Claim: The Backstreet Boys are American.

The Backstreet Boys -LRB- often abbreviated as BSB -RRB- are an American vocal group , formed in Orlando , Florida in 1993 . The group consists of AJ McLean , Howie D. , Nick Carter , Kevin Richardson , and Brian Littrell .   The group rose to fame with their debut international album , Backstreet Boys -LRB- 1996 -RRB- . In the following year they released their second international album Backstreet 's Back -LRB- 1997 -RRB- , and their U.S. debut album which continued the group 's success worldwide . They rose to superstardom with their third studio album Millennium -LRB- 1999 -RRB- and its follow-up album , Black & Blue -LRB- 2000 -RRB- .   After a two-year hiatus , they regrouped and released a comeback album Never Gone -LRB- 2005 -RRB- . After the conclusion of the Never Gone Tour in 2006 , Richardson left the group to pursue other interests . The group then released two albums as a quartet : Unbreakable -LRB- 2007 -RRB- and This Is Us -LRB- 2009 -RRB- .   In 2012 , the group announced that Richardson had rejoined them permanently . In the following year they celebrated their 20th anniversary and released their first independent album , In a World Like This -LRB- 2013 -RRB- . The group also released their first documentary movie , titled Backstreet Boys : Show 'Em What You 're Made Of in January 2015 .   The Backstreet Boys have sold over 130 million records worldwide , making them the best-selling boy band in history , and one of the world 's best-selling music artists . They are the first group since Sade to have their first nine albums reach the top 10 on the Billboard 200 , and the only boy band to do so . They also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 22 , 2013 .