Being the best for each other. AJ McLean and Rochelle McLean (née Karadis) have always put their marriage first — even in the wake of their temporary separation.
While the couple first met in 2008, their connection didn’t blossom until five years later. The “As Long As You Love Me” artist recalled asking Rochelle out for the first time while she was working as a waitress at Saddle Ranch in West Hollywood.
“I asked her out, and then she asked her manager who I was. Our first date was supposed to be dinner [and] a movie. And I worked late in the studio the night before,” he recalled during an August 2022 appearance on the “Not Skinny But Not Fat” podcast. “So I was like, ‘Why don’t you just come over to the house? And we’ll watch a movie, and we’ll order in.’”
AJ explained that Rochelle had no idea who he was at the time and ghosted him. One year later however, when the “Everybody” performer asked her out for a second time, she said yes.
In January 2010, “The Call” singer got down on one knee and proposed to the model on his birthday. The pair later walked down the aisle nearly two years later in a gothic-themed ceremony with AJ’s fellow Backstreet Boys members in attendance.
After one year of marriage, AJ and Rochelle became parents for the first time when they welcomed their daughter Elliott in 2012. Five years later, the family of three expanded their brood with the arrival of Elliott’s little sister, Lyric, in 2017.
In 2020, the BSB superstar joined the cast of Dancing With the Stars. While participating in the competition series, he opened up about his relationship with Rochelle and how she had been there for him in his darkest moments.
“As I said, on the show, she’s my superhero,” the “Shape of My Heart” crooner — who has been candid about his struggles with substance abuse issues — wrote in an exclusive blog post for Us Weekly at the time. “She has been through hell and back with me. If there was an award for everything that she does on the daily, she deserves them all. The greatest reward that I get from her on the daily is just a constant affirmation of love. She’s always there for me, it doesn’t matter what it is. She’s very supportive. She’s a great listener. We have amazing conversations — sometimes until the wee hours of the morning.”
In the piece, the “I Want it That Way” singer gushed about how lucky he was to have an amazing wife and how great she is with their two children.
“My wife means everything to me as does the fact that she’s been here still, to this day, with me after all the bad things I’ve done in my life that have hurt people — especially her,” he added. “She’s always seen the good in me and seen past — as hard as it may be to see past — all the bad stuff I did when I was drinking and using drugs. But things are the best they’ve ever been today, and I couldn’t ask for anything else.”
In March 2023, the pair confirmed they were going through a rough patch and decided to “temporarily” separate after more than a decade of marriage.
“Marriage is hard, but worth it. We have mutually decided to separate temporarily to work on ourselves, and on our marriage with the hope of building a stronger future,” AJ and Rochelle told Us in a joint statement at the time. “The plan is to come back together and continue to nurture our love for one another, and our family. We ask for respect and privacy at this time. Separation is hard enough without the commentary, please be kind and remember there are children involved.”
Sign up for Us Weekly’s free, daily newsletter and never miss breaking news or exclusive stories about your favorite celebrities, TV shows and more!
Keep scrolling to see AJ and Rochelle’s relationship timeline:
