AJ McLean on Backstreet Boys' Residency, Celebrity Drag Race & New Netflix Show

Summary

Podcast Summary: Just Trish – Episode Featuring AJ McLean

Podcast Information:

• Title: Just Trish
• Host: Trisha Paytas
• Co-Host: Oscar Gracey
• Guest: AJ McLean (Backstreet Boys)
• Episode Title: AJ McLean
• Release Date: June 5, 2025

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Introduction to the Episode

In this engaging episode of Just Trish, Trisha Paytas welcomes AJ McLean from the iconic pop group Backstreet Boys. The conversation delves into AJ's personal journey, the band's recent endeavors, and his ventures beyond music. The episode offers a candid and heartfelt discussion, underscored by humorous anecdotes and insightful reflections.

---

Meeting AJ McLean and Early Memories

Trisha reminisces about her first encounter with AJ, highlighting a cherished memory from a Criss Angel show in Las Vegas.

• Trish (02:11): "I was just going to ask. What's your mental illness?"
• AJ (02:19): "Piece of Ism is my... That's my only thing going on."

They exchange warmth, recalling how AJ greeted her and her mother, cementing a memorable first meeting.

---

Mental Health and Sobriety

AJ opens up about his struggles with mental health and addiction, emphasizing his journey toward sobriety.

• AJ (03:13): "I was not in the best head space. I was not sober during the entire run. Now, coming up on almost four years sober."
• Trish (10:03): "That's wild because you've gone to rehab three times and you've had outpatient mental health."

He discusses attending an intensive outpatient program at The Meadows in Scottsdale, Arizona, focusing on sex and relationship addiction. AJ credits motivational speakers like Brené Brown for inspiring his path to healing.

• AJ (20:12): "It's the age-old saying, if you can't love yourself, you can't love somebody else."

---

Backstreet Boys' Residency at Sphere Las Vegas

The conversation shifts to the Backstreet Boys' groundbreaking residency at Sphere Las Vegas, the world's premier residency venue.

• AJ (05:15): "We're the first pop band in there, the first artist, technically."
• Trish (07:23): "It's a complete experience that's gonna be insane."

They discuss the venue's advanced technology, including 166,000 speakers and haptic seats that vibrate and move, creating an immersive concert experience. AJ teases about exclusive content and a special celebration for the 25th anniversary of their album Millennium.

• AJ (07:36): "It's going to commemorate the 25th anniversary of our biggest album, Millennium."

---

Personal Life and Parenting

AJ shares insights into his role as a father, balancing fame with parenting young daughters.

• Trish (26:05): "How do you deal with that? Being a girl dad is so different."
• AJ (26:16): "I have 12 and 8, both going on 35... I'm a big fan of ginger ale."

He humorously recounts hosting a party for his daughter, complete with sneakers and toys, earning him the title of "cool dad."

• AJ (57:36): "We have the same body shape... She's already talking about possibly doing it because she's having a tough time."

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Entrepreneurial Ventures and Creative Projects

AJ discusses his entrepreneurial spirit, particularly his foray into the beauty industry with his line Ava Dean, aimed at creating makeup products suitable for children.

• AJ (61:41): "We have lip gloss. We have body spray. We have body scrubs."
• Trish (63:08): "I'm so excited to start this makeup line."

He emphasizes the importance of safe, kid-friendly products, drawing from his own family's experiences with makeup.

---

Experience on Netflix's Celebrity Drag Race

AJ recounts his experience hosting Building the Band, a Netflix competition show featuring industry heavyweights like Nicole Scherzinger and the late Liam Payne.

• AJ (30:40): "It's a competition show called Building the Band... It's a clever way for bands to come together."
• Trish (38:04): "Do you want to sing on the spot?"

He humorously details his drag performances, including challenges like wearing multiple layers to accommodate heavy prosthetics.

• AJ (39:12): "I did Drag Race... I had to explain to my kids about my drag persona."

---

Social Media and Personal Branding

AJ touches on his evolving relationship with social media, prioritizing meaningful interactions over trend-following content.

• AJ (51:20): "I'm an ambassador for At Peak... 10 million views."
• Trish (51:50): "I think you should definitely."

He highlights successful TikTok collaborations, including viral recreations of popular scenes and promotional content for his mocktail company.

---

Health and Wellness

The discussion also covers AJ's proactive approach to health, including hair transplants and cosmetic procedures to maintain his appearance.

• AJ (34:28): "I've done this procedure twice... Absolutely recommend."
• Trish (35:26): "I think it looks cool."

He candidly talks about his struggles with smoking and his plans to quit as part of his ongoing sobriety journey.

• AJ (10:03): "I'm planning on quitting. It's the last vice I have."

---

Final Reflections and Future Endeavors

As the episode draws to a close, Trish and AJ exchange heartfelt sentiments, celebrating their friendship and looking forward to future collaborations.

• Trish (67:58): "Besties for life."
• AJ (68:03): "We'll see you guys. July 11th, kick off."

AJ shares his excitement for upcoming projects, including a solo EP release and further involvement in the beauty and LGBTQ+ communities.

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Notable Quotes:

• AJ McLean (03:13): "I can't blame geography. It's... I was just not in the right mental space."
• Trish Paytas (10:03): "That's wild because you've gone to rehab three times and you've had outpatient mental health."
• AJ McLean (07:36): "You will hear the entire Millennium album in the show. Wow."
• AJ McLean (20:12): "It takes care of your kids, your wife, your husband, your family... you need to take care of yourself first."
• Trish Paytas (67:58): "Besties for life."

---

Conclusion

This episode of Just Trish offers an intimate glimpse into AJ McLean's life, from his personal battles and triumphs to his creative ventures and family dynamics. Trisha Paytas facilitates a conversation that is both entertaining and deeply personal, providing listeners with valuable insights into the life of a beloved pop star. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to AJ's story, this episode delivers an engaging and heartfelt narrative that resonates on multiple levels.

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Subscribe to 'Just Trish' on YouTube: Just Trish Podcast

Transcript

[Trish]

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[AJ McLean]

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[Trish]

Oh, I was just gonna ask. What's your mental illness?

[AJ McLean]

Piece of Ism is my. That's my.

[Trish]

That's my only thing going on.

[AJ McLean]

I got to keep my boobs and my. And my. And my butt. Petting.

[Trish]

Petting. Do you still wear it?

[AJ McLean]

No, but I'll throw the boobs on every once in a while when I make coffee just to mess with my kids. Actually, I'll put them on under my shirt. And I'm like, good morning, girls. They're like, dad.

[Trish]

Oh, my God, I love. Her name is Trish. She's got the fish. Yay.

[AJ McLean]

You're a fan of Labubu?

[Trish]

Yes. Are you?

[AJ McLean]

Yes.

[Trish]

You're a Lubu Boo fan. Okay, well, let's just get into it then, all right?

[AJ McLean]

Oh, yeah. Just a little.

[Trish]

I didn't know that. Okay, well, welcome to Just Trish. You guys, today my guest is someone. I don't think I've ever been so giddy. My husband's like, I've never seen you so, like, nervous, excited. I just. You guys, AJ McLean from the Backstreet Boys is here.

[AJ McLean]

What? Hi.

[Trish]

I'm playing it cool, but. Oh, I mean, you're probably used to this. Just us millennial like, women now. Just being like, you were everything in my childhood.

[AJ McLean]

Thank you.

[Trish]

It's crazy to see you. To, like, see you here. When I saw you walk in, I was like, this is. It feels like a dream. It feels unreal.

[AJ McLean]

Thank you for having me. I am a big fan. I. I know that we were talking prior to this about when we first met or at least when I recall first meeting you at Criss angel show in Vegas. And I just thought you were the most adorable thing I've ever seen. And I was just like, you were all in pink. And I was like, this is like a real life Barbie. Like, this is. She's so cute. She's so sweet. And you were so nice. And you said hi to my mom. Because I was with my mom.

[Trish]

Yes.

[AJ McLean]

And my mom just thought the world of you.

[Trish]

So that's so wild. You remember, I have the picture. We'll put the picture up because it's like one of my favorite, favorite pictures. That's wild. You remember? I remember that I had just gotten out of a mental hospital, my first mental hospital stay. So it was like three days later. I was feeling, like, so depressed. And then, yeah, when Chris invited me to the show, I was so excited because I had known him for a while too. But then when I saw you, because you guys were playing a residency at the Hollywood.

[AJ McLean]

We had a. Yes, we had a. That was our very first residency. Yeah, I don't remember much of the residency because I was not in the best head space. I definitely was not sober during the entire run. And now coming up on almost four years sober. But. But yeah, it was a different, different time for me. And, you know, and I can't blame it on Vegas. You can't blame it on geography. It's. You know, I was just not in the right mental. So.

[Trish]

But, oh, my gosh. So what this is. We met in 2019. That was the one. We saw the Criss angel show. So what year of the residency was that for you guys?

[AJ McLean]

That was the end of the residency. We started in 2017. We initially put up nine shows. Those sold out in about 20 minutes, so we added nine more, and by the end of the run, we had 81 shows, so. And at the. At the time, it was the fastest selling residency in Vegas history. And then now. So Vegas kept asking us after that, we got to get you guys back. And, you know, we were talking with Caesars. We were talking. Planet is kind of going through a transition. I believe they got bought out. And I think they're either turning into the Sands or they may be going back to the Aladdin. I'm not sure. But they're getting a full, like, makeover. So they don't currently have anybody there doing any shows right now as far as any, like, residency. But Caesars, we had to deal with them because Caesar's owns Planet. So we were doing all that stuff. And then we went back on tour. We finished up the DNA tour, which took us four years because of the pandemic. We should have been done in 2022 or no, sorry, 2021. And we didn't finish until May 2023. And then we took a year off. Well, I didn't take a year off. The rest of the boys took a year off. And then we just got the offer to do Sphere Las Vegas. And there is no bigger residency level venue in the world.

[Trish]

No, it was like, you two and then Backstreet Boys.

[AJ McLean]

I mean, we're the first pop band in there, the first artist, technically. We went and saw the Eagles to do some recon just because none of us had ever seen a show there. Yeah, and it's like, it's overwhelming. I mean, you. You feel like you're gonna miss something if you don't look everywhere. Like your neck is killing you when you leave. Because you're looking the screen, all of it, 166,000 speakers. The. The seats are haptic, so they vibrate, they move.

[Trish]

It's.

[AJ McLean]

It's a complete experience that's gonna be.

[Trish]

So insane with, like, especially, like, pop music because there's, like, DJs that play there and you just, like, feel the boom, boom, boom. Oh, yeah. But with, like, larger than life in there. Like, how. What's that even look like? Like, robots over top of you.

[AJ McLean]

Like, we, We. We just finished shooting a bunch of content for the actual show as well as. So the thing about the Sphere is. Or I, I. Sphere Las Vegas. I keep getting corrected. It's not the sphere. It's just sphere.

[Trish]

Yeah, okay.

[AJ McLean]

I'm like, jesus, bite the hand. It's. You know, most of the acts that have already been there are all bands, so they stand, they play instruments. The Eagles, you know, you two, The Grateful Dead show. And then you have Anima, which was the DJ kind of EDC vibe. But, you know, a. A band like us, we're still doing the same show that fans expect. So you're seeing two shows at once. You're seeing what's on the screen, and then you're going to be watching a typical Backstreet Boy show. So I'm suggesting to people to come see the show more than once, because you're going to you're going to miss something. You know what I mean? So. And we're also, I think the. I think you two may have done a ga floor. We're also doing the same so that we still feel like it's a proper concert.

[Trish]

Right.

[AJ McLean]

Because the first row is like probably 60, 70ft away from the stage and that's just too far to be away from the fans. You know, we want to feel that energy. So what's gonna be hard, I think for us is to not try to sneak a peek and see what's happening on the screen.

[Trish]

Yeah.

[AJ McLean]

We, we are gonna go in next month to actually watch the entire show, the content, just to, you know, make our final touch ups and whatnot.

[Trish]

But so it's like new music, like almost like videos that you're doing to go with the songs.

[AJ McLean]

Yeah. And like we, the stuff that we shot. I so badly have to bite my tongue because I want to say what it is, but I can't.

[Trish]

Okay.

[AJ McLean]

But it is going to be unl anyone's ever seen in this venue. And it's all to commemorate the 25th anniversary of our biggest album, which was millennium. So you will hear the entire millennium album in the show. Wow. Plus some of our personal favorites and fan favorites. And I can't say what this is a prelude to, but this is a prelude to something.

[Trish]

Oh my gosh.

[AJ McLean]

Yeah.

[Trish]

I can't even imagine. Yeah. Because you guys have really been going non stop then. Because you always think like Backstreet Boys. Right. It's like, oh, the comeback. But you kind of like always have been playing. Like you've always been touring. Do you ever get sick of the songs or you're like, no more. I want it that way.

[AJ McLean]

My oldest daughter would tell you how much she hates that song.

[Trish]

She just hears it all.

[AJ McLean]

She just hears it all the time. And now, you know, she's in middle school now, so you know the politics and all the drama in middle school and, and kids are older so that they, they now kind of really understand what her dad does. Yeah. Which is. It's a double edged sword. You know, it can be stressful for her because, oh, you have nice shoes, your dad and did it. I know if this, that and your dad's a pop star, blah, blah. And then, you know, others are like fans of, of our, you know, band.

[Trish]

Yeah.

[AJ McLean]

But it's. I don't know, it's just, it's interesting. It's interesting because there is definitely probably two or three songs that personally I could live without doing. So we've done, like, remixes or we've done things to freshen it up, at least for us. Yeah, you know, as long as you. The one thing I hate that artists do is they'll, like, remix some of their biggest songs and then they sing it differently also live. And us as fans of these artists, we want to sing along. If you change it too much, it takes you out of that moment. So it doesn't matter to me. If they change the production, that's fine. But just sing the melody so I can sing along with you. So we always will keep that as part of our shtick. Like, we're not going to change the melody.

[Trish]

Well, you're a rare one too. Who's, like, kept your voice. Like, voices just change. Like, I love Donny Osmond. See him in Vegas all the time. Him singing Puppy love at 5 versus puppy love at 65 is different. But you've kept your voice. Like, when you do your solos, like, on I wanted that way. Like, it sounds exactly the same as the like album, which is like, not everyone can say so after smoking cigarettes.

[AJ McLean]

For 20 plus years. That's kind of shocking, but which is crazy.

[Trish]

How do you keep it?

[AJ McLean]

You know, it's funny. I was just having this conversation with one of my buddies at the studio last night, and they were giving me crap for it. But I'm like, I tried a few times because before every show, we have a group prayer. We've done that since day one. But before that, because I'm the first one dressed every night purposely so I can go have a quick cigarette before the show, that's how I kind of just Zen out. Calms me down. And then I tried two times in my whole career to not smoke before a show. Worst two shows in my life. And I'm not. And I'm not condoning smoking. Kids, it's not good for you. Don't do it. But for me, for some reason, like, it just. I don't know, it's my calmness before the storm. But I am planning on quitting. It's the last vice I have, you know, so. And it's probably one of the hardest ones to kick.

[Trish]

That's wild because you've gone to rehab three times and you've had outpatient mental health. So the fact that cigarettes is the hardest thing for you to kick. Cause, like, hard drugs is hard to kick. Like, I've been there. Prescription pills, all that stuff.

[AJ McLean]

Yeah. I mean, I'm a big coffee guy, so. When I moved to California 25 years ago, I had never touched Coffee in my life. And as soon as I was introduced to coffee, I'm like, oh, I like this. And then once I had kids, I'm like, coffee is life. You know, as a parent, coffee is life.

[Trish]

Yes.

[AJ McLean]

So. And coffee and cigarettes, they just go so, well, hand in hand. I'm sorry to say, but it's like. It's the perfect marriage.

[Trish]

It's probably better, I guess, than doing, like, oh, there's a lot.

[AJ McLean]

There's a lot of.

[Trish]

Yeah.

[AJ McLean]

I mean, I've done enough in my. In my party days, but look, you know, I still know how to have a good time.

[Trish]

Yeah.

[AJ McLean]

And I just. But now I can remember what I did last night.

[Trish]

That's important.

[AJ McLean]

And I now have learned the word boundaries. I never knew what that was. I know. No is a complete sentence.

[Trish]

That's a hard one to learn.

[AJ McLean]

Yeah. And my sponsor has probably one of the best, like, anecdotes, if you will. It's the spiritual path or the psychopath. And I can still have a little psycho in me. There's nothing wrong with that. But it's. It's a. It's a. It's. It's a. It's a contained psycho. Because I still want to have fun. I'm a. I'm a man child. I collect toys, and I'm a sneaker head. And I mean, I got my laboo boos, my bear bricks. I'm. Oh, big time Funkos. All of it.

[Trish]

How do you get. Is it your daughters or is it you that are like, I love these laboos?

[AJ McLean]

It's me. I'm getting my. My, you know, girls into, like, the Funkos. And now a buddy of mine who started Funko back in 1986, him and I and a few of his buddies were starting another toy company called Rocky Moto. And it's Japanese inspired. Like, our toys come in little ramen cups. It's a cup of fun.

[Trish]

Oh, my God.

[AJ McLean]

And so I'm the chief design officer, so I'm designing all the clothes, all the little trinkets, the, like, the little accessories. I'm doing a purse. I'm doing shoulder bags, all of it. So I'm gonna have to get you some stuff.

[Trish]

When is that? Was it out? Is it out?

[AJ McLean]

It is out. We're doing the official, official launch at Anime Con, which is coming up on July 4th. So.

[Trish]

And you're gonna be there?

[AJ McLean]

I'm gonna be there. There's gonna be a performance, a Runway show.

[Trish]

Are you performing?

[AJ McLean]

I'm performing, but it's a song that we wrote around Rocky Moto. So, yeah, Japanese there is. It's both. It's bilingual. So I'll be singing in English because my Japanese ain't as good as it used to be. And then we have this little kind of girl group that'll be doing Japanese.

[Trish]

Oh, my God. Wait, do you spoke Japanese at one point?

[AJ McLean]

I mean, I could get by, but it's like, go, go, Rocky Moto. Go, go, Rocky Moto. Oh, it's gonna be. It's gonna. It's like, so obnoxious. It's brilliant. It gets in your head and you won't stop singing it.

[Trish]

I like it. I like it already. And the name is cute too.

[AJ McLean]

Rocky Moto.

[Trish]

Oh, my gosh. Because you guys were pretty big in Japan.

[AJ McLean]

Japan, yeah. Now, nowadays, I feel like Japan is really close to the chest with their artists. And then obviously, the, you know, massive explosion of the K pop world is just bled into all of the Pacific Rim, essentially. Whether it's in Singapore, Thailand, you know, Korea, all of it. You know, it's. It's become a thing. I mean, but it's just so crazy coming from our generation. And, like, being a group of five and seeing a group of like 12 guys on stage is just insane.

[Trish]

It's wild. Would you want to be a part of, like, BTS K pop? Like, would you want 12 guys in a band or where you are.

[AJ McLean]

Five is enough.

[Trish]

Really?

[AJ McLean]

Five is enough, you think?

[Trish]

More complicated with more.

[AJ McLean]

I mean, would you really even spend that much time together? Like, the five of us, we probably now more than ever are the closest we've ever been. You know, during like the mid-2000s, we kind of went through a low where, like, after Black and Blue, it was like, we need a break. We hadn't stopped for like 10 years straight. So it was just. We were burnt out. I mean, I went to rehab. Kevin left the group for seven years. We kept going with his blessing, and we gave him our blessing to go. You start a family. And he wanted to do Broadway and he got to do all those things. And, you know, and then he came back in 2013. So, you know. But 12 guys, no, that's just. That's. I mean, that's like a football team. Like, what are you doing?

[Trish]

I guess if you, like, didn't get along with someone, there's always someone you could get along with and talk to them instead.

[AJ McLean]

And there's definitely. There's been a different dynamic for us five over the years. Like, I think at the very beginning, I was super close with Brian and Then Nick and I are, like, three years apart. But, like, you know, Kevin and I maybe weren't as close as we are now.

[Trish]

Yeah.

[AJ McLean]

How we have known the longest. I've known Howie for 35, almost 36 years.

[Trish]

When did you guys meet? Were you, like, 10 or how old?

[AJ McLean]

I met Howie when I was probably 11, and he was, I think, 15. We met at. We would meet at auditions throughout, like, all of Orlando.

[Trish]

Yeah.

[AJ McLean]

Whenever there was a casting call for Latinos, I would meet Howie. He was always at these auditions. And then somehow they'd always pick the Nick guy, the blonde hair, blue eye. Like, then why am I here?

[Trish]

Oh, yeah, that's odd. Like, it's like a casting for Menudo, and they pick Nick, Basically.

[AJ McLean]

Yeah. Like, I'm here for a, like, Tapatio commercial, and you pick Nick. Like, What?

[Trish]

That was 30 years ago. They wouldn't do that now.

[AJ McLean]

No, definitely not now. But no. So I always tease Howie because there was a thing back in Orlando years ago. It's not there anymore. It was called the Latin Carnival, and it was just diversity of, like, performances and, you know, Latin foods and, like, this whole thing. And I did this talent show and how he did it as well with his old singing partner, and I beat him. And I won a thousand dollars. So to this day, I always gotta throw that back in his face. I'm like, yep, I won. First time we ever really performed together. I beat you.

[Trish]

What does he say about it? He's okay with it.

[AJ McLean]

He's like, whatever, dude. It's fine. You know how he's our. How he's our little realtor of the group. I mean, he's got. He's got so many properties and so many. He's just opened up a restaurant.

[Trish]

Really?

[AJ McLean]

Oh, he is.

[Trish]

Oh, so he doesn't even. The Backstreet Boy's, like, hobby to him. He's like.

[AJ McLean]

He's the. He's probably the. I would say the smartest businessman outside of the group. He's. That's what he does. Like, he. He loves real estate. He loves that whole thing. Yeah. Smarter than some of us. I'm over here spending thousands on sneakers, and he's out there buying, you know, hotels and, you know, flipping houses, and that's fine.

[Trish]

I'm a spender, too. Did you spend a lot, you think I went through?

[AJ McLean]

Yeah. I mean, a lot of that was, you know, coinciding with my addiction because, you know, cross addiction is a big thing. So, you know, sure, I was sober, but I wasn't. I wasn't Where I am today. Where like I was white knuckling it when I was sober the first time. It was almost seven years. But I still needed something for the dopamine. I still needed something. Well, I thought I needed something. Let me correct myself. I thought I needed something to fill that emptiness of like feeling good enough. Because for me, that was always the root of my. Of my demise was never feeling good enough. I don't know if you could say certain words on your show, but I suffered for. I suffer from the thing called piece of ism.

[Trish]

Oh, I was just gonna ask, what's your mental illness?

[AJ McLean]

Piece of ism is my. That's my. That's my only thing going on that. Well, that's really what was at the epicenter of all of it for me. And two summers ago I went away for my mental. I went to Scottsdale, Arizona. I did an intensive outpatient at the Meadows. I went for sex, love and relationship addiction mainly not so much the sex part, but it was all encompassing, but the love and relationship side of things because, you know, my marriage was kind of not doing well. But really it all stemmed from the relationship I didn't have with myself. So that's where I learned about boundaries. And that no is a complete sentence. I fell in love with this amazing woman, Brene Brown, who is a motivational speaker. I like, really was inspired by watching her videos when I was in group. And when I left there, I still wasn't where I am now because I still needed to work my program. I still needed to do my step work. I still needed to, to shed all the crap and to just go, you know what? You're no better and no worse than anybody else.

[Trish]

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[AJ McLean]

It's the age old saying, if you can't love yourself, you can't love somebody else. If you can't take care of you first, you can't take care of your kids, your wife, your husb husband, your family, your, your co workers, whoever it is. You know, fortunately for me, my kids never saw me, you know, messed up. They know I've explained to them they're both sharp as attack. And I've explained to them, you know, this is what daddy did. This is why, you know, if I'm on the road and I FaceTime them, you know, I forgot the brand. But there's a. I'm a big fan of ginger ale and there's a, There's a certain bottle that looks like a beer. And, and anytime I have that. Dad, are you drinking? I'm like, oh, my God, no. Yeah, number one. Daddy wouldn't be FaceTiming you if I was.

[Trish]

Yeah.

[AJ McLean]

So that's good, you know. Yeah.

[Trish]

But they're.

[AJ McLean]

They're on me about it, which is good.

[Trish]

Well, it's interesting, like, you had the love addiction when you were like, in a marriage for a long time, because. Yeah, usually that wouldn't. Because I had, I went to SLA for a minute, but it was because I was single for so long, so I was constantly just like, like finding people, three people to hook up with a day. You know, it was like an addiction. But then I met my husband. I was like, okay, I kind of filled it. So it's interesting you had that in while you were marri. Married.

[AJ McLean]

Well, for me, while I was married, it was the. It, it. It started with, how can you love a piece so why are you with me? Then it went into, wait, why are you with me? What do you want? And my wife is the most incredible woman in the world. There's no, none of that is her. And she stuck by me through all of it. And, you know, know we're separated, but we're working on us. And like, we're in a great place right now and I'm hopeful. I don't know what the future holds, but I am hopeful. You know, I don't rest my laurels on it because I don't want to potentially be let down and I don't want to let her down. But we're co parenting. We're. And we're kicking ass at that. I spend almost every day with my kids, you know, so, like, it's. It's actually been a blessing. We both go do our own thing, therapy wise, and we might go back to couples therapy at some point. But, you know, and I would suggest that to anybody out there, even if you think you have the best relationship, it can't hurt. You know what I mean? Like, there's always going to be something, you know, where you maybe don't know how to convey a message to your, you know, significant other. And, you know, instead of it being you. You. You. You have to look at yourself first, you know, and we've done the work.

[Trish]

That's amazing. I think that is a big thing because we went to couples therapy, too, because I have borderline personality, and he didn't know what that was when we met. So I would, like, lash out. But having, like, a therapist explain to him, like, what triggers are and what's this? And, you know, like, it helps so much for, like, the other person, because the person who's in the relationship with the addict, sometimes they don't understand. It sounds like she, like, was very understanding, but sometimes they, like, don't fully understand.

[AJ McLean]

Well, she, like. She went to Al Anon back in the day, and she's. And we have a really small but intimate, good core group of friends that are either in the program or understand the program or have worked Al Anon or know people that either are with an addict or understand it. So she's definitely. She gets it. You know, she gets it. And, you know, even my youngest is in therapy. You know, it started because of the separation, but I didn't think she would love it as much. And it's been fantastic for her. My oldest, she's even talked about possibly doing it because she's having a tough time right now. You know, school has just been. Kids are mean. Like, kids are little.

[Trish]

Yes.

[AJ McLean]

Bullies and the whole thing. So I think we're gonna actually. We're gonna take her out and homeschool. There's a really good program. I can't for life and think of what it's called. I know Zendaya went to it, and she speaks volumes about it. And so, you know, try it for a year or two. I want my girls to definitely go to high school.

[Trish]

Yeah.

[AJ McLean]

That, to me, is, like, the most. Because I didn't go to high school. I went for my freshman year, and then I was tutored for the rest of high school. I graduated. But, you know, experience. I didn't. Yeah. So, like, I never had prom. I never went to homecoming. I finally had prom when on my 40th birthday, my wife planned my birthday for three years and gave me a prom.

[Trish]

What was everything.

[AJ McLean]

It was epic. We had. Everybody was wearing their cheesy tuxes and everything. We were obviously prom king and queen. Oh, I love the DJ played music only from 1996.

[Trish]

Oh, my gosh.

[AJ McLean]

We had Taco Bell and In N Out were the official food for the event. Our wedding planner is the one that helped her do this.

[Trish]

Wow.

[AJ McLean]

What I thought was the most Disturbing, but fun. In the women's bathroom were condoms with my face on it.

[Trish]

I love that.

[AJ McLean]

And I was just like, what is happening? Because it's. Yeah, but I guess, you know, like prom. I guess they obviously are, you know, encouraging. If you're going to do something, do it safe.

[Trish]

Yeah.

[AJ McLean]

But again, I never experienced it, so I don't know if that was a thing.

[Trish]

I'm like, what is this?

[AJ McLean]

Like, there's a condom in my face on it. That's weird.

[Trish]

Did you like. So you're like, you like that part? Did you keep some?

[AJ McLean]

I. I took a couple, you know.

[Trish]

That's so cool. You had a 96 theme prom for the year. You were probably like, pretty famous.

[AJ McLean]

Probably the most famous 96 was when we really kind of kicked off. Like, that's when it really started. Yeah. So.

[Trish]

But high school, I don't know if you were missing much. I think that's the scariest part to me, isn't it? We have two girls too. I'm like, the high school is the scary part.

[AJ McLean]

How old are they?

[Trish]

They're very young. They're 3 and 1. Yeah. So they're really even now.

[AJ McLean]

I have 12 and 8, both going on 35. I'm gonna have a teenager this year. It's terrifying.

[Trish]

Yeah. How. Oh, my God, I can't even imagine how you deal with that. I mean, being a girl dad is so different. Especially because you're a guy and you were a young guy that was a celebrity early on. So you just know how guys are.

[AJ McLean]

Yeah. And yeah. Sorry.

[Trish]

Letting her date.

[AJ McLean]

She hasn't really brought up boys. My youngest apparently has a boyfriend. I'm like, no, you don't. And then, and then one of her other girlfriends is. It's dating the same boy. I'm like, what is wrong with you guys? Like, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

[Trish]

Oh my God.

[AJ McLean]

You're eight. Fine. That's fine. If you want to have a boyfriend, I don't care.

[Trish]

Okay. It is what it is.

[AJ McLean]

But, But I told my oldest. I said, listen, I got advice from a buddy of mine who's got a 14 year old and a 22 year old and I won't name names. Joey Fatone. But he gave me the best advice. So I told my oldest, I said, when you do go on your first official date, whether it's to the movies or it's the mall, and the boy comes to pick you up, as he should, I want you to say these exact words to him before you leave my house. She's like, what? I said, you need to tell him to his face, whatever you do to me, my dad's going to do to you.

[Trish]

Oh, that's it.

[AJ McLean]

That's it. Simple as that. And hopefully put the fear of God in him.

[Trish]

Yeah.

[AJ McLean]

Because I thought in my back of my mind, like, I could tell that, you know, little boy, like, hey, see all these tattoos? I got these in prison. But all he has to do is Google me and be like, you're in a boy band. You never went to prison. Like, damn it, you're right, I didn't.

[Trish]

That's true. It's so easy Googleable now. Like about you.

[AJ McLean]

So people and everybody labeled me as the bad boy, and I'm so not. I'm the biggest pushover in the world.

[Trish]

Not even back then.

[AJ McLean]

No, really. I think, look, because you dye your hair and you get tattoos, it doesn't make you a bit. Like, I wasn't setting my hotel room on fire, you know, I mean, I did. I did throw some plastic fruit out of windows before and wait, why mess up? Just, I was drunk and I was just being stupid. And yeah, I messed up a couple windshields, but, you know.

[Trish]

So you got a little bit of bad.

[AJ McLean]

Yeah, but. But nothing.

[Trish]

Brian's doing that.

[AJ McLean]

Definitely not. Yeah, no, he's definitely not. No, no, no, no. He's for sure.

[Trish]

Do you think it, like your look impacted you acting like that, or do you think it was more like your addiction?

[AJ McLean]

When I got the label, I hadn't even put alcohol to my lips yet. So, like it started when I was probably like 19, 18, 19.

[Trish]

Dr. Fame.

[AJ McLean]

Yeah, they just fans, they. Because, you know, in a boy band, there's. There's the young one, there's the young heartthrob, there's the funny one, there's the bad boy, there's the older. There's the older brother, and then there's like the, the mediator, like the, the soft spoken one, which is Howie, you know, and then, you know, Nick's the heartthrob, Brian's the comedian, Kevin's the old fuddy duddy. And then you got me.

[Trish]

Yeah, you were the. Yeah, you and Chris Kirkpatrick were like the ones just because you had like crazy hair.

[AJ McLean]

I think Chris or Joey, I mean, Joey not so much bad boy, but Joey and I had our fun. We'll just say, oh, we, we definitely had.

[Trish]

I think that's the most shocking news of all of it, because you guys do shows together.

[AJ McLean]

Joey and I did a whole tour together. It started as a one off just for Fans. Joey and I do a lot of these, like, comic cons. Yeah. Because, you know, we get to meet fans, like when we do meet and greets on tour. But it's. It's like. It's like a cattle call. I feel like you don't really get to spend time and. And, like, hear the stories from some of these fans, like how music changed their life or how fans that never thought they would make friends with somebody from another country because of music. It brings people together. So doing these cons, I could talk to a fan for 30 minutes if I want.

[Trish]

Wow.

[AJ McLean]

And. And I do.

[Trish]

And you love it.

[AJ McLean]

And I love it. And it's so much fun. It's so much fun. So Joey and I do a lot of these. So we were doing one in Tampa two years ago, and he does a lot of solo shows and a lot of things at, like, Disney, and he does a lot of privates. And so he. He's got a whole band. So he's like, look, we got a teleprompter. It's a bunch of songs, you know, Would you want to do a show tomorrow night? I'm like, sure. It sold out in, like, five minutes. And he's like, what about a tour? I was like, I got nothing going on. Oh, my gosh. And we ended up doing like 30 something shows.

[Trish]

But you had just finished the DNA tour and then you were already on tour with him. It was last year, I think, because we were talking about going to Pejanga to see you guys.

[AJ McLean]

Yep. We literally finished up DNA May of 2023. And then I took like a month off. And then Joey and I went out and. And then in the midst of all that, I shot a TV show for Netflix, which will be coming out this summer.

[Trish]

Are you acting or is it a reality show?

[AJ McLean]

It's a competition show. I'm the host. It is called Building the Band. It is myself, Nicole Scherzinger, Kelly Rowland, and the late Liam Payne. It was the last thing that Liam did before he passed.

[Trish]

Oh, my gosh. Do people know about this show?

[AJ McLean]

Oh, yeah. I mean, we're about to do a massive thing coming up at the Forum to kind of. It's like the. It's almost like the upfronts for, like, ABC and NBC, all these other networks. So it's a big event coming up to kind of kick all the new shows off for Netflix. Yeah.

[Trish]

And you're building just a band. Boy band, pop band.

[AJ McLean]

The bands.

[Trish]

Are built.

[AJ McLean]

I can't give away too much. It's. It's a different approach to how bands come together. It has nothing to do with any of us, I'll say that. Okay, so it's. Yeah, it's. It's a really clever way for. And this show, compared to any other singing shows, in my opinion, is the way it should be. It's. And the talent on this show, my God, like, we really set the bar. Like, it's the. These kids are incredible. I call them kids, and they're like, 22, but I'm 47, you know?

[Trish]

You look great. You're 47?

[AJ McLean]

47, yeah.

[Trish]

Crazy. Oh, my. You. That's what I'm saying. You look so good. People who've gone through, like, addiction just look harder in general, but you look great.

[AJ McLean]

I mean, I've. You know, I. I refuse to, As I. As I've said to many people before, be a fat street boy. I. I'm not going to be a fat street boy. I can't speak on the rest of my other boys. They're going to do whatever they want. No, like, honestly, I saw a photo of us recently, we just did the ACMs, and I was like, boys, we. We have. We have actually aged pretty well, guys. Like, we. We could be weathered. We could be like, I'm embracing the gray now. Like, I just said, screw it. I don't even care. I don't care. It's like, you know what? It's. This is what it is.

[Trish]

And people love it because your fans are also getting older, especially the core ones. You have young ones, but, like, the core ones were all like.

[AJ McLean]

I mean, I'm covering the gray with the blonde. So, like.

[Trish]

Oh, yeah.

[AJ McLean]

I'm like, you know, what, Is this your.

[Trish]

This your natural right now, gray, or is it the blonde?

[AJ McLean]

This is. So I've been doing this for almost two years now. I'm naturally, like, dark, dark brown, but. But my wife is a hairstylist and does, like, professional special effects makeup. So before I got my roots touched up last week, she goes, babe, I'm like, what? She's like, your hair is great. It's, like, white. She could see my roots. I'm like, really? She's like, I can't wait to see. When you go back to your natural hair color, it's gonna be white. I kind of want that.

[Trish]

It looks cool. Yeah.

[AJ McLean]

I want that, like, silverback vibe. I want that silver fox. Let's go.

[Trish]

I was gonna say, would you ever grow it out like you used to where you have kind of, like, the longish hair?

[AJ McLean]

I. Now that I'VE had hair surgery twice. I'm gonna do one more.

[Trish]

What's a hair surgery?

[AJ McLean]

So, like, basically my hairline stopped here.

[Trish]

Oh.

[AJ McLean]

So I had hair surgery. It's not plugs. Let me clarify. That's 90s, okay. It's. No, no.

[Trish]

What are these transplants? Because everyone's getting it out.

[AJ McLean]

Yeah. So basically they flambe your head. They cut me open from ear to ear and they take out a slab of, essentially, it's fat, fatty tissue. And then the hair, they separate the two and they put the hairs into individual groups. There's a group, like ones, twos, threes and fours. What people don't realize is in the front of your hair right now, one of your follicles has four hairs coming out of one. It's 4, 3, 2, 1. And then it starts over again. So I was receding. I was going bald on my crown. Thank you to my dad for that. It started when I was like 20.

[Trish]

Wow.

[AJ McLean]

And so I've done this, this procedure now twice. And for whatever reason, I noticed when I dyed it blonde, it looks so full. So I'm leaving it blonde for now. And it just seems to fit me, I guess. I don't know. Like, it looks.

[Trish]

Looks good.

[AJ McLean]

Yeah.

[Trish]

Wait, I always remember you having, like, good hair. That's so crazy because, like, I. I.

[AJ McLean]

Did, I flattened hair and then it just started going, bye, bye.

[Trish]

Oh, interesting. It looks so good. Would you Recommend it then? 10 out of 10?

[AJ McLean]

Oh, absolutely, absolutely. Yeah. I mean, because, you know, you could do the Propecia things and all these different, like, over the counter medications, but it's. It's not the same. But you really do need to do the aftercare, which I didn't do the first time. First time I did this, I did it right before I got married. And they didn't tell me that my old hair is going to fall out, so I thought it didn't work. So I wore a hat at my wedding because I was like, oh, my God, this looks even worse than it did when I was going bald. I was like, good God. But I know bald is kind of a good look too. I've shaved my head completely and, yeah.

[Trish]

I think it looks cool.

[AJ McLean]

I have a nice. Thank God I have a nicely shaped head.

[Trish]

Yeah. And you wear hats a lot too. But also, I don't mind bald either. I know. I always feel bad for guys. It's like, whatever look.

[AJ McLean]

But I have done the only thing I've done, I guess you could say cosmetically, after I did drag race about that too, because I had to shave, obviously, for the show. Genetically, in my family, I had extra skin here, so I always had a big beard. I was very insecure about it. So when I did Drag Race, they're taping and tucking things and pulling things back, and they pulled back my neck, and I got to see what I looked like with a good jawline, and I was like, oh, my God. Like, I want this life changing. So I went and did lipo and face tight, and it has given me so much confidence. And I'm just like. Like now. Like, I.

[Trish]

That looks so good.

[AJ McLean]

I'll take a picture with, like, a profile now. Like, I would not.

[Trish]

That's what it is, too, that you look young. Cause the neck is always, like, the sign of aging. Like, my mom will always tell me that she got her neck done and mine too. But that's why you look so young. Cause your neck is like, oh, yeah, mama.

[AJ McLean]

What's up? How you doing?

[Trish]

Wait.

[AJ McLean]

I'm all long neck, like a giraffett.

[Trish]

When did you get it done?

[AJ McLean]

I got it done. I want to say almost two years ago now. Yeah, about. About 18 months.

[Trish]

Close by.

[AJ McLean]

Yeah. And then actually, yeah, out here. Dr. Schwartz.

[Trish]

Dr. Schwartz.

[AJ McLean]

Is that. He's my man. Dr. Schwartz is great. Right over here.

[Trish]

Just.

[AJ McLean]

Just over off of Lindera.

[Trish]

Really?

[AJ McLean]

Oh, yeah. He's incredible.

[Trish]

I love how open you are about literally everything.

[AJ McLean]

Well, I'm gonna. Probably. Before we go back and start the residency, I'm gonna go get threads. I've done that a couple times, too, just to really tighten up for, you know.

[Trish]

And. Does that hurt? I've.

[AJ McLean]

No. I mean, it's just, you know, they numb you really quick, and they go in and they just, you know, give you a little pull. But the thing is, like, you know, if I really, really, really want, like, jagged jawline, which I don't.

[Trish]

Yeah.

[AJ McLean]

The only way to do it is a facelift. And I'm not. I'm never. I'm never gonna do that. Well, because I have a beard. And my doc was telling me, he's like, look, to really get it, you. Where your hair ends here would be right next to your ear. And that's going to look so obvious. You would have to trim this down. I'm like, yeah, that's not gonna happen.

[Trish]

People look good with those facelifts, though. Like Kris Jenner and stuff. Like, I'm excited to get one one day.

[AJ McLean]

Yeah.

[Trish]

Not for you.

[AJ McLean]

I'm leaving it alone. I'm gonna do all the rest natural in the gym. And see what happens.

[Trish]

But even for when you do your drag, you're talking about Celebrity Drag Race, which I had no idea you did. I have no idea how I missed this, but. Poppy Love, winner of Celebrity Drag Race, is this the only Celebrity Drag Race that existed just one season?

[AJ McLean]

So this was the second secret celebrity, the first one. After that, I guess Mama Ru got a little upset because somebody leaked who was on the show and who won. So this time, myself, Tatiana, Ali, and Mark and the cello, we were the final three. So we each filmed ourselves winning, but production wouldn't tell us we had to watch it live.

[Trish]

So.

[AJ McLean]

Oh, I didn't know. And I kept hitting up the producers, saying, come on, you got to give me something. I gotta know. And they're like, we don't know. I'm like, you're lying. I know you know who won. So I watched it in real time with my daughters, which was awkward because I knew what my finale performance was, which was the Divinols. I touched myself. Me in a bathtub. I'm like, oh, God, I love it, dude. The questions were just like, like, dad, what are you doing? I'm like, they were already traumatized when I did burlesque, and my tatas were out with my little tassels that I had to really explain. Yeah, I got to keep my boobs and my. And my. And my butt padding.

[Trish]

Do you still wear it?

[AJ McLean]

No, but I'll throw the boobs on every once in a while when I make coffee just to mess with my kids, actually. I'll put them on under my shirt. And I'm like, good morning, girls. They're like, dad.

[Trish]

Oh, my God, I love.

[AJ McLean]

I'm like, yeah, you don't.

[Trish]

Yeah. You don't see gender. You're just.

[AJ McLean]

Dude, they gave me the heaviest boobs. Like, so Kevin McHale was on as well. And I love Kevin. He's one of my buddies. We have the same body shape. And I'm like, why didn't you put me in the. Like, they made me, like. They made me thick. Like, they gave me some curves. And I'm like, okay, but, like, my boobs were so heavy.

[Trish]

Interesting. Was it a plate? Was it a plate?

[AJ McLean]

No, it was. It was, like, like, silicone with, like, a Velcro strap in the back. But you have, like, nine layers of. I had nine layers of pantyhose on, and then. And then a lot of the outfits were really mainly predominantly, like, latex, so it was tight enough. Like, when I pulled those things off, it was just, like, water like, but I did learn. And for all the new drag queens out there, let me give you a little bit of advice that I learned doing the show. Nine layers of pantyhose. That's too much to put put any heels on. So we would cut the toe off.

[Trish]

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[AJ McLean]

So that there's nothing protecting my toes. So it was like much more easy to breathe. And it wasn't as compact in there because.

[Trish]

But what are you wearing for shoes? Are you wearing like boots?

[AJ McLean]

No, I was wearing six inch freaking heels. I was dancing in stilettos and in pumps.

[Trish]

And your toes were fine. They weren't bleeding.

[AJ McLean]

Episode. Well, it wasn't episode one, but it was. It was. The first one I shot was Alanis Morissette. And God bless the stylist. She was so nervous working with me, she gave me my shoes backwards. So I performed with the heels on the wrong feet. So that was the worst. And they were only about a 4 inch heel. So. But that was still. Oh, a lot.

[Trish]

I can't do four, but I can.

[AJ McLean]

Rock six inches with the best of them.

[Trish]

Like pleasers.

[AJ McLean]

I wore heels at my wedding. When we cut our cake, I was in full drag.

[Trish]

I love. We both. I wore a black wedding dress too, so we have that in common. We both wear black wedding dress. The heels were every. Where was that lot? What were you thinking behind that? You guys did a little swap. She wore like a little tuft. Yes.

[AJ McLean]

She had a beautiful Dolce and Gabbana custom suit and I was wearing the largest size Louboutin makes, which is a woman's 13, which is an 11 for me. And then I had a corset that was made. What's funny is like she has. She's Greek, Italian and Mexican. So she has the Greek side of her family and then there's the Greek Orthodox side of her family. Oh, they weren't having it. Like they wouldn't take a picture with me now we're all cool. But at first they were like, yeah, we're not taking a picture with that. That's what is going on.

[Trish]

They didn't know that about you. Like, you're no they.

[AJ McLean]

Because we came out to cut the cake and it's like, what is going on? I remember when it happened, I was dancing on the freaking, you know, dance floor and all the other wives and ladies there were taking their heels off, dancing. I'm like, come on, wait.

[Trish]

So is it always in you, like, like the drag, cross dressing? Like, is it something you've always like, like doing?

[AJ McLean]

I've just, I'm just comfortable. Like, it's so weird to say that I used to have like zero self esteem, but I'm comfortable in my own skin when it comes to any and all of that. Like, I would put on my mom's jewelry. You know. I grew up in musical theater, so I grew up surrounded by predominantly women and the gay community. Yeah, that was it. Like, so, you know, I saw my first pair of boobs when I was four at a fashion show. My acting teacher, when I did theater, she was gay. And like, so I saw women with women. I saw men with men. Like nothing. It never like was odd to me. Yeah, and the same that we kind of encourage with my, with my daughters, like, they, there's, it's all blurred lines. They don't see gender, they don't see any of that. And I. And that's what we've encouraged for them, you know, and so like they have their gunkles and they have their, you know, their whole vibe and I just.

[Trish]

Love to question it. Yeah, that's what's beautiful. It is beautiful about today. Well, the fact you experienced that back in like probably the early 90s is amazing.

[AJ McLean]

Early 90s, late 80s, early 90s. Yeah. Like, I just, you know, I. It's just to me it's normal.

[Trish]

Do you identify as hetero? Are you like fluid or queer?

[AJ McLean]

Like, I'm, I'm straight as an arrow.

[Trish]

Okay.

[AJ McLean]

But I just, just love. Embrace it.

[Trish]

I mean, gender bending.

[AJ McLean]

Yeah. Like, I just want to people to love themselves and love each other. Like, I don't care what your preference is. Shouldn't have anything to do with anything. If you're a good human being and you are a provider, you take care of your family, you take care of yourself, you're good at your job. Who gives a shit if you're black, white, Asian, trans, you know, whatever you are, it shouldn't, it shouldn't matter. It shouldn't matter.

[Trish]

You had a song this year. Love is love.

[AJ McLean]

Love song. Love song. Love.

[Trish]

Yes. It came out Valentine's Day this year.

[AJ McLean]

And I had two beautiful transgender ladies in there that were incredible. Incredible. And we. We had a little, like, diary moment at the end of the video telling everybody where to go to support the transgender community. When I did Drag Race, I. I was playing for. Because that was all for, like, charity. Each of us are playing for charity. I played for a charity called Trans Lifeline.

[Trish]

We just donated Trans Lifeline because the Protect the doll shirt, they all go to Trans Lifeline.

[AJ McLean]

Yeah. So they are the fan freaking tastic. Yeah. So, I mean, I just. You know, I briefly was on the board for the LGBTQ+ community years ago. I want to get back on the board. I wasn't able to be present for all the meetings and for all the things, and I was traveling. But I want to. I want to get even more in depth. Like, I'm really trying to do a lot of stuff with, you know, Lance. Lance and I are, like, the closest, and Lance does so much in the community, and I really want to start doing a lot of more, Like, a lot more stuff with him. And I also want to bring Poppy back. I want to do dragcon so bad.

[Trish]

Have you not done it?

[AJ McLean]

I've never been. I heard it is the best time. There's also. There's also an AA meeting. It's like, one of the top drag AA meetings. It's. Since I think. I think it's in Silver Lake, and apparently, it's some of the most incredible stories. You, like, you go in, it's like a party.

[Trish]

Yeah.

[AJ McLean]

But the stories that these people share is, like, God, like, oh, my. Like, you know, like, you leave there so inspired, so encouraged.

[Trish]

So drag queens are like, the epitome of all our culture, of everything. They start the culture, they start the trends.

[AJ McLean]

My publicist is gay, and she told me. She's like, when I get married, she's like, all I ask is that because I'm ordained. She's like, all I ask is that you marry me as Poppy. I said, I will absolutely do that. I said, but please don't make me shave. I really. Because my kids hate when I shave.

[Trish]

But you have your parents. I mean, maybe.

[AJ McLean]

Maybe. Well, for her. Okay, maybe I'll do it for her, I would do anything. She's been with me for, like, 15 years. She's incredible. Yeah. Like, I try to explain, like, we need our face to breathe once in a while.

[Trish]

Yeah.

[AJ McLean]

I tried the. Just Mustache. That did not go over well.

[Trish]

Just. Oh, yeah, yeah, I like the mustache. That's very like in now before doing that.

[AJ McLean]

But I like my wife. Not a fan. She's like, you look like Mario or like, like a 70s star. She's like, like, I think Benson Boone is a really good looking dude. And I like the mustache.

[Trish]

That's the vibe now. That's what everyone's doing.

[AJ McLean]

I can't picture him without it now. Like, I don't know what he would look like without it.

[Trish]

No, it's very him. He has all the flips. Are you a flipper?

[AJ McLean]

I wouldn't get back up. No. Like, you know, back in the day, like we used to do like kip ups and all that kind of stuff. But now like, like walking in here when I got here today, I was. I got out of my truck and I'm just like, oh, like my, my hips bothering me, my shoulder's bad. I'm going to get an MRI next week. Like, I don't know what's going on.

[Trish]

Dancing maybe, but we haven't done anything.

[AJ McLean]

In like a year and a half, so I don't know. Well, I have.

[Trish]

But you're doing drag.

[AJ McLean]

I don't. Yeah, you know, I don't know. I think it's just. I'm a big golfer, so I don't know if, if that's. And I'm in the gym six days a week, so I don't know if it's. If, if that kind of is coinciding with anything.

[Trish]

But you think that would help it? I mean, you really fit if you're doing all that.

[AJ McLean]

We'll see. We'll see. I can't do anything about it until after the residency, so I can't, you know, if there's any surgery involved. I. I don't know. But.

[Trish]

So the pain, what do you do, Just push through?

[AJ McLean]

Yeah. Like, I don't like taking. I don't like taking things to help things. Yeah, I'm one of those. The only thing I do take, which my friend was getting on me about on the way here, don't. Don't take Zyrtec. I'm like, I have allergies, so I take Zyrtec for like allergies. But now she's telling me there's. Is it bad things with Zyrtec?

[Trish]

What?

[AJ McLean]

I'm like, I'm like, next thing you know, they're gonna say, cheese gives you cancer. Like, honestly, like, there's nothing good anymore.

[Trish]

You just can't eat or do anything.

[AJ McLean]

Just gotta Go live on the erewh it and then you'll be fine.

[Trish]

Are you an airwan person?

[AJ McLean]

I love their breakfast anything. Breakfast there is phenomenal sauce with the cheese.

[Trish]

The Cali Uchi smoothie just came out today. She has one there now. You guys should have one.

[AJ McLean]

I know. Like, why don't we.

[Trish]

Like, you should definitely.

[AJ McLean]

I mean, I did like. Was it the Haley Bieber? That was a good one.

[Trish]

That was still there. That was.

[AJ McLean]

That's a good one.

[Trish]

Yeah, I. I'm an Air one. It's coming here close to us. There's a Thousand Oaks one coming.

[AJ McLean]

Yes, yes, I heard. Yeah. I'm like. So, like, do I just like, go in and say, hey, hey, make one inspired by us? Like, how. How do you do it?

[Trish]

Well, they see you, they must be like you.

[AJ McLean]

But I don't know if you gotta.

[Trish]

Tag them because you do tick tock. But you don't post a lot.

[AJ McLean]

I don't post as much anymore because I'm. I'm. I'm gearing up for solo music. My EP coming out this summer. So that I'm like. That's all I'm focused on right now is like. Because normally I like to post funny stuff and, like, I don't like to go necessarily along with the trends. I like to just do random whatever stuff, you know? Probably one of the biggest tick tocks I ever did was recreating the couch scene from Friends. I'm the biggest Friends fanatic. Like, really?

[Trish]

What did you. Where'd you do that? Was that one of those.

[AJ McLean]

It was at. No, it was at Lance's house. We were doing this little thing and Joey was there and Nick was there. We did a show for Pride and we were in rehearsals at Lance's house. And I was like, guys, just go with me on this. If you don't know what it is, it doesn't matter. I said, we're going to move this couch inside. And I had Joey saying, pivot, pivots.

[Trish]

And that's on TikTok.

[AJ McLean]

Oh, my God. It's like 10 million views. It was your biggest one, that one. And then I am partners with this. With this company called At Peak, which is a mocktail company based out of Montreal. And that one got like 8 million views. Because a. It's a mocktail, which, you know, it's great. And. And these are great, like, mocktails have become a thing now. Everywhere you go, that's what I order now. If they have it, you know, I'm trying to get away from. I'm A Diet Coke kid. So Diet Coke is really trying to get away from it. It's so bad.

[Trish]

Well, mocktails are a good. Like.

[AJ McLean]

Yeah, Like, I just started liking like. Like bubble. Like, bubbly water. Like, I'm not a big. It has to have a flavor.

[Trish]

Yeah. A little kick.

[AJ McLean]

Like, I can't eat a burger with water. That just seems wrong.

[Trish]

Really? I'm surprised.

[AJ McLean]

No, like, I need something with some kind of fizz. Fizz.

[Trish]

Yeah.

[AJ McLean]

So I just get a mocktail, you know, preferably cucumber.

[Trish]

It's ATP. Said his name at peak. ATP.

[AJ McLean]

ATP. A T, Y, P, I, Q, U.

[Trish]

E, A T, P. Okay. You're involved in that or.

[AJ McLean]

No, I am. I'm an ambassador for the. For the company. Yes.

[Trish]

We did a tick. Or you did a tick tock where people could duet you. And I was looking at. I typed our names in together and I was like, oh, I doted you, like, four years ago. And it was. I think you were singing. I wanted that way. And you encourage people to do it with you. So we did a little duet on there, which I think you should do more because your singing is just. It is just beautiful.

[AJ McLean]

I'll probably start doing some. I did a do. I duetted one of my man crushes. I duetted Ryan Reynolds. And he commented, and I lost my. I woke up my family at 3 in the morning. Ryan said, I'm awesome. I'm like, oh, my God.

[Trish]

Did you actually.

[AJ McLean]

I literally. I woke up my wife at three in the morning. I was in Vegas doing the residency at the time, and I literally woke up at three in the morning. She's like, okay, it's worth you waking me up. She knows I'm the biggest. Ryan, like, fanatic.

[Trish]

Did you try to DM him after.

[AJ McLean]

I just said thank you, because he responded and said, top five bucket list to sing with AJ from the Backstreet Boys. And I was like, oh, my God.

[Trish]

Have you ever met in person then?

[AJ McLean]

No. Closest I got was recently. I went to see opening night of Hugh Jackman's show on Broadway at Radio City, and he was there and he was like 100ft away from me. And I was like, oh, I wanna see. I just. I'm one of those people that won't approach celebrities. I don't do it. My wife gets on me about it all the time. She's like, do you not know who you are? I'm like, it doesn't matter to me. Cause there's a lot of actors, singers, actresses that I admire so much in my mind. I'm like, what if I walk up and I meet them and they're a total? That would destroy me.

[Trish]

Yes.

[AJ McLean]

So now if I see you from across the carpet and you smile at me, that, to me, is inviting. That means you're like, oh, okay, we just made, like, a little hey, how are you? Moment, Then I'll walk up and I'll introduce myself.

[Trish]

And will you say I'm a fan?

[AJ McLean]

Absolutely.

[Trish]

Yeah. I think that's the way to go.

[AJ McLean]

Completely fangirl, if it's right, I will. That one I fangirled over Marcus Mumford. Like, I. I love Mumford and Sons. And he is like, that man is a hot, hot man now. Gorgeous.

[Trish]

Good God.

[AJ McLean]

Oh, my God. He's a gorgeous man. Okay, so we just did the SNL 50th, and they were there, and I was like, dude, how do you. How do you just, like, do you wake up looking this handsome every day?

[Trish]

Do you tell him that?

[AJ McLean]

I did.

[Trish]

Oh, my 100. That's what I'm saying. Like, your sexuality seems fluid to me. You're very like, you. Like.

[AJ McLean]

I mean, you know, people like. Like my. One of my buddies used to say, in complete darkness, it matters not the gender of the mouth. What?

[Trish]

Yeah, yeah.

[AJ McLean]

You know, you're like, wait, what? No, like, I. You know. Yeah, I. I love everyone, honest to God. And it's just. I'm a people person, you know, I just am, and it doesn't. It will never matter to me. Like, I just love people. It's weird, though. Like, I've. I've. I've kind of gotten into this phase now for some reason. I don't know if it's just age or. Or just like, I'm hypersensitive, but, like, I used to jump into the crowd during our shows, and I don't do that much anymore. Crowds scare me for some reason now, recently. Yeah, recently, like the last five years. Like, being in a. Like, I don't do the club thing. Like, I never go to clubs because clubs are not. You go to a club to dance. That is the. That's what we remember. That's what we did at clubs. All people do at clubs now is sit blackout drunk and take pictures. That's not a club.

[Trish]

You don't love that.

[AJ McLean]

No, you're supposed to. You're supposed to dance. You should leave a club sweating.

[Trish]

Right?

[AJ McLean]

Not leave a club still looking exactly the way you did when you walked in, except your shoes are off and you're blackout drunk.

[Trish]

Yeah, I think. Yeah. Social media maybe ruined that Aspect of the fun part of the clubs. Yeah.

[AJ McLean]

Or you're at the club with your friends and you're literally texting the person right next to you. Like, talk to them.

[Trish]

Yeah, yeah. I, I, I.

[AJ McLean]

It's a departure and a disconnect. It's like, like when Tik Tok shut down for 24 hours. Like, I was like, this is awesome. Like, I would love to see social media, like, shut down for a month, all social media, and just see how we react. Oh, we would actually have to talk to each other and communicate with each other. And like, like, I do something every morning that was inspired by Denzel Washington. He made this amazing. Like, this is kind of how he starts his day. And it really inspired me. I start my day off with prayer and meditation every day. But before I touch a Device, I have 10 minutes of just silence. Nothing. I don't. You could call it meditation, whatever, but nothing. And what I hear is peace. Then I can dive into insanity if I start off with chaos. Yes. My day is set up to be chaotic.

[Trish]

Generally speaking, life, that's what I've done to change my life completely is like starting out the day, like 20 minutes. And we have two young kids and they sleep with us. But I'm like, I need to just like, lock myself in the closet for literally 15 minutes. Luckily, I have a husband that, like, lets me do it. And just like, having quiet, like, not looking is life changing. It's.

[AJ McLean]

I miss my kids sleeping with me.

[Trish]

Oh, I do.

[AJ McLean]

I still get my cuddles, though. Like, my oldest now, she's. She'll come. She's like, she has to come to me where my youngest, it's like, it's cuddles, cuddles, cuddles all day, every day.

[Trish]

I love that.

[AJ McLean]

She's my little cuddle bug. But my oldest, especially if her friends are at the house and I do it just to mess with her.

[Trish]

Yeah.

[AJ McLean]

Like, I'm like, I'm always giving her hugs and trying. She's like, dad.

[Trish]

Wait, really?

[AJ McLean]

Yeah.

[Trish]

You're like the ultimate cool dad, though. She's watching. Your dad is the coolest person. Like, everybody wants to be your friend.

[AJ McLean]

I just had a, a full rager at my house and I never have parties. I had a full rager for 12 year olds at my house with all the families. A little kickoff to summer.

[Trish]

So funny.

[AJ McLean]

And like, there all her friends are still talking about it. And I'm like, and all the boys that came over, like, they saw my sneakers and my toys and they're like, dude, Can I try on your Iron man helmet? I'm like, yes, you can.

[Trish]

Oh, my. You got them.

[AJ McLean]

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

[Trish]

Oh, wow. You are a cool dad.

[AJ McLean]

Oh, I am.

[Trish]

What does that party look like? Because we have a party tomorrow for our one year old. She's turning one. It's like Lila said. Are you getting, like the. Oh, that's pretty good. Do you want to come be the Stitch impersonator?

[AJ McLean]

I literally have, like my. We. We just went and saw the movie. We just went and saw a screener. Not the premiere. Went and saw a little private screener. And it was great.

[Trish]

I'm so excited.

[AJ McLean]

And got the limited popcorn bucket. And then my buddy Andreas Moss, who's one of my writers, his boyfriend makes. He's from Mexico. He makes like pinatas, but like woven, like traditional. But like the most insane pinatas. He made me a freaking stitch for my kids. It is.

[Trish]

Oh, my God. You have to give us instance.

[AJ McLean]

Yeah. Oh, my God. It is. He can make anything.

[Trish]

Wow. It is dope.

[AJ McLean]

He's here in la. We love a piano. Oh, my God.

[Trish]

Oh, my gosh. Did you use it? Did you already use it?

[AJ McLean]

No, no. It's not meant to break. It's like a piece of art.

[Trish]

Yeah.

[AJ McLean]

Yeah.

[Trish]

Oh, my God.

[AJ McLean]

Beautiful.

[Trish]

I can't wait.

[AJ McLean]

I mean, this is for a one year old, though. Like, rager. For a one year old.

[Trish]

We did like dole whip. We got hula dancers coming, face paint. But like, I don't know. What do you do for like a 12 year old?

[AJ McLean]

A 12 year old. I mean, they just went in the pool. I have a theater at the house, so they were playing Fortnite. You're not a Fortnite. I refuse to play it because I'm a gamer and I did. Yeah, I'm an addict, so. Yes, of course. I'm waiting for Grand Theft Auto. I'm waiting for that.

[Trish]

Okay.

[AJ McLean]

But like, I played Fortnite with my daughter and I'm like, I. I need to walk away. Like, this will. This will suck me in.

[Trish]

Is Backstreet Boys on there?

[AJ McLean]

No, we don't have a skin yet, but I'm. I'm working on that.

[Trish]

For us.

[AJ McLean]

We were on Roblox, which was. Which was pretty cool. Yeah. Like, because that was all the rage during the pandemic. It still is, obviously.

[Trish]

Yeah.

[AJ McLean]

For a one year old, I mean, it sounds like what you're doing is absolutely perfect. Dancers, the hula hooping, face paints. Yeah, that sounds kind of perfect because her name's Elvis.

[Trish]

So we're trying to think of Elvis theme, and we didn't want to do, like, an Elvis Presley. So we're like, I guess we'll do Elvis stitch. Even though she named after Elvis Presley.

[AJ McLean]

I mean, but that's. Yeah, it's cooler for pretty awesome.

[Trish]

But how did you know you were done having kids? Because that's our problem is, like, I'm. Like, I can't have kids.

[AJ McLean]

So I thought I was done after one because I'm an only child. So when. When Elliot was born, you know, she was just so, like, a people person. She was independent. I thought we were good. Like, it was fine. And then I. I'm the one that got baby fever because, you know, I was the one dad that did pick up and drop off every day. So, like, I started seeing all of her friends, like, in TK and kindergarten that all have siblings, and I was like, man, that looks awesome. Like, I didn't have that. So I kind of want that for her. So I was like, babe, we're making a baby. Let's go. And I really wanted another girl.

[Trish]

Yeah, people always say that. We trying for a boy. It's like, no, I love being a girl, Mom.

[AJ McLean]

Well, when we had Elliot, I. I didn't speak. When I found out it was a girl, I didn't speak for, like, 12 hours. I was traumatized because I was like, of course. Like, it's a blessing and a curse, you know, I had my hoe days, you know, in my life, and, you know, but even still, I've always prided myself on being a gentleman. Like, that was how I was raised. I've always put women up on a pedestal. Like, that was just how and just utmost respect. But when I found out I was having a girl, I was like, oh, my God, what am I gonna do? Like, but now that I'm a girl, dad, like, I don't think I would know what to do with a penis. Like, honestly, like, I don't. Like, I got. Golf's the only sport I play. Like, I don't like, but, like, having girls. Like, we go get our nails done together, we go shopping together. Like, it's the freaking best.

[Trish]

Oh, my gosh. That is amazing. Yeah, your nails are always perfectly manicured.

[AJ McLean]

Oh, I have your jewelry. I have a nail polish line. I have a beauty line, so with name after your. That was inspired by my daughters. Yeah. Ava Dean. So I gotta get some polish for sure.

[Trish]

Oh, that's polish.

[AJ McLean]

We have lip gloss. We have body spray. We have body scrubs.

[Trish]

I'll get all my Two and a half year old, paints our nails all day long. She likes done.

[AJ McLean]

I got you.

[Trish]

Oh my God.

[AJ McLean]

We have like 25 colors.

[Trish]

I didn't know you were such entrepreneur.

[AJ McLean]

Like, I'm trying, I'm trying. I'm, you know, it's, it's a process because like everything I've done outside of the group, it's, it's gotten to a point. But then I, I, because I'm so busy, I can't continue the moving forward. So like I'm waiting for that one thing to just take off. Like, but I, but I need to be, I'm a very hands on person. So like I want to be as active as I can. So I want to get back into the beauty space. What I want to do, you know, with Ava Dean is both my girls wear makeup. They learned everything from mom because, you know, mom's a professional makeup artist, but they're wearing like adult makeup, which is not good for kids skin. So I want to make makeup for kids. Oh, that's so, you know, so I mean, you want to go to.

[Trish]

Yeah.

[AJ McLean]

You want to do this together?

[Trish]

Please, let's do this.

[AJ McLean]

I mean, I just need to like, you know, that's the thing about my wife went through school with all of it. So she knows like the right chemicals that shouldn't be in and that should be in or whatever and like ways to make it work because there is nothing for like five to 15.

[Trish]

That is so true. Yes, ma' am. My two and a half year old wears makeup. She puts makeup on and they do the play makeup, but it still has that like weird chalk on it or whatever.

[AJ McLean]

And it's not good for their pores and for their skin.

[Trish]

Yeah.

[AJ McLean]

You know what's crazy? Like what people don't understand between men and women. Women's pores are smaller and tighter. Men's pores are much more wide. So like, you know, I used to be a Big Mac guy. Now I'm like makeup forever is what I look I, what I love because there's, it's much more oil based. So like I wear makeup every day. So.

[Trish]

Are you wearing it now?

[AJ McLean]

Oh, yeah. Oh, so, so good. You know, I mean, I gotta, I got a wife that knows what she's doing. She's taught me the tricks of the trade.

[Trish]

So good. Another reason you look so, you look flawless. I don't know if it's showing up on camera, but like you look flawless. Like it's crazy. No wrinkles. I think that's why I really thought you had A facelift. I was like.

[AJ McLean]

I woke up like this. Well, it looks like it with a baseball cap on. I live in my hats and I sleep in my sneakers.

[Trish]

It's a vibe. No, you are a vibe. 100. I know you're gonna have a day with your daughters today. Are you so excited?

[AJ McLean]

Yeah, we're gonna go. I've never been to the Getty Museum. I've never been there. I drive past it all the time and I've never been. And I'm a huge art guy. And I've. I've. I've been wanting to go, but I've never. I've never had anyone to go with. And I didn't think my kids would be into music.

[Trish]

Is that what it is?

[AJ McLean]

I'm not gonna say museum because you're teasing me about how I say it.

[Trish]

What do you say? How do you say it?

[AJ McLean]

Museum.

[Trish]

Oh, museum. Yeah, you do say it.

[AJ McLean]

You say museum, I say museum.

[Trish]

Where are you from?

[AJ McLean]

East Coast. I'm from Florida.

[Trish]

Oh, you're Florida.

[AJ McLean]

Or as I call it, Satan.

[Trish]

Yes. I refuse.

[AJ McLean]

No, no, no. Florida. Okay, do you say orange or orange?

[Trish]

Orange. Orange. Orange.

[AJ McLean]

I say orange.

[Trish]

Orange, yeah. Florida people scared. We have a 35 city tour. We're just about to finish. And I didn't do one day in Florida because Florida terrifies me. It's scary.

[AJ McLean]

Okay, do you say pocketbook or purse?

[Trish]

Purse.

[AJ McLean]

Okay. Soda or pop pop? Trash can or garbage can?

[Trish]

Trash can. And are you all opposite of these?

[AJ McLean]

Tunnel or dark scary place? I mean, I think maybe yours is.

[Trish]

A little, like, different because I've never heard anyone call it a pocketbook. A pocketbook from like the 1950s.

[AJ McLean]

Maybe my mom. Well, now she's more purse. But like, pocketbook is from like, it's very. It's that. That's a very east coast, like Jersey, New York. Pocketbook. Pop. Garbage pail.

[Trish]

Garbage pail.

[AJ McLean]

Garbage pail.

[Trish]

But you're Florida, so that's more like south.

[AJ McLean]

It's south, but all the good New Yorkers move to Florida when they want to retire. So we have a lot of New York in Florida. A lot of New York.

[Trish]

I didn't know that about you. Well, I have to ask real quick before you go, do you have like a karaoke song that you like, love, or is there. Because I love. What is it?

[AJ McLean]

It's not. Not a Backstreet Boy song?

[Trish]

No.

[AJ McLean]

There is two karaoke songs. Sweet Transvestite from Rocky Horror and Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel.

[Trish]

Oh, my. Wait, those are two very different songs. Oh, because You're a musical theater kids.

[AJ McLean]

Well, I. And that's one of the characters I've always wanted to play as Dr. Frank N. Furter. And I. And Rocky Horror is not. Is not doing it anymore. As far as Broadway. I think they do still have a traveling show. When I did the tour with Joey, I got to finally do it live. And the first time I did it, my mom was in the audience and she was just over the moon because she knows how much I love Rocky.

[Trish]

Horror pantyhose and everything.

[AJ McLean]

I didn't have time to change. I wanted to do the full course it and everything. But to sing sweet Transvestite because I got to meet Tim Curry years ago and it's so sad that, you know, he had the stroke, but he's still. He's still doing his thing, but iconic. He is a legend.

[Trish]

Would you sing on the spot?

[AJ McLean]

Sure.

[Trish]

Do you want to do that one? Because I love singing. I'm not a singer, by the way, but I love singing. Do.

[AJ McLean]

Which one though?

[Trish]

Either. I like sweet Transvestite.

[AJ McLean]

I gotta think of the words now.

[Trish]

How do you do it?

[AJ McLean]

My faithful handyman by the way I.

[Trish]

Look, don't judge a book by its cover. I'm just a sweet transvestite from transsexual Transylvania.

[AJ McLean]

Why don't you come up to the lab and see what's on the slab? I see you shiver with antism patient but maybe the way isn't really to blame. I'll remove the cause but not the symptom.

[Trish]

You are probably the first person, maybe the second person to sing with me. And that was the best. That was the highlight of my life. And honestly it was. Two of my childhood heroes sang with me. Everyone else is too scared. Donny Osmond sang with me and AJ from the Backstreet Boys sang with me. And honestly, I can't go up from there. So thank you so much. Thank you for being here. Thank you for singing. Thank you for being. Being so open always. You're so wonderful. I'm excited to start this makeup line.

[AJ McLean]

Besties for life.

[Trish]

Besties for life.

[AJ McLean]

Besties for life.

[Trish]

With the sphere, it'll be like a week before I get birth, but I think we can make it up there. I'm downtown.

[AJ McLean]

Congratulations.

[Trish]

Thank you. We're super excited. Everyone. AJ McLean.

[AJ McLean]

We'll see you guys. July 11th, kick off.

[Trish]

Bye.