AJ McLean Sparks Taylor Swift Collaboration Hopes

Backstreet Boys member AJ McLean posted an Instagram clip recreating the band’s 1997 “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” video to a fan-made mashup of that song with Taylor Swift’s “Elizabeth Taylor” (the mashup was created by Lydia Getachew), and bandmate Nick Carter added a dance to the clip. Taylor Swift noticed and replied exuberantly in the comments — “OH HI AJ OH MY GOD” and “I JUST SQUEALT” — prompting fan excitement and calls for an official collaboration. The moment highlighted a behind-the-scenes link: Max Martin co-wrote/produced “Everybody” and produced “Elizabeth Taylor” and much of Swift’s album The Life of a Showgirl. McLean’s clip recreated the spooky imagery from the original 1997 video and amplified online buzz around mashups and comparisons to Swift’s recent material. McLean is also promoting his solo EP Hi, My Name Is Alex, due Nov. 27, and a full-length album planned for January.