AJ McLean Reclaims Sobriety After 2021 Relapse

AJ McLean is embarking on a new chapter, one centered on healing, honesty, and anticipation. After years of struggling with addiction and a 2021 relapse, the pop star is giving fans a powerful update. He's sober once again, and this time, he says, for good. "I'm sticking this one out all the way," McLean told People in a recent interview. "It's a daily thing. But I have finally done what has been suggested amongst the sober community, and my life has flipped in a positive way."

Its language is that of an artist who has seen enough to find clarity and commitment in his own voice. Sobriety has long been a public and private struggle for AJ, but this time he insists that he's in "the best head space I've ever been in my life." That resurgence didn't happen overnight. Well into a relapse in 2021, AJ took a meaningful step back, going on a transformative trip to Arizona, an experience he says led him to better understand the root of his past struggles. "I wanted to go dig a little deeper into my own existence and really get to the root of why I did the things I did to hurt myself and the ones I loved," he explained.

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It was more than a retreat and a journey inward, one that has helped him become more grounded, more present, and more aligned with the man he wants to be. As a father of two young daughters (Elliot and Lyric), AJ makes a point that this newfound sobriety isn't just for him. It's about just showing up with full presence, complete honesty, and the willingness to do so every day. His focus on his mental health and on wanting to know why, as well as what, has brought him a fresh purpose. AJ McLean's transformation from a boy band heartthrob to a mental health advocate is both sobering and inspiring. He reminds us that relapse can also be the reset. His willingness to share gives hope to countless others who may be walking in his footsteps.