Backstreet Boys 'pray' they avoid injury Now they are getting older, the Backstreet Boys' pre-show prayers include a request to protect them from injury. 23 February 2026 Backstreet Boys "pray" they don't get injured before going on stage. Backstreet Boys' preparations look different now The I Want It That Way hitmakers have always sent a message to God before their concerts, but now they are getting older, their spiritual requests have changed before their gigs at Las Vegas' Sphere because they are looking for protection during their high-energy dance routines. Nick Carter, 46, told People magazine: "We pray that we don't fall, we pray we don't break an ankle, we get the lyrics, pray we don't pop [an] Achilles heel." Bandmate AJ McLean, 48, added: "We've always had a circle up, whether it's just us five or it's us and our crew, our management, families, our close-knit team. No matter what, us five circle up, that's something we do unified." And Backstreet Boys - which also includes Kevin Richardson, 54, Howie Dorough, and 51-year-old Brian Littrell - make sure they take some time to "stretch" and limber up properly ahead of their shows. AJ said: "I think everybody's different. I know for me personally, I try to just have a complete quiet stretch, I do a quick little meditation and I've got some weights that I'll do a little bit of weightlifting and stretching and whatnot. "For a long stretch there, I would look at all of us in the dressing room, and maybe one of us might be stretching, but for the most part, we weren't. "Now I'm pretty sure we're all stretching before a show, before vocal warmups. About 90% of the show is full-out dancing. So we gotta be as limber as we can be." While Howie, 52, joked they have "an extra wrinkle or two" these days and AJ noted they also have "a little bot more back pain", Nick believes the group are better than ever. Reflecting on the passing of time since they formed in 1993, he said: "I sounded like Mickey Mouse back then. I just had a very different voice. "I was younger, so all of our voices have matured. I think the 30-something years, how many shows that we've done, how many albums we've put out... I mean, it's just a natural progression of getting a little bit better. So I think maybe a better version of ourselves." Tagged in AJ McLean Backstreet Boys Nick Carter