Backstreet Boys’ behind-the-scenes Sphere Vegas residency rituals

Backstreet Boys may have been a band for over 30 years, but each member has their own unique routine before hitting the stage.

Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, AJ McLean, Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson became what would later be known as the best-selling boy band of all time in 1993 but their debut single “We’ve Got It Goin’ On” and hit ballad “I’ll Never Break Your Heart” put them on the map in 1995 and 1996, respectively.

Those two singles, along with several of their chart-topping smashes, are woven into the Backstreet Boys’ highly talked-about “Into The Millennium” residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas.

While the boys are all older, ranging from 45 to 53, some of their backstage habits remain the same, according to their longtime choreographers and creative directors, Rich and Tone Talauega (better known simply as Rich + Tone), who spilled each member’s pre-show ritual in an exclusive interview with The Post.

Admitting that the vibe before the show is “very relaxed,” Rich broke down Nick, Howie, AJ, Brian and Kevin’s individual methods while also sharing the one thing the boys do together before performing to about 20,000 adoring fans at their cutting-edge summer residency.

Rich + Tone know best, considering the pair has worked with the Backstreet Boys since 1998, first as dancers before becoming the creative directors and choreographers for several of the group’s tours between 2008 and 2020, and now, the “Into The Millennium” Sin City residency.

Keep scrolling to discover each Backstreet Boys’ unique backstage habits.

Nick Carter

Nick, 45, “does this routine where he stretches, like every performer should. But he does a lot of sports stretches to get his body warmed up,” the renowned pair, who have worked with Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Usher, Chris Brown, and more, told The Post.

“He likes to sweat a little bit before he starts to get dressed,” Rich added.

Kevin Richardson

Rich + Tone say that Kevin, 53, is “more relaxed” than the other guys backstage.

“He tries not to do too, too much before the show,” Rich shared, emphasizing again that “Kevin is just more relaxed” when they come into his room to check in and give him “extra little pep talks,” as they do with his other bandmates, before their performance.

AJ McLean

When asked if AJ, 47, has any funny pre-show quirks, Rich laughed.

“He likes to talk a lot,” he responded while noting that AJ “doesn’t like to think” about their performance before hitting the stage.

“He likes to have conversations with people about everything else except the show,” the famed choreographer quipped.

Howie Dorough

Howie, 51, is the most thorough, according to Rich.

“He does his vocal warm-ups. He likes to warm up his vocals before he starts stretching a little bit,” he revealed about the singer.

He also enjoys going over notes to learn what he can do better.

“We like to give him notes about his performance,” Rich said, sharing that the feedback could be about anything from staging to hitting his marks.

“He says, it’s like his food. Cause it keeps his mind spinning. Because he likes to be sharp,” he explained.

“And no other way to be sharp is to give him notes. And on the smallest things, too, as well, ‘Where should I look? Should I look onstage left or should I look straight to the right?’” Rich added, saying his biggest note for Howie is “‘just be you. Just be free.’”

Brian Littrell

Rich shared that Brian, 50, is like Nick.

“He likes to warm up. He’s like an athlete. I like to say, I like to treat them all like athletes,” Rich noted.

To do that, Rich + Tone ensure that “they’re always doing stretching, whether it’s vocal warm-ups or going over notes.”

When it comes to the five band members, Rich stated Brian is “more like Nick,” sharing that they warm up similarly before a show.

The band’s one tradition

While Nick, Kevin, AJ, Howie and Brian have individual routines, they also take a moment together backstage before kicking off each residency concert.

Rich said the “one thing that I love to see them do” is their prayer prior to coming out on the stage, revealing that all five of the boys take turns leading the message.

“That’s great because it brings the morale together,” he stated.

According to Rich, they all hug afterward, and both he and Tone remind them they aren’t just Backstreet Boys; they are “icon boys.”

How long will the Backstreet Boys’ residency run?

The Backstreet Boys’ summer residency in Sin City kicked off on July 11.

With larger-than-life visuals — like giant dancing robots projected on the 160,000-square-foot interior screen and a futuristic platform levitating each member of the group about 80 feet in the air — and a 1,600 speaker sound system, Rich confessed that the team faced some “challenges” to make the residency come to life.

The Backstreet Boys are the first pop group at the Sphere, which opened near the Vegas strip on September 29, 2023.

Due to their overwhelming popularity, they added three additional shows to their lineup.

The residency is scheduled to end later this month, with the final show set for August 24.

While many fans have hope that the Backstreet Boys will extend their residency dates, no official announcement has been made.