ABC/Paula LoboSometimes being a Backstreet Boy means sacrificing daddy-daughter time.
On the Academy of Country Music Awards red carpet Sunday, AJ McLean revealed to Entertainment Tonight that he received a heart-wrenching text from his six-year-old daughter Ava last week.
“My oldest, about five days ago, had Mommy send Daddy a text saying, ‘Can you stop being a Backstreet Boy and just be my dad?’” AJ recounted.
He then gestured to his heart and said, “So take this out, step on it, stab it, burn it and then do it again!”
“Mommy gets to be home, which I try to explain to my girls — ‘Be thankful Mommy and Daddy are [not] both not working,’” he continued. “Mommy gets to be there, but Daddy always, always comes home.”
AJ also has a two-year-old daughter Lyric, with wife Rochelle. Even though he can’t spend as much time with them as he might like, they’re always on his mind.
ET reports that on Friday night at a pre-ACMs party, he performed a new song about his daughters called “Give You Away” and got choked up while singing it.
“[The song’s] about my daughters — about the day I have to give them away on their wedding day,” he says. “…I broke down before I even sang the first line and I barely made it through the song but I did.”
The song will appear on AJ’s upcoming country album, Long Road. The Backstreet Boys kick off their DNA World Tour in May.
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