Like father, like daughter -- times two!
Following the arrival of his second daughter, Lyric Dean McLean, on March 19, Backstreet Boy AJ McLean is opening up about being a father to two little girls and reveals that his new bundle of joy has already developed great taste in music.
“She just loves music,” the 39-year-old singer told ET while attending the Celebrity Connected Honoring the MTV Movie & TV Awards Luxury Gifting Suite at the W Hollywood Hotel on Saturday. “She doesn’t like driving in the car, so we have to have music on. We’re starting her out really young. Right now, she’s been listening a lot to David Bowie -- she likes to do her little hand movements to David Bowie! It’s fun.”
McLean already has an avid music fan in 4-year-old daughter Ava, who has attended Adele, Gwen Stefani and Taylor Swift concerts, and boogies in the bathroom to Justin Timberlake.
While the star is thrilled to be getting little Lyric into his favorite artists already, he confessed that when it came time to bring her home from the hospital, he was fearful his practical parenting skills would be rusty.
“I thought I was going to forget how to put a diaper on, but it comes right back -- just like riding a bicycle,” said the “Live Together” singer, who is preparing to drop his solo record this summer. “So far, I have not been pooped on, but once she moves onto solid foods, that’ll probably happen. It doesn’t bother me. I have been peed on straight into my beard, but it’s all good!”
Aw!
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While being away in Las Vegas for the Backstreet Boys’ Larger Than Life residency so soon after Lyric’s birth was “really hard,” the musician is now relishing quality time with both Ava and Lyric before the group resumes its Planet Hollywood run on June 15.
Meanwhile, the Disneyland fanatic took Lyric on her first outing to the theme park on Sunday, sharing a sweet snap of her sleeping in his arms on Instagram. “Even though she may not look like she’s having fun she had a blast,” he wrote.
McLean says Lyric has been a dream baby, sleeping through the night, and Ava has embraced stepping into the older sibling role.
“She's been such a great big sister,” he gushed. “It’s still a transition, so she’s definitely more needy and wanting a lot more daddy attention, which I’m fine with because I’m always busy, so when I’m home, I try to give my kids as much attention as I can. But she really has been great.”
“About a week ago, I came out of the shower and Ava was sitting on the bed with Lyric, holding and kissing her,” McLean continued, recalling his favorite moment with his two daughters. “They were both really into each other. Lyric was touching Ava’s face and it was just amazing. I wanted to pull my camera out, then I was like, ‘You know what? Just let them have their moment.’ It was just so frickin’ sweet. They’re going to be really good together.”
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After announcing on the Celebrity Connected event’s red carpet that he and his wife, Rochelle, were now “shutting up shop” in the baby department, McLean hit the gifting suite with his buddy, Chris, and picked up some goodies for his girls, including a cute pair of eco-friendly Django baby moccasins and some Elyptol hand sanitizer for all those diaper changes!
While his family is keeping him busy, 2017 is set to be even busier for the Dead 7 star, who revealed there's a possibility he could be a judge on ABC’s upcoming singing competition series, Boy Band.
“I have expressed my interest,” the singer confirmed. “Nothing is moving forward yet. They’re still going through all the logistics, so we’ll see, but it’s going to be an interesting show. Hopefully it sticks.”
The network has given a 10-episode order to the reality competition series, which comes from the team behind Lip Sync Battle and will see singers duke it out for a spot in a five-member group. Viewers will be able to vote for their favorites from home and the winning quintet will score a recording contract with Hollywood Records.
As one-fifth of the best-selling boy band of all time, McLean -- who recently celebrated the Backstreet Boys’ 24th anniversary -- would be well equipped for a role on the show.
While he believes it’s good timing for the music competition, his busy schedule may thwart his ability to join the series. In addition to the Backstreet Boys’ Las Vegas residency, upcoming new album and concerts with Florida Georgia Line, he is gearing up to release his solo record over the summer and continue with other creative side projects.
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“There are so many other things going on for me right now,” the father of two explained. “I’m finally finishing up my solo album, which is going to be out later this summer, Backstreet Boys are making a brand new record and I’m also launching my first nail polish line. So, there are a lot of good things coming out this year!”
See McLean and his bandmates come face-to-face with a 96-year-old fangirl below.