AJ McLean Opens Up About Coparenting With Estranged Wife Rochelle

AJ McLean is still learning to navigate his separation from estranged wife Rochelle McLean, which includes figuring out how to coparent their two daughters.

“We’re doing good,” AJ, 47, exclusively told Us Weekly on Monday, June 30, of his dynamic with Rochelle, 43, while promoting his new Netflix series Building the Band.

The Backstreet Boys singer explained, “We are coparenting to the best of our ability, and we both have a lot of growing to kind of still go through, but I think we are moving in a really positive direction.”

AJ, who shares daughters Elliott, 12, and Lyric, 8, with his estranged wife, noted that “the love is still there” no matter what their relationship status.

“We have a family together that’s obviously not going anywhere,” he shared, revealing, “We have been spending a lot of time together as a family and, you know, her and I going out on dates here and there.”

AJ added that there was a “long time” of “departure” between him and Rochelle, some of which was pegged to him being on the road or not being “present” while navigating his sobriety journey.

Since announcing their separation in March 2023, AJ said there’s been a positive shift between the estranged spouses.

“Now things are completely different, but I think different in a good way for both of us,” AJ told Us. “Fingers crossed that everything works out in the end, but either way, we’ll always be close and love each other and be the best parents we could be for our girls.”

AJ and Rochelle tied the knot in December 2011, two years into their romance. After nearly 11 years of marriage, the pair confirmed to Us in March 2023 that they decided to “separate temporarily to work on ourselves, and on our marriage with the hope of building a stronger future.”

In January 2024, AJ and Rochelle shared an additional joint statement revealing they’d “decided to officially end” their marriage. The exes added, “It is with deep love and respect that we have made this decision.”

Despite parting ways romantically, AJ and Rochelle have continued to put in the work that their relationship and in raising their girls.

AJ, for his part, told Us in September 2024 that he wasn’t ruling out a possible reconciliation down the line. “I think we’re in the best place we’ve almost ever been. So, you know, there’s high hopes for the future. Who knows?” he said.

The musician, who celebrated three years of sobriety that same month, added: “I’m just trying to stay focused on my sobriety, my kids, spending time with my family. Rochelle and I have an amazing relationship, and we’re having a great time, honestly.”

AJ and Rochelle have seemed to continue the positive trajectory into 2025. Last month, the musician couldn’t help but sing his former partner’s praises for running their kids to and from their dance practices and competitions while he tours with the Backstreet Boys and pursues his career.

“It’s a grueling schedule more so for mommy, because daddy’s always traveling,” AJ said of his daughters’ activities. “There should be a true award for moms out there because they are literal superheroes.”

In addition to his own music career, AJ is the host of Netflix’s Building the Band competition show premiering on Wednesday, July 9.

“This show gives it all back to the artist, and I love that about this show,” AJ teased. “Down to the artists putting themselves together based on never seeing each other [and solely] based on chemistry, compatibility, and talent.”

He recalled, “I got emotional when we were on set when they first met each other,” noting he was there every day to see the whole process.

“I got to watch these groups go through all of it, and it was just, to be honest, it was really inspiring,” AJ said, comparing the series to Love Is Blind and NBC’s The Voice but for bands. “I mean, it really truly was because there is so much incredible talent on this show. We really set the bar pretty high.”

Building the Band premieres on Netflix Wednesday, July 9, with episodes 1-4. The next three episodes drop on Wednesday, July 16, followed by the final three on Wednesday, July 23.