Aj McLean visits 'The Jennifer Hudson Show' on Oct. 20, 2025. Chris Haston/Warner Bros. Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Print the Article Post a Comment Backstreet Boys' AJ McLean has opened up about his forthcoming EP and why he decided to title it Hi, My Name Is Alex. In an interview airing Monday on The Jennifer Hudson Show, the singer said his solo project is four years in the making, given that he was working on it around his touring schedule. He revealed that the EP will be released Nov. 27, which McLean picked since it's his oldest daughter's birthday as well as Thanksgiving. "Normally new music comes out, as you know, on a Friday," he told Hudson. "I've gone against conventional rules my whole life, so I figured why not throw a curveball and put it out on Thanksgiving because, in my mind, I'm so thankful and grateful for the fans that have waited so patiently for this. I promise you it's worth the wait." Related Stories Music Brandy Explains Why She Abruptly Left the Stage During Concert With Monica TV 'Saturday Night Live' Domingo Sketch Returns as Sabrina Carpenter Addresses 'Man's Best Friend' Album Cover Art Controversy The full LP, which will have the title Hi, My Name is Alexander James, will be released Jan. 9, which is McLean's birthday. "I'm giving a gift to the fans and to myself because I really am passionate about it," he said of why he chose that date. "I'm proud of it," he continued "I's been an incredible journey kind of finding my way outside of Backstreet Boys, you know, this kind of journey of self-discovery and really finding my true happiness. I just celebrated four years sober, so ... where I am today shows in the music." Two years ago, he took a trip to Scottsdale, Arizona, for "a little mental health retreat." He was there for 10 weeks. "What I got out of that was understanding that AJ is a character in a band," he shared. "It doesn't define me as who I am. I want the world to get to know Alex. ... I want everyone to kind of get to know me as me. There's not that much of a difference between the two, but one is part of a group, part of a team, and then me on my own, I finally realized that I can love myself today, which I do. I can look at myself in the mirror." McLean shared that he also has struggled with low self-esteem for his entire life. "It's kind of mind boggling considering what I do ... but I wanted you [the fans] to like me and now if you don't like me that's your loss," he said. "I'm a good person." Watch the interview below. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up music Brandy Explains Why She Abruptly Left the Stage During Concert With Monica Obituaries Sam Rivers, Founding Bassist of Limp Bizkit, Dies at 48 Kylie Jenner Kylie Jenner on Potentially Making More Music: "I Don't Think I'm Like Adele or Anything" music NMIXX Thrives on Change With Their First Full-Length Album, 'Blue Valentine' Ozzy Osbourne Two New Documentaries Share the Darkness and Light of Ozzy's Osbourne's Final Years RIAA Latin Music Revenue Tops $490 Million at Mid-Year: RIAA music Brandy Explains Why She Abruptly Left the Stage During Concert With Monica Obituaries Sam Rivers, Founding Bassist of Limp Bizkit, Dies at 48 Kylie Jenner Kylie Jenner on Potentially Making More Music: "I Don't Think I'm Like Adele or Anything" music NMIXX Thrives on Change With Their First Full-Length Album, 'Blue Valentine' Ozzy Osbourne Two New Documentaries Share the Darkness and Light of Ozzy's Osbourne's Final Years RIAA Latin Music Revenue Tops $490 Million at Mid-Year: RIAA