Backstreet Boys are planning to make a country album.
The boy band – made up of AJ McLean, Howie Dorough, Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell – are set to release their first album since 2013 later this year, and admitted that while they decided against putting out a "straight-up country record", the idea is still a possibility for the future.
Howie said: "We’ve had a lot of love from the country world lately, so we definitely explored that and at one point even talked about doing a straight-up country record.
"Not to say that isn’t still on the table and something we’ll consider down the line, but we kept coming back to the fact that our roots remain in the pop world. And, with all the nostalgia of everything right now, we know we’re essentially a pop band."
The ‘I Want It That Way’ hitmakers took inspiration for their new album from their Las Vegas residency shows, and Howie is "very proud" of the record.
He said: "But at the same time, we’ve been exploring the EDM world and have done great collaborations with The Chainsmokers and gotten to know Steve Aoki and Zedd.
"Being out in Vegas with this residency has definitely lent us the opportunity to meet and collaborate with these producers and deejays, so that definitely played into the musical direction.
"I’m very proud that the record is a little bit of everything – we’ve got our signature pop melodies and harmonies, and also dabbled into dance, country and R&B while staying true to ourselves."
The group – whose last album was 2013’s ‘In a World Like This’ – are now planning to tour their new record around the world.
Howie added to ‘Entertainment Tonight’: "We’re going to finish up some dates in our Vegas residency in July, August, October, November and February, then the plan is to take this album and all of our greatest hits on a world tour.
"We’re going to take this tour all around the world."
Backstreet Boys planning to make country album
