AJ McLean Says 'Life Is Just Beautiful' After 2 Years of Being Sober (Exclusive)

AJ Mclean.Photo: Jesse Grant/Getty ImagesAJ McLeanis celebrating his sobriety.TheBackstreet Boysstar, 45, said his “life is beautiful” as he spoke to PEOPLE about his two-year sober journey at the Celebrity Poker Match supporting The Actors Fund in Los Angeles on Sunday.“[It’s been a] little over two years sober now, and life is just beautiful,” Mclean tells PEOPLE.“Probably the biggest thing I’ve learned is authenticity, being my true, authentic self,” he says of what he’s learned on his transformative journey.

AJ McLean Says Backstreet Boys Is Group's 'First Marriage': 'This Is 27 Years Almost'

Not all marriages come with a ring.Opening up about the “undeniable” bond all five members of theBackstreet Boyshave with one another,AJ McLeandescribed the group to PEOPLE as their collective “first marriage.”“We’ve had our fights, believe me but there’s a certain bond that’s just undeniable with us and literally, this is our first marriage. Before any of our real marriages” he said while attendingThe Call of the Wildpremiere in Los Angeles on Thursday.

AJ McLean Says Doing Broadway Is 'No. 1 on My Bucket List' — and Reveals His Plans to Move to NYC

Photo: Emily Assiran/Contour/Getty DearBroadway,AJ McLeanis calling! Now that the Great White Way hasofficially reopenedfollowing an extended hiatus due to the ongoingcoronavirus pandemic, theBackstreet Boyssinger has hopes to make his Broadway debut, he told fans Sunday at 90s Con. “That is like number one on my bucket list: to do Broadway,” McLean, 44, said. “Within the next two years, my family and I — I’m not going to tell you where — we’re going to move to New York for one year and hopefully [it will happen].

AJ McLean Says He and Estranged Wife Rochelle Are in 'Therapy' as He Deals with His 'Demons'

AJ McLean.Photo: Michael Kovac/GettyAJ McLeanis putting in the work to save his 11-year marriage.The Backstreet Boys memberspoke to TMZabout his separation from wife Rochelle at LAX on Monday and revealed what they are doing in hopes of getting to a better place.“We’re pushing to be the best version of us that we can and to be the best husband and wife we possibly can for each other,” McLean, 45, told the outlet, adding that they talk “every day” and he “loves” his family.

AJ McLean Says He and Wife Rochelle 'Still Live Separately,' but Are in a 'Much, Much Healthier' Place

AJ McLean.Photo:Michael Kovac/Getty Michael Kovac/Getty AJ McLeanis opening up about his separation from his wife. “We still live separately, but we are in couple’s therapy, we are in individual therapy,” McLean told Burke, 39, when she asked about the status of his marriage, as the coupleannounced their separation earlier this year. The performer did reveal, though, that he and Rochelle, 42, have seen immense growth in their relationship. “We talk every day, we are spending more time together.