Watch Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean Take Carrie Underwood’s Cry Pretty Challenge
Backstreet Boys singer AJ McLean is joining Brad Paisley in demonstrating that — contrary to Carrie Underwood's hit single, "Cry Pretty" — he actually can cry pretty.
Underwood recently debuted a new Snapchat filter that lets fans emulate the glittery tears featured on the cover of her hit single, and she challenged fans to post the results online using the hashtag #CryPrettyChallenge.
McLean could not resist having a little fun with the unique new feature. In the video above — which Underwood reposted from his Instagram — he applies the filter and comically mouths along as Underwood's recent Top 10 hit plays in the background, making exaggerated faces of deep sorrow as Underwood emotes. Despite the campy theatrics and the fake tears, McLean's legions of female fans would probably argue that he still looks as good as ever doing it.
Get the Details of Carrie Underwood's Cry Pretty
Underwood was impressed with his performance, writing, "This is amazing!" to accompany the video. For his part, McLean professed his admiration for her new Cry Pretty album, writing, "Here’s to you and your #CryPrettyChallenge @carrieunderwood Fantastic album! Killin’ it!"
Paisley previously took on Underwood's challenge, sharing the results and saying, "Can't cry pretty? We'll just see about that. I beg to differ."
McLean has been getting more and more involved in country music since the Backstreet Boys joined Florida Georgia Line for "God, Your Mama and Me" in 2017. The song reached No. 1, and McLean has been recording for a country solo album that he says will have a "soulful kind of Chris Stapleton/Sam Hunt vibe."
"I want to come in and I want to disrupt country," McLean tells Entertainment Tonight. "I want to shift. I want to shake things up just like FGL did. So, you guys are in for a treat."
McLean released the first single from his upcoming country project, "Back Porch Bottle Service," in June. He turned to social media in mid-August to share a powerful acoustic cover of Stapleton's "Drunkard's Prayer."
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