Published in The Orlando Sentinel on December 2, 1999.

As singing preteens gathered outside the Orlando Arena for the Backstreet Boys concert Wednesday evening, the five members of the superstar group were inside charming the glitter off about 100 fans invited to a rollicking news conference.

Chief among the information pumped out of the boys by Make-a-Wish kids, fan clubbers and contest winners from Nova Scotia to Brazil was that the pop stars -- who for years kept their love lives quiet -- all "have a girlfriend."

Except for Howie Dorough.

"I'm dating someone," said Dorough, triggering as much laughter from his group mates as the girls in the audience.

"What's the difference?" Kevin Richardson said, goading him.

Dorough thought for a second and then responded sheepishly, "It's uh, my classification." That had everyone hooting.

The boys were just as relentless when Brian Littrell, who has been the most open about his relationship with Leighanne Wallace, was asked whether he plans to marry her next year.

"DUN, DUN, DAHHHHNN!" sang Nick Carter in a mocking trumpet voice, as Littrell reddened on the hot seat.

"I don't know -- that's a good question," Littrell said. "I would actually like to -- all in good time."

Richardson drew a chorus of "ahhhhhhhhs" when he said he had met his girlfriend seven years ago at Walt Disney World. Their on-again, off-again relationship, tested by all the time Richardson's travels, is back on again.

The high points of the hourlong meeting were an impromptu a cappella song and when 14-year-old Clarissa Michaud of Largo asked Richardson to say "Hi, Jenny" to her mom as "payback" for all the times her mom had embarrassed her.

Richardson did better than that -- he walked over and gave Jenny a big hug, prompting squeals that would shame a set of NASCAR tires.

Richardson also revealed that he has a tattoo on his pelvic bone -- "It's Japanese writing that means music and pleasure."

Asked whether he had any hidden tattoos, A.J. McLean -- who's famed for his skin art -- said, "All of my tattoos are from the waist up.' But he does some day want to get a dragon -- maybe on his leg.

That prompted one of the boys to yell: "He wants to tattoo his butt."

McLean responded: "If I had one, I would."

Asked what they would be doing New Year's Eve, Richardson said a lot of people were expecting them to do something big because their latest album and tour are called Millennium. But "I think we're just going to spend time with our families," some of whom live in Central Florida.

Carter surprised him by adding: "But we're working on something."

And Richardson chimed in: "There might be a surprise."

Asked whether any of them had political aspirations, Littrell noted that they had seen a sign once that read, "Nick for President."

Well, then, would he run?

"Naw man," Carter said. Electing him "would be the worst thing this country could do.