[citation needed] He discovered his love for performing and started to pursue a career in acting, dancing, and singing.

In addition to singing and acting, he was a serious dance student learning everything from jazz to ballet to hip hop.

[11] In 1990, McLean, his mother, and grandparents moved to Kissimmee, Florida to pursue his acting and singing career.

At the Latin festival, he met a young 16-year-old Howie Dorough (Tony Donetti at the time) through a mutual vocal coach.

Due to his love of performing and not participating in the same sports as his peers, he was bullied, called names, and given a hard time.

"[8]: 15  He remarked that being made fun of had been very upsetting for him, but he felt it stemmed from others' jealousy of his talents and the subsequent attention that gave him.

[8]: 15–17 In March 1992, an ad was placed in a local newspaper seeking young men between the ages of 16-19 for an audition for a new music group.

[17][18] It was not until March 2008 when McLean finally started to perform his first two solo shows at the Anaheim House of Blues and The Roxy in Los Angeles.

[19] While creating his solo project, McLean worked with the OneRepublic vocalist Ryan Tedder, producers Dan Muckala and Kristian Lundin, as well as former NSYNC member JC Chasez.

He also said that the Backstreet Boys' collaboration on Florida Georgia Line's "God, Your Mama, and Me" inspired him to make a country album.

[24] McLean continued his foray into country-pop releasing the ballad "Boy and a Man" in March 2019 as a single from an upcoming album Long Road.

McLean also announced he was set to release his second solo album, his first in 12 years since, Have It All called Sex and Bodies.

[28] On February 14, 2024, (Valentine's Day), McLean released a new song called Electric under his full name, Alexander James.

"[34] McLean also appeared and performed with the Backstreet Boys on Arthur, Sesame Street, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and Saturday Night Live.

In September 2018, McLean provided the voice of the golden mole Kuchimba on an episode of Disney's The Lion Guard.

[35] On November 16, 2021, McLean announced he was to be the host for the second season of Fashion Hero, filming in South Africa in 2022.

[36][37] In August 2020, McLean was announced as one of the celebrities competing on season 29 of Dancing with the Stars, placing seventh in the competition.

McLean was going to be hosting a brand-new Netflix reality TV competition series called Building the Band, but since the death of Liam Payne of One Direction, the show won't air anytime soon.

[40] the show also included pcd Nicole Scherzinger, Destiny's Child alum Kelly Rowland, and Payne as the judges.

[48] McLean dated Amanda Latona of Innosense for two years,[49] one of the band's dancers, Kristin denehy, for 3 months and was engaged to singer Sarah Martin in 2002 but they split up.

[50][51] McLean met model and makeup artist/hairstylist Rochelle Deanna Karidis in October 2001,[52][53] before the two reunited in 2006 and then began dating in 2009.

[60][61][62][63] Since their divorce, McLean shared that he wanted to reconcile with Rochelle whenever they were co-parenting their daughters still spend as much time together as a family as possible due to the sudden fact that they're the best of friends and their love for one another never changed.

McLean threatened to quit the band but later broke down and arranged rehab for drug and alcohol abuse.

On July 9, 2001, a press release was sent out stating that the remainder of the dates in Boston would be canceled due to Nick Carter injuring his hand.

[69] In preparation for the New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys' NKOTBSB tour, McLean said, "I want to be healthy and perform and sing for people at my very best and happiest."

During an interview with New Zealand radio station ZM, McLean described addiction as the hardest thing he has ever had to go through, stating it is something he battles every day.

"[74] Two years sober permanently, McLean had asked his bandmates and those working with him to call him by his real name, Alex, as AJ is a character.

[75] In 2020, before his appearance on Dancing with the Stars, McLean stated he was completely sober and following a strict diet: grain-free, gluten-free, plant-based, and sugar-free.

[76] Two years later, he reported success in losing excess weight, keeping a trim body and not having alcohol or fast food.