Kevin Richardson’s Slicked-Back Ponytail Is the Real Star of the Backstreet Boys Residency

The Backstreet Boys‘ “Into the Millennium” residency was the concert event of the summer.

Fans have flocked to the Las Vegas Sphere to watch AJ McLean, Kevin Richardson, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough and Brian Littrell light up the stage and perform the classic hits we know and love. The concert tickets became a hot item the minute they went on sale back in August, and when I spoke to AJ at the iHeart Radio Music Awards earlier this year about the reception, he had nothing but gratitude.

“We truly have the most loyal fans. We’re coming up on 32 years together … Holy crap,” he said. “No one has gone and kind of redone their biggest album or biggest tour… So, we’re hopefully setting the bar.”

They actually ended up jumping over the bar: The residency has been so successful, they have extended their stay, adding seven more shows between Dec. 26 and Jan. 3.

And while the band has been selling out venues since the ’90s, one thing has become apparent to me as I’ve vicariously watched concert footage on TikTok. In addition to the five men in BSB, there is a sixth star who deserves credit for their success: Kevin Richardson’s epic slicked-back ponytail.

Look, the man has had plenty of great hair moments over the years. He’s had it clean-cut, he’s had curtain bangs, he’s had it in a bob and he’s had it in braids. Unlike AJ, who’s experimented with color, Kevin has kept his tresses their natural jet black hue, giving that dark and mysterious vibe fans love so much.

But in the past few years, he’s been really focused on growing out his locks — and though we don’t know if it was all leading to this moment, judging by all the “he looks like a majestic jedi,” or “he looks like he should be in The Matrix,” or “Kevin’s hair is shinier and better than mine,” comments, the combo of the shiny pony and futuristic concert costumes is a hit.

Of course, his bandmates have picked up on the notoriety of the mane. And like any set of brothers, they’ve teased him about it.

On Aug. 20, the group hopped on the “Throwing a Fit” trend on TikTok in which the text on screen reads, “sorry I’m late [insert name here] was throwing a fit.” The person in question then comes out in slo-mo, showing off the wardrobe that was absolutely worth the wait.

For BSB, the culprit was Kevin, and he gave the people what they wanted in his video. While the other fellas were waiting, the “Back to Your Heart” writer unapologetically strutted out of his dressing room, threw a deadpan glance at the rest of his bandmates, and whipped his half-up, half-down mane as he swaggered to the stage. “Daddy Kev is finally ready for take off…” the caption read. Indeed.

In another video posted by a fan who attended one of the shows, AJ is caught teasing Kevin during a show. “I had to pay for this,” he said, pointing to the hair on his own head; he then gestures at Kevin’s hair, saying, “That is a gift from God.”

“It’s from my mama. I got it from my mama,” Kevin responds.

“This is from [a doctor] off of Rodeo Drive, so there you go,” AJ quips of his transplanted hair.

All this is to say, as Kevin Richardson celebrates his 54th birthday today, I would just like to congratulate him on being God’s favorite, and to also ask him on behalf of his fans to drop the hair routine.