Nick Carter

In 1992, Nick Carter auditioned for the emerging pop group The Backstreet Boys. As the band's youngest member, Carter joined AJ McLean, Howie Dorough, Kevin Richardson, and Brian Littrell. After initially gaining popularity in Europe, the Backstreet Boys released their debut album in 1997, which sold 13 million copies with songs like "Quit Playin' Games (With My Heart)" and "As Long as You Love Me." The band continued with seven years of touring and success before Carter decided to take a break.

In 2002, Carter embarked on a solo career and released his first solo album, "Now or Never," which sold over 500,000 copies in its first week and reached No. 17 on the Billboard 200 charts. Despite the album's moderate success, Carter transitioned into acting and reality TV in 2006, featuring in the series "House of Carters" along with his younger brother Aaron and three sisters. Around this time, Carter reunited with the Backstreet Boys while continuing to work on solo projects, including the albums "I'm Taking Off" and "All American."

Expanding his career beyond singing and reality television, Carter ventured into writing, producing, and directing. He created the short film "The Pendant" in 2010 and directed the music video for "Just One Kiss." In 2016, he saw success with his movie Dead 7, a project that was crowdfunded through Indiegogo.com. Aside from his artistic pursuits, Carter has been actively involved in environmental advocacy, focusing primarily on ocean protection. An avid surfer and powerboat racer, Carter even started his own racing team, Nick Carter Racing, which won the National Championship in its first year. Committed to the United Nations Environmental Program and the International Coral Reef Network, Carter has also lobbied on Capitol Hill for environmental protections.

As with many young stars, Carter struggled with substance abuse during his career, including alcohol and cocaine, attributing part of his 10-year battle to the pressures of celebrity life and the fallout of his parents' tumultuous marriage. His addictions led to legal issues, including DUIs and an arrest over a bar brawl. In 2008, a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy prompted Carter to seek sobriety. Despite these personal challenges, Carter has continued to progress in his professional career and personal life. He is married to fitness expert Lauren Kitt and the couple now have three children. Carter continues to create new music, both as a solo artist and with the Backstreet Boys, including their first holiday album, "A Very Backstreet Christmas," released in 2022.