The Backstreet Boys star in two of this season’s holiday specials—their JCP Live Holiday Spectacularavailable on demand on JCPenney’s Facebook page, and a very backstreet holidaycoming to ABC and Disney+ on December 14—just in time for the release of their first holiday album, a very backstreet christmas. But they had another reason to celebrate, thanks to a very different TV show: RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag RacingCongratulations to BSB’s very own AJ McLean, who unexpectedly won the show as his charming alter ego, drag queen Poppy Love.
a drag twist masked singerThe Concept, Season 2 secret celebrity drag racing Celebrities including Tatyana Ali, Taylor Dayne, Loretta Devine and more HappyJenna Ushkowitz and Kevin McHale in disguise.but Wina, baby, it’s “Supreme Queen” McClain. Few guessed Poppy Love’s real identity: Fans were stunned by the boy band star’s big Ru-veal, and even his own family didn’t know he was playing. But McLean said when he was asked to take part in the show, He jumped at the chance — and it turns out the RuPaul/Backstreet connection goes way back, a full-circle moment for the now 44-year-old singer.
“When we first broke out in America, RuPaul had his talk show at the time, and he was one of the first guys to get us to do it on American TV,” the group’s Kevin Richardson told Yahoo Entertainment, who Sitting McLean on set with bandmates Nick Carter, Howie Dorough and Brian Littrell JCP Live Holiday Spectacular“So, we’ll never forget him for that.”
McLean is now a father of two and he is delighted – with all that is happening in BSB right now – his daughters are most “excited that at some point I will actually give my crown and scepter to to my house, so they wanted to play with that. But they didn’t know the mace weighed about 10 pounds!” He also laughs recalling how he kept his secret celebrity drag racing True secrecy from his family.
“The funny thing is my wife and my daughters hatred When I shave; they think I look weird without a beard.And me Do It looks weird! he said. “So when I shave [for Drag Race]they don’t know what I’m doing – or why reserve shave. I kept making excuses that Dad’s face needed to breathe and get some sun. Finally, I came home from rehearsal one night in a pair of six-inch heels and they said, ‘Well, what’s going on here? superior here? ‘”
“They thought he was a part-time stripper,” Richardson quipped.
since drag racing Franchises often shoot multiple endings to avoid leaks and spoilers, and McLean doesn’t know he’s actually won Secret Celebrity Crossdressing Race Until the finale airs. He had predicted Ali (aka Chakra 7) would win and was “shocked” when he saw the result while on tour with his kids at BSB.
“I’m honored to be crowned,” said the singer, who won a $100,000 cash prize for his charity of choice, Trans Lifeline, a grassroots nonprofit that provides emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis . “I am a strong advocate for the LGBTQ+ community – I have been for over 30 years and I will remain strong in that community – and I am honored to be asked to do so. … It is an honor to serve with such a great company Great charity work and I will do it again. Poppy Love will live on.”
Watch Yahoo Entertainment’s full interview with the Backstreet Boys about their holiday album and two holiday specials, John Mellencamp’s protest against rumors of being on the same record label as BSB, and Nick Carter’s Christmas with his late brother Aaron Happy Memories:
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