Backstreet Boys singer AJ McLean announces separation from wife after 18 years together

AJ McLean has announced he is separating from his wife - but explained they are not getting a divorce.

The pair have been together for 18 years and share two daughters, Ava, 10, and Lyric, 6,

Backstreet Boys star AJ, 45, explained the pair's stance and confessed the duo are "temporarily" separating in a bid to get back on the right track.

AJ and wife Rochelle, 41, tied the knot in 2011 in front of the rest of his bandmates at the Beverly Hills Hotel, but have hit a tough patch of late.

The singer said: "Marriage is hard, but worth it. We have mutually decided to separate temporarily to work on ourselves, and on our marriage with.

Continuing his statement to TMZ, he added: "The plan is to come back together and continue to nurture our love for one another, and our family."

And after asking for privacy, the star concluded: "Separation is hard enough without the commentary, please be kind and remember there are children involved."

He has previously spoke about how Rochelle had been his "rock". The Dancing with the Stars alum explained that she was his "super hero" adding to US Magazine: "She has been through hell and back with me.

"If there was an award for everything that she does on the daily, she deserves them all. The greatest reward that I get from her on the daily is just a constant affirmation of love.

"She’s always there for me, it doesn’t matter what it is. She’s very supportive. She’s a great listener. We have amazing conversations — sometimes until the wee hours of the morning."

Last year, AJ also opened up about her Ava had decided to change her name to Elliott.

Speaking of her name, the singer revealed his daughter didn't feel as though her name was "unique".

He said: "When my daughter asked to change her name to Elliot, initially, I didn't know if it was a transgender thing, which it is not.

"But it is a personal choice."

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