Show is group's first major performance in Lexington
By Heather Svokos
HERALD-LEADER POP CULTURE WRITER
Hold on to your hearts and start screaming your heads off: the Backstreet Boys are coming to town.
The pop sensation -- which includes Kentucky members Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson -- is headed for Rupp Arena on Nov. 26, the day after Thanksgiving.
The Lexington stop is part of the Boys' U.S. tour, which begins Sept. 15 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and includes a performance in Cincinnati on Nov. 15.
Tickets for all shows will go on sale Aug. 14.
Since their meteoric rise began in 1997, the harmonizing heartthrobs have played two concerts in Louisville, but this will be their first major show in Lexington.
(Before they hit the big time, they performed at Tates Creek High in 1993 as part of a tour of U.S. high schools.)
Brian Littrell's mother learned about the concert date yesterday when she called and woke up her son, who is in Helsinki, Finland, where the group is wrapping up its European tour.
``We've always wanted them to come to Rupp,'' Jackie Littrell said. ``We'd love them to sell out Rupp Arena in about 20 minutes.''
Although Rupp did not provide ticket details, seats for the Nov. 15 show at Cincinnati's Firstar Center will be $29.50 and $38.50 and available at the Firstar box office and through TicketMaster.
The Backstreet Boys formed in Orlando, Fla., after Littrell, a Tates Creek High graduate, joined cousin Kevin Richardson of Estill County, A.J. McLean, Howie Dorough and Nick Carter.
When Littrell was back in Lexington in March, recording backing vocals for a song with local choir members, he expressed his desire to play a big hometown show.
``It's been my dream since I was little to play Rupp Arena,'' he said then. ``It's going to depend on how the album goes.''
Oh, that has gone pretty well.
The Backstreet Boys' current album, Millennium, has reclaimed the No. 1 spot on the pop charts and was certified as the best-selling album so far this year at 5 million copies.
