Aaron Carter, Singer and Brother of Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter, Dies at 34

Aaron Carter, singer, television personality and younger brother of Backstreet Boys star Nick Carter, died Saturday (Nov. 5). He was 34.

A representative from his management team cofirmed his death to Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter. No cause of death was given. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department told THR that a suspicious death took place at the address of Carter’s residence but could not confirm the identity.

Representatives for Carter’s brother did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Born in Tampa, Fla., on December 7, 1987, Carter got his start opening for the Backstreet Boys on a 1997 tour, and his debut album, Aaron Carter, was released later that year, reaching gold status.

His follow-up album, Aaron’s Party (Come and Get It), was released in September 2000. Aaron’s Party peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and went triple platinum. It featured the singles “I Want Candy” and two Billboard Hot 100 hits, “Aaron’s Party (Come Get It)” (No. 35) and “That’s How I Beat Shaq” (No. 95). He supported the album as an opening act for Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears on the Oops!… I Did It Again Tour.

Carter’s third album, Oh Aaron, went platinum in 2001, and he has released two albums since then, most recently Love in 2018.

He dabbled in acting, appearing on shows including Lizzie McGuire, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and 7th Heaven and in such films as Fat Albert (2004) and the Channing Tatum-starring Supercross (2005). Carter made his Broadway debut in 2001 as JoJo the Who in Seussical the Musical and later had a long run as a cast member of the off-Broadway production of The Fantasticks.

Carter also made plenty of unscripted TV appearances, which included starring alongside Nick and their siblings B.J., Aaron, Leslie and Angel Carter on the E! series House of Carters in 2006. Leslie died of a drug overdose in January 2012 at the age of 25.

Among his other television credits, he competed on the 2009 season of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars, finishing in fifth place, and on the Food Network cooking battle series Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off in 2012.

Carter was a gossip-site fixture and known for headlines surrounding his personal life, dating back to his early years as a teen heartthrob. He welcomed son Prince with Melanie Martin in November 2021.

Over the years, the star was open about his struggles with substance abuse, including on a 2017 episode of The Doctors. In September 2022, he said he had checked into rehab for a fifth time in an effort to regain custody of his son. He had previously entered rehab back in 2017 following an arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence and marijuana charges.

During an interview with podcast No Jumper that was posted to YouTube earlier this month, Carter said he was grateful for all of his previous success and remained hopeful for the future, although he wasn’t concerned with achieving further fame.

“I enjoyed all of that, and I’m back to do that — that’s what I’m back to do,” Carter said about focusing again on his music. “I don’t really care about [stardom] because I’ve had so many levels in the industry, and fame and fortune, and highs and lows — it’s like a roller coaster.… I’m a singer, a songwriter, a performer, and this is what I do, and I’m never going to give up on it.”

Scott Feinberg contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on The Hollywood Reporter.