littrell has advocated for congenital heart defect awareness through the Heartfelt Dreams Foundation, a nonprofit his family supports that provides financial and emotional aid to affected patients and families, emphasizing his personal journey of resilience in public campaigns as of 2025.[4] No major new health events have been reported following his 2025 vocal disclosures, underscoring his continued management of these challenges while sustaining a professional career.[20]Religious faith
Brian Littrell became a born-again Christian at the age of eight, an experience that marked the beginning of his lifelong commitment to evangelical faith within a Baptist tradition.[17] This early conversion, rooted in his upbringing in Lexington, Kentucky, where he regularly attended Baptist services and sang in church choirs, profoundly shaped his worldview, instilling values of gratitude, purpose, and reliance on divine guidance throughout his personal and professional life.[51] Littrell has frequently attributed his success and resilience to this faith, describing it as the cornerstone that sustains him amid fame's challenges.[52] His religious beliefs have deeply influenced his career trajectory, particularly his aspiration to pursue music as a form of ministry. After high school, Littrell intended to attend Cincinnati Bible College on a vocal scholarship to study youth or music ministry, viewing his talents as tools for spiritual outreach rather than secular entertainment alone.[52] Although his path with the Backstreet Boys diverted him toward pop stardom, he integrated his faith by using the platform to promote positive messages and later channeled it directly through his solo contemporary Christian music career, releasing the album Welcome Home in 2006 as a deliberate expression of his devotion.[17] This shift allowed him to fulfill a long-held desire to minister through song, blending his vocal abilities with gospel and inspirational themes to inspire listeners in their spiritual journeys.[51] Littrell has openly shared his faith through public testimonies in interviews, emphasizing how it guides his decisions in the secular music industry, such as declining provocative photoshoots to honor his beliefs and family.[53] He has performed at church events, including a 2016 appearance at Liberty University where he shared his testimony alongside Backstreet Boys songs, and participated in symbolic acts like his 2015 baptism in the Jordan River with his wife.[54][55] Within his family, worship remains a central tradition, evident in shared spiritual practices and his son Baylee's public expressions of faith through worship music.[56] His philanthropy reflects this faith-driven ethos, as seen in his founding of the Brian Littrell Healthy Heart Club in 1999 to support children with congenital heart defects—a cause close to his own experiences—while earning recognition for positive impact through Christian music initiatives.[17] Littrell has maintained a consistent evangelical stance without significant doctrinal changes into the 2020s, continuing to prioritize faith as a unifying force in his life and work.[53]Works
Filmography
Brian Littrell's filmography is limited to cameo roles, guest appearances, and self-representations, with no lead acting credits.[35] His contributions primarily tie to promotional or musical performances alongside the Backstreet Boys or individually.| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Sabrina the Teenage Witch (TV series) | Himself (as Backstreet Boys member) | Episode: "The Band Episode"; musical performance cameo.[27] |
| 1998 | Saturday Night Live (TV series) | Musical Guest (as Backstreet Boys member) | Performed "As Long as You Love Me" and "Everybody"; hosted by Julianne Moore. |
| 1999 | Saturday Night Live (TV series) | Musical Guest (as Backstreet Boys member) | Performed "I Want It That Way" and "All I Have to Give"; hosted by Sarah Michelle Gellar.[29] |
| 2001 | Olive Juice (film) | Horse-Drawn Carriage Driver | Brief cameo in independent film produced by his wife, Leighanne Littrell.[57] |
| 2002 | Arthur (TV series) | Himself (voice) | Guest voice in special episode "Arthur: It's Only Rock 'n' Roll"; performed with Backstreet Boys. |
| 2002 | Sesame Street (TV series) | Himself (as Backstreet Boys member) | Guest appearance singing "One Small Voice" with Elmo.[30] |
| 2013 | This Is the End (film) | Backstreet Boys Member | Group cameo during apocalyptic sequence. |
| 2015 | Backstreet Boys: Show 'Em What You're Made Of (documentary) | Himself | Group appearance in documentary about the band's history. |
| 2025 | Saturday Night Live (TV series) | Musical Guest (as Backstreet Boys member) | Performed "I Want It That Way" at SNL50: The Homecoming Concert.[58] |
| 2025 | American Idol (TV series) | Guest (Himself) | Appeared in support of son Baylee Littrell's audition and performances during season premiere episodes.[44] |