AJ McLean has nothing but praise for “American Idol” alum Baylee Littrell, the son of his Backstreet Boys bandmate Brian Littrell. “He can sing and do anything, honestly,” McLean shared with Us Weekly. “I mean, he’s just beyond talented.”
Littrell, who made it to the top 20 before being eliminated on season 23 of “American Idol,” has been heavily focused on writing new music since leaving the show. According to McLean, “… he’s got a catalog of probably three to 400 songs he’s written that are all insanely good.”
Another thing about Littrell that McLean picked up on is that he has range. The 22-year-old singer dropped his new single “Hey Jesus” on June 24, an emotional ballad he debuted as a contestant on “Idol.” But Littrell has other kinds of songs in his repertoire as well.
“I went to Brian’s house just to kind of kick it, and Baylee sat there and played 15 songs, all different types of music,” McLean revealed.
Stepping Out From His Father’s Shadow
Being the son of a beloved boy band member has not been the easiest thing for Littrell as he’s navigated the music industry so far. Competing on “Idol” was initially difficult for the singer.
“It was hard to make friends, and it was hard for people to understand me because a lot of people, they did have preconceived notions of how I would be,” he shared with Us Weekly.
Littrell also had difficulty early in his career, telling CCM Magazine, “… people would try to sign me to a record label and then they’d find out where I come from and … they’d ghost me.”
But having family in the business has come with some benefits in terms of understanding what to expect. “He’s seen his dad go through it; his uncles go through it. He’s seen a lot in 22 years,” McLean explained, adding, “… he’s in his own lane and in my mind he’s already a massive success because he is his own person.”
McLean’s Advice for Littrell
Littrell has the advantage of being close with his dad as well as his dad’s Backstreet Boys bandmates. But in McLean’s eyes, Littrell doesn’t need any extra guidance.
“I mean, I’ve known Baylee since he was born,” McLean said. “He doesn’t really need any advice from any of us. If anything, I’m such a big fan.”
McLean also marveled at Littrell’s focus and maturity, explaining, “He knows what he wants and he knows what’s right and wrong.”
