Backstreet Boy A.J. McLean has announced he's engaged to Sarah Martin, leaving only two unattached members of the multiplatinum-selling quintet.
The baddest of the Boys--(whose full name is Alexander James, but he answers to the nickname "Bone") disclosed the news during a recent VH1 interview. He says he and his betrothed, a would-be chanteuse, plan to swap vows in 2003 on the anniversary of the day they met (all together now, "Awww!"). He did not, however, say what particular day that was, or exactly when he popped the question. (A representative for the band said the proposal took place December 16 but declined further comment.)
What we do know is that McLean, 24, met Martin at a karaoke bar before he went into rehab last year for substance abuse, anxiety and clinical depression.
McLean supposedly went on a booze binge following the death of his grandmother and continued to embrace the hard-partying lifestyle afterwards. Last July, while the band was in the middle of a tour, his bandmates confronted him and forced him to clean up.
In a post-rehab interview with USA Today last October, McLean credited Martin with helping him stay sober. "She stopped drinking, too, while I was in rehab and has been very supportive," McLean told the newspaper.
The two currently cohabitate in Los Angeles with their puppy, Serenity.
Martin will become the third Backstreet bride. Kevin Richardson married dancer Kristin Willits in June 2000, and three months later, Brian Littrell tied the knot with actress Leighanne Wallace.
That leaves only Nick Carter and Howie Dorough as the remaining BSB bachelors.
Between the marriages (fans view each new bride as a potential Yoko Ono), McLean's rehab stint and Carter's recent distractions (he was arrested during a bar fight, but worked out a deal with prosecutors to avoid jail, he also purchased a racing boat for his dad, and he plans on releasing his own solo album next year), there have been persistent rumors of an impending Backstreet breakup, which the band has repeatedly denied.
In fact, the Boys are prepping the follow-up to 2000's Black & Blue and will likely be heading into the studio in the next few weeks. The Backstreeters will be composing new songs themselves and are also recruiting tunes from Jermaine Dupri and Alanis Morissette producer Glen Ballard.