NEED TO KNOW
AJ McLean is feeling better than ever.
Speaking with PEOPLE ahead of Netflix’s Building the Band premiere on Wednesday, July 9, the Backstreet Boys member — who serves as host on the show — opens up about getting to “the best head space I’ve ever been in my life.”
“Towards the end of the DNA tour, I got sober again for the last time,” McLean, 47, tells PEOPLE exclusively. “I’m sticking this one out all the way. It’s a daily thing. But I have finally done what has been suggested amongst the sober community, and my life has flipped in a positive way.”
In October 2020, McLean opened up to PEOPLE about his then-20-year struggle with addiction to drugs and alcohol — and the moment with his daughter that changed his perspective on it all. However, at the time, McLean said he was 10 months sober.
Then, in August 2023, McLean said he was looking forward to marking two years of sobriety on Sept. 26.
“I’m trying to keep my feet firmly planted in the program,” he said at the time. “I’ve battled self-esteem issues my entire life, and I’ve learned a lot. My sobriety is the most solid it’s ever been.”
Now, McLean says he’s in the gym “six days a week,” eats “clean” and has a “healthy balance between family and work.”
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“I took a little trip down to Scottsdale, Arizona two summers ago for a little departure for myself for mental health,” he says. “I’m a huge advocate for the mental health community, and I wanted to go dig a little deeper into my own existence and really get to the root of why I did the things I did to hurt myself and the ones I loved.”
He continues, “I’ve discovered new verbiage, such as boundaries, never really had those. Now I have those, which is a blessing. AJ is a member of a group. He is a persona, but he doesn’t define me as an individual. Alexander James is who I am.”
After taking that time to reflect, McLean says he discovered he suffers from “piece of s—ism” and had “zero self-esteem.”
“And now I’m still learning, still growing, but if you don’t like me, that’s your loss, because I’m a really good person. I really got to bring that to this show as well. I got to be my true self,” he says of Building the Band.
As for the show, McLean says it’s going to be a “true game changer.”
“Honestly, it brought me so much joy to be a part of this, and I am beyond flattered and honored to be a part of the Netflix family now,” he says.
