Over time, Backstreet Boys have updated their pre-show routine — these days, they focus on stretching and jokingly “pray” to avoid injuries before hitting the stage.
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Backstreet Boys acknowledge that, after three decades together, they’re no longer the same group they once were.
Backstreet Boys say their routine before performances looks very different today compared to their early years. While preparing for their residency at Sphere, the group shared that stretching has now become a major part of getting ready for the stage — something they rarely did when they were younger.
AJ McLean explained that he personally prefers to warm up in a calm way, doing quiet stretches, brief meditation, and light weightlifting. He noted that in the past, very few of them focused on warming up physically, but now almost everyone stretches before vocal practice because their shows still involve intense, high-energy dancing.
Even their long-standing pre-show prayer has evolved over time. Nick Carter joked that instead of only focusing on a good performance, they now also ask for protection from injuries, like falling, hurting an ankle, or straining a tendon. Still, one tradition remains unchanged: the five members always gather in a circle together before going onstage, often including their crew and families as part of the moment.
The group openly acknowledges how much they’ve changed since forming in 1993. Carter pointed out that their voices and overall performance skills have naturally matured over decades of touring, recording, and performing. The members also laugh about the physical realities of aging, admitting they now deal with things like stiffness and back pain that didn’t affect them in their early days.
Recently, the band also appeared in a Super Bowl commercial, teaming up with T-Mobile alongside other entertainers for Super Bowl LX, where they playfully reworked their classic hit I Want It That Way. Kevin Richardson described the experience as surreal, saying the continued support from fans after so many years still means a great deal to them.