Backstreet Boys pray to stay injury-free ahead of Vegas shows

The Backstreet Boys are taking their pre-show rituals to a new level now; their prayers include a plea to avoid injuries.

The iconic I Want It That Way hitmakers have always sent a message to God before hitting the stage, but as they’ve grown older, their spiritual requests have shifted to focus on safety during their high-energy dance routines at Las Vegas’ Sphere.

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.”

The group, also including Kevin Richardson, 54, Howie Dorough, 52, and Brian Littrell, 51, make it a point to properly stretch and limber up before shows.

“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,” AJ explained.

“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 joked that they have “an extra wrinkle or two” these days and AJ admitted to “a little bit more back pain,” Nick emphasized that the band is stronger than ever.

Reflecting on nearly 33 years 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.”