AJ told VH1 that he wants to marry Sarah Martin, who he proposed to on Dec. 16, in 2003 on the anniversary of the day they met, although he didn't say what day that would be, E! Online reports.

AJ

Backstreet Boy A.J. McLean is putting his home up for sale.

The newly engaged BSB star is asking $1.95 million for his Orlando County, Florida, home, MTV reports.

The house has six bedrooms, five bathrooms, a screened-in pool, a three-car garage, and a game room.

More details about Backstreet Boy AJ McLean's engagement are emerging.

AJ told VH1 that he wants to marry Sarah Martin, who he proposed to on Dec. 16, in 2003 on the anniversary of the day they met, although he didn't say what day that would be, E! Online reports.

The couple met at a karaoke bar before AJ entered rehab last summer to treat his drinking problem. The singer told USA Today in October that Sarah was very supportive of his decision to get and stay sober.

"She stopped drinking, too, while I was in rehab and has been very supportive," he told the paper.

AJ will be the third Backstreet Boy to tie the knot. Kevin Richardson married Kirstin Willits in June 2000 and Brian Littrell married Leighanne Wallace three months later. Howie and NIck, who is said to be planning a solo album, are the only two single Backstreeters left.

AJ may be happy about his upcoming nuptials but some Backstreet Boys fans are less than thrilled.

One website -- www.angelfire.com -- lists ten reasons why Sarah is a less than stellar choice for the Backstreet star. Here are some of the reasons listed: "She's not as nice on the eyes as AJ, She's very beastly looking, You never see AJ without seeing her attached to his hip, She signs her autograph 'AJ's Girlfriend', She drinks as much as AJ used to."

Some Backstreet fans were especially vicious to Nick Carter's ex-girlfriend Willa Ford, a pop starlet. While the two were dating many websites devoted to hating Willa popped up all over the internet. She has since told AllPop that she's moved past the negative feedback and is concentrating on her musical career.

Backstreet Boys Howie D is teaming up with wiz kid producer and choreographer Wade Robson.

Wade, who has worked with *Nsync and Britney, met with Howie on Thursday to write music for the new Backstreet album, according to a newsletter from Wade's official website.

The newsletter went on to say that Wade is also writing a short film.

The Backstreet Boys are plotting their next album.

Kevin, Howie, A.J., Nick and Brian are planning the follow-up to their 2000 album "Black & Blue" and hope to write much of the new album's material themselves, MTV reports.

The boys are expected to enter the studio at the end of March but hope to take a trip together before then to work on new songs.

"We've [already] been doing some writing individually and together," Kevin told MTV.

Kevin went on to say that the group's writing plans won't stop them from teaming up with other hit-makers. They are planning to work with Jermaine Dupri (Lil' Bow Wow, Jagged Edge) and Glen Ballard (Dave Matthews Band, Alanis Morissette) to write and produce tracks, which they want to record with a live band.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Lou Pearlman, the boy-band hitmaker responsible for the Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync, has cultivated an avuncular image. Called "Big Poppa" by some of his singers, Pearlman has often been seen taking group members to concerts or to his downtown pizzeria.

But now the Florida Department of Labor is investigating the portly 47-year-old music impresario and his Orlando-based company, Trans Continental Entertainment, for possible violations of the state's child labor laws.

Merrily Goodell, the mother of two members of Take 5 -- one of Pearlman's former groups that failed to make it big -- filed a complaint last fall alleging Pearlman broke more than a dozen state statutes dealing with minors working in the entertainment industry.

The complaint says Pearlman violated rules prohibiting minors from working more than six consecutive days, working no earlier than 7 a.m. and no later than 11:30 p.m., and requiring that parents be notified of their children's activities.

She also accuses Pearlman of violating the terms for receiving a state permit allowing minors to work in the entertainment industry.

"It sounds like someone has it in for us," Pearlman said in a telephone interview. "It's just preposterous."

Added Trans Continental Records Vice President Scott Bennett: "Merrily Goodell is obviously fishing for something, whether it's money or whether she's jealous or upset that her boys didn't become rich and famous like some of the other bands Lou has worked with."

Goodell, mother of former Take 5 members Ryan and Clay Goodell, said the complaint is only about how Pearlman "horribly exploits and manipulates young people."

"Mr. Pearlman reminds me of the bully that runs around stealing kids' milk money," said Goodell, who lives in Dellwood, Minn. "You cower at his bullying behavior. It takes awhile, but one day you realize your life won't be worth living until you face off with him."

Pearlman has had no previous child labor complaints filed against him in Florida.

However, both the Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync accused Pearlman of deception and cheating them out of money in lawsuits they filed several years ago to get out of Pearlman's control. Pearlman also had a bitter parting with the group O-Town that was documented on the ABC show "Making the Band."

Bob Brandewie, a state child labor coordinator, said he couldn't provide details on the investigation until it's completed. A first-time offense usually results in a warning, but employers can be fined or lose their permit to work with underage performers if they are found in violation during a follow-up investigation, Brandewie said.

The five-member Take 5 disbanded last year.

They had high hopes when they came to Orlando in 1997 to join the stable of teen-pop acts groomed by Pearlman. T.J. Christofore and the Goodell boys came from Minneapolis. Tilky Jones came from Vero Beach and Stevie Sculthorpe from Miami. They ranged in age from 13 to 17.

Pearlman put Take 5 in a house together. They took voice lessons in the mornings and dance classes with a choreographer in the afternoons. Band members said their rehearsals sometimes began at 6 a.m. and didn't end until 8 p.m. A private tutor helped with schoolwork until she quit.

"It's not just four years of working," said Ryan Goodell, 21. "It's four years of slaving."

Pearlman said his company and two record companies, edel and Elektra, spent more than $2 million in advances, recording costs, wardrobe, education, meals and travel trying to build up the group.

"Trans Con took care of the house, but all the time we had trouble with the electricity not being paid," said Christofore, 17. "They gave us money for groceries but it was nowhere near enough to feed five guys. Our parents would buy us baby food for protein."

In April 1998, the group went to Germany for its first tour, and eventually traveled through Europe, Asia and Canada. They recorded two albums, "Take 5" and "Against All Odds."

Sculthorpe left the group early in 2001. Later that year, he was arrested for burglary, battery and felony mischief for getting into a scuffle at an acquaintance's house. The group fell apart soon afterward.

Then the group had to stop using the name Take 5 after the Grammy-winning gospel group Take 6 threatened to take legal action.

Sculthorpe is now pursuing a solo career with Trans Continental. Pearlman said the company has talked about working with Jones, who is getting his lifeguard certification while continuing to write music. Christofore is pursuing a solo career in Los Angeles. Ryan Goodell is enrolled in community college in Los Angeles, and Clay Goodell, 17, is in high school in Minnesota.

The Goodells, Christofore and Jones said they never received any royalties from merchandise and album sales.

Pearlman contended that Take 5 never made any money for Trans Continental or the record companies.

Richard Wolfe, a Miami entertainment attorney hired by Merrily Goodell to get her sons released from their contract and to examine if any royalties were owed, agreed with Pearlman. Wolfe no longer does work for Goodell.

Whether the boys have been released from their contract is subject to interpretation. Wolfe negotiated contract releases from Pearlman, but Goodell said the terms were unacceptable.

"As far as I'm concerned, Lou Pearlman put his money up, he took the risk, he doesn't owe them anything," Wolfe said.

Early recordings by Backstreet Boy heartthrob Nick Carter are being released.

"Nick Carter: Before The 'Boys' 1989-1993" is a collection of songs recorded by Nick before he joined the Backstreet Boys.

The album will be released on March 26 by Hip-O Records. It contains 14 tracks recorded by Nick and produced in an Orlando, Fl, studio owned by Mark Dye, who was Nick's producer and vocal coach from 1989-1993.

The recordings track Nick from the ages of nine to 13. Two of the songs, "Summer!" and "Hard To Get", were written specifically for Nick by Dye.

Other songs on "Before The 'Boys'" include: "Love Is A Wonderful Thing", "More Today Than Yesterday", "Rhythm Of My Heart",' "Runaround Sue", "Lights", "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do", "Jailhouse Rock", "God Bless The U.S.A.", "Uptown Girl", "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree", and a medley of "Just A Gigolo"/"I Ain't Got Nobody".

Prior to the March release date, the album has been available only regionally or by mail.

Two Backstreet Boys and one *Nsyncer have carried the Olympic torch.

Kevin Richardson spent Tuesday (Jan. 15) carrying the torch for three blocks in Los Angeles to promote his charity, Just Within Reach, an environmental foundation, MTV reports.

Backstreet's Howie Dorough ran with the torch in Florida last December to promote the Dorough Lupus Foundation. (Howie's sister, Caroline Cochran, died from Lupus in 1998.)

*Nsync's Lance Bass ran a few blocks with the flame in Newport Beach, California, to promote *Nsync's Challenge For The Children, which raises money for children's charities.

Lance's Olympic run won't be the last time *Nsync comes into contact with the Olympic games. The pop act will perform at the Olympic Medals Plaza on Feb. 23 for the closing-ceremonies celebration.

Nick and A.J. will be dropping their semi-bad-boy routine and taking on the roles of cuddly bears and rabbits.

The boys are participating in an hour-long episode of the PBS children's cartoon "Arthur", MTV.com reports.

Brian and Howie will be rabbits, while Kevin, Nick and A.J. will be bears in an episode titled "It's Only Rock And Roll", which is scheduled to air in selected markets during PBS' August pledge drives and nation-wide several weeks after that. A book and home-video version of the episode is scheduled for September.

The episode finds Arthur and his friends excited about an upcoming BSB concert in Elwood City (their hometown). Arthur's pal Muffy is especially thrilled, while Francine prefers a different group called U Stink. The climax of the episode finds U Stink and Backstreet singing a duet.

Backstreet will sing two new songs penned by "Arthur"'s creator, and other Backstreet music will play during the special, which will also feature behind-the-scenes footage of Backstreet recording their vocals.

Nick Carter says his recent arrest was "celebrity motivated", a police report says he didn't leave by the "count of 3", and a witness claims Nick spent his stay in the police car "bawling".

Nick was arrested at a Florida night-club last Wednesday (Jan. 2) and charged with "resisting/opposing a law enforcement officer without violence".

The singer was arguing with a woman at the club and was asked to leave by police officers 10 times before he was finally arrested.

The blond Backstreet Boy released a statement on Thursday that said:

"I have done nothing wrong. My arrest at Pop City night-club last night was a result of simply moving too slow. I was attempting to comply with an officer's request to leave a club when I was detained and given a citation. I truly believe my celebrity motivated the officer to arrest me. I am certain that after a full investigation of the facts my name will be cleared."

The jargon-laden police report on the incident (which can be found on thesmokinggun.com), supports previous reports that Nick was arrested because he failed to leave the club after having been asked several times to do so.

"The def was involved in a large disturbance at Pop City club in Channelside earlier in the evening," reads the police report. "Later that evening, a large unrelated disturbance/fight erupted, as police were trying to arrest subjects and restore peace. At this time, the def became involved in an argument w/ an uk w/f. Police, trying to restore order, ordered the def to leave over (10) times. Finally, the def was told he had to leave by the count of (3) or he would be arrested. The def continued the argument and would not leave, and was arrested w/o incident. The def was id w/ a FL DL. Def was recogged."

In the same smokinggun.com story is a statement from Jennifer Guggino, a 21-year-old woman who was listed as the only witness to the incident in the police report.

"The cops arrested him, put him in handcuffs, and then put him in the police car," she told the website. "Nick wasn't belligerent, but he started bawling. He said, 'You just want to arrest a Backstreet Boy. I've never been arrested. I don't know what to do!' He was crying hard. Tears were streaming down his face. People were laughing at him. The cops were chuckling."

Nick, however, apparently wasn't embarrassed by his tears. He reportedly told the witness that "It's okay to cry".

Backstreet Boy Howie Dorough is participating in the Olympics, but his role has nothing to do with pop hits.

The boy band star has been chosen to run with the Olympic torch through Orlando, Florida, says a message on Backstreet's official website.

Howie will be one of last four people to run to the torch in Lake Eola Park on Dec. 7 as the fire makes its way to Salt Lake for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

Backstreet Boys star Brian Littrell and his actress wife Leighanne have braved online hate sites, deranged stalkers, and a relationship formed and cemented on tour. So for them, starting their own music label and entertainment production company, "BriLeigh Productions", probably seems as breezy as a chorus of "I Want It That Way".

The duo's first project is the soundtrack for the indie film "Olive Juice", which stars Leighanne.

"I personally think that the CD rocks," Leighanne says before leaving for Las Vegas for a Backstreet show. "I think that it's a little better than the film because we have so many different kinds of music and all the music we put on there is really good."

Leighanne in "Olive Juice" - Doubble Troubble Entertainment

The soundtrack, which features music by the Backstreet Boys, a theme song penned by Brian and J. Michael, and several tunes by up-and-comers, is the first of many projects the couple hopes to collaborate on in their new company.

Although Leighanne says they've received "tons" of demos from wannabe music stars, both she and her husband insist they'll take their time in developing and nurturing new artists. Brian and his band-mates have been stung by money-hungry pop svengalis in the past, something he swears he'll never do.

"... because I've been an artist for so long, I know how artists feel," Brian says from his tour bus. "The only reason we created the record company was to create a good working environment for all people, for artists to come in and feel cared for and feel loved and feel respected. [The Backstreet Boys] have been through a lot of tough times in our career. Everybody knows that, and we just want to create a record company that people will love to work for."

For Leighanne (who manages to come off sounding unbelievably sweet but sincere and intelligent at the same time -- sorry, jealous BSB fans), the thought of nasty things being said about BriLeigh productions sounds like it would be her absolute worst nightmare.

"We want to start off pretty slow, one or two artists in first year," she says, "... just give the artists our full attention, to do it right, have a great reputation. We really care about how our company is perceived by the public and by the artists."

But creating a warm and fuzzy working environment is more than just some abstract plan that Backstreet's sentimental crooner and his wife daydream about. Brian actually has definite ideas about what he does and doesn't want to put his artists through.

"Record companies can be very stingy in a manner where, when they sign you to an agreement, they don't allow you to work with certain people," he says. "They have to give all the okays and they have to make all the final decisions, and that's frustrating to me because we've wanted to work with many different people, the Backstreet Boys ourselves.

"We've recorded a duet with Lionel Richie, a duet with Elton John, and a lot of people don't even know these things because we can't publicize them in a manner where our record company will allow us to. I would want my artists to be able to work with whoever they felt that they wanted to work with that they had the chance to. We're not looking to make a beaucoup amount of money, we're just lookin' to help other artists be successful and enjoy what they do."

Brian and Leighanne don't really need "beaucoup" amounts of money anyway because, after all, he is a Backstreet Boy. After spending eight-and-a-half years touring, promoting, and recording as a BSB star, Brian has come to a point in his life where he can take short breaks without worrying about slipping off the music radar or whether he's going to be able to pay the rent.

Brian in "Olive Juice" - Doubble Troubble Entertainment

"It's been like six or seven straight years of working very hard to get where we're [the Backstreet Boys] to the point now [where] we can work for quite a while and then have some time off at home," he says.

Leighanne, who says Brian was a bit too busy with Backstreet to do as much with the "Olive Juice" soundtrack as he would have liked, acknowledges that life as a Backstreet wife can be tough. They're both on the move a lot, and if she's not shooting a movie, she's on tour with him.

"We've basically been touring since we've met," she says. "And he's been on tour since our honeymoon."

Now that Brian can afford to take breaks, the two can solidify their relationship outside of the touring world, and their production company is giving them the opportunity to work together creatively.

"It's fun because we know each other so well and we know what each other thinks," says Brian. "Sometimes we'll butt heads or disagree about certain things, but if I ever have any questions, I obviously don't hesitate at all or feel intimidated about my relationship with my wife, as opposed to our business relationships.

"We strive for the same things in life, and we have the same goals through our companies and individually as well, about having a family someday and moving forward with our lives in all different aspects."

Brian & Leighanne on the soundtrack of "Olive Juice"

Not everything is sappy and sweet for Brian and Leighanne. Being in the spotlight means more people notice you. Not all those people will be absolutely stable. Last year, the couple's dogs were kidnapped (but eventually found safely), and recently they've been slightly shaken by an overzealous fan.

"We had a stalker in Atlanta," says Leighanne, "and now we're going to change our whole security, our fences and our cameras ... she's 40 years old, a mother. She came on our property like four or five times. We had to call the police."

Like Backstreet star Nick Carter's ex-girlfriend Willa Ford, they've also been targeted by mean-spirited websites.

"There was this horrible thing going around with this hate fan club of the Backstreet Boys and saying that they want to kill them and kill their wives and stuff like that," she says. "That was over the Internet."

Before Backstreet fans reading this interview start thinking the group doesn't realize they have loyal, stable fans too, Leighanne quickly says that most of the reaction she and Brian have received as a couple has been positive.

"We have some really great fans," she says. "They gave us incredible wedding presents, really thoughtful, like quilts and afghans."

The Littrells hope that BriLeigh projects will meet with the approval of their thoughtful fans. In addition to the music side of their company, the couple also hopes to develop films and TV programs. Brian says he wouldn't mind working on a romantic comedy, which is the couple's favourite type of film, "things that are light-hearted, things that are family-oriented", he says.

Leighanne, meanwhile, admits that she'd love to have the opportunity to play a villain. "I think I could do a villain pretty easily," she laughs.

And although he does have a brief cameo in "Olive Juice", don't expect Brian to pull a Lance Bass and turn up in a starring role in a BriLeigh production

"It's really funny how anybody that acts wants to put a CD out and anybody who sings wants to be a movie star," he says. "I know I kind of stick with the things I would consider myself good at and that's the music side, and I hope people think that I have a little bit of talent in that. A lot of times you open yourself up to criticism that you really don't need."

Brian thinks he'll probably leave the acting to Leighanne and maybe score soundtracks for BriLeigh films.

At this point, Brian's cell phone begins to cut out as the Backstreet tour bus crosses the desert on the way to Las Vegas. After the show and promo stops in New York, he and Leighanne will have a bit of time to talk about music, artists, and their plans for BriLeigh before he heads back out on tour in Japan.

Brian Littrell and the rest of the Backstreet Boys are heading back into the studio for a new album very soon.

"Well, we're definitely not breaking up," Brian told AllPop from his BSB tour bus before the group's Las Vegas show. "The first thing that's on our agenda for the beginning of next year is that we'll be back in the studio making another record, and I'm sure that our fans will be happy to hear that.

Brian says the Boys will be taking a short break after this week's busy schedule, which already saw them participate in both VH1's benefit special in New York and the Washington, D.C., benefit concert at RFK Stadium called "United We Stand".

On Oct. 30th, the Backstreet Boys will release "Chapter I: Greatest Hits", and Brian says he and his group-mates are planning to pack their current New York trip full of promotional stops for the album, including appearances on "Rosie", "Good Morning America," "The Morning Show", "The View" and the "Today Show".

The Backstreet Boys spent all day Thursday (Oct. 18) shooting a video for "Drowning", the only new BSB song on "Chapter I".

"Hopefully if we have time in New York we'll get a final cut of the video and maybe take it up to [MTV's] 'TRL' and visit them and maybe premiere it live there," he said.

One of Brian's major worries these days is that fans will mistake "Chapter I" as Backstreet's farewell.

"What concerns me the most about the Backstreet Boys situation and rumours is that we're coming out with this greatest hits CD, 'Chapter I'," he says. "When artists come out with greatest hits CDs, that's almost like you're saying, 'Well that's it, we're done, we're finished', and that's not the case either way with the Backstreet Boys or my career in general, because there's so many things that we've yet to do as a group."

After New York and a short break comes another set of tour dates for the boys, who will make their way to Japan on Nov. 16.

"It's going to be fun," said Brian. "It'll be the first time we've toured over there ever. We've been over there two or three different times on promotion but never tours."

CLICK HERE to listen to Brian's special message for his fans.

Stay tuned to AllPop for more of our interview with Brian and his wife Leighanne.

NEW YORK (AP) - The A.J. McLean who entered rehab for alcohol abuse and depression isn't the real A.J. McLean, his mother says.

Denise McLean, the Backstreet Boy's mother, still calls her 23-year-old son ``Alex,'' and recalls that as a little boy, he dreamed of stardom.

``A.J. is the bad boy, crazy boy on stage that ... makes all those pelvic thrusts and does all this stuff to drive the girls crazy,'' she says in an interview with ABC News' ``20/20,'' scheduled to air at 10 p.m. EDT Friday.

``And A.J. is the one that got the tattoos, and A.J.'s the one that colors his hair for the audience ... and the media and does the shock stuff.

``Alex is ... the complete opposite of that,'' she says. ``Alex is the sweetest ... most gentle person ... you could ever imagine. He's kind, he's got a heart of gold, he loves his family, he loves his puppies to death.''

McLean checked himself into a rehabilitation center a month ago, forcing the Backstreet Boys to postpone their North American tour. He was released last Saturday.