Drake reveals first kiss was to a Backstreet Boys song, joins them on stage
Synopsis
Drake's first kiss happened to a Backstreet Boys song — and when he told them that at a Toronto restaurant during their DNA Tour, they brought him on stage. His bar mitzvah story about 'I Want It That Way' is the kind of celebrity moment that cuts through the noise: raw, funny, and unexpectedly human.
Key Takeaways
Drake revealed to The Backstreet Boys that his first kiss was set to one of their songs, during a chance restaurant meeting in Toronto .
Kevin Richardson recounted the story in a Billboard interview, calling it one of the coolest moments of the DNA Tour .
Drake joined the band on stage during their performance of 'I Want It That Way' in 2022 , earning the title of their 'sixth member'.
Drake, then 39 , told the audience the song played at his bar mitzvah when a girl he liked asked him to dance for the first time.
The Backstreet Boys are set to return to Sphere, Las Vegas in July for their Into the Millennium residency.
Rapper Drake once confided to pop group The Backstreet Boys that his very first kiss happened to a track by the band — a personal revelation that eventually led him to join them on stage in his hometown of Toronto during their DNA Tour in 2022. The story, recounted by band member Kevin Richardson in a Billboard interview, has since charmed fans of both artists.
How the Encounter Unfolded
During the DNA Tour's Toronto stop, the Backstreet Boys — comprising Kevin Richardson, Nick Carter, Howie D, AJ McLean, and Brian Littrell — were dining at a restaurant that happened to be one of Drake's regular haunts. The maître d' approached the group with an unexpected message.
'Excuse me, Drake is here, and he would love — when you're finished — he would love to be able to come over and say hi,' Richardson recalled. Drake then shared the story of his first kiss being tied to one of their songs, prompting Richardson to extend an invitation on stage.
Drake's Bar Mitzvah Memory
Once on stage during the band's performance of 'I Want It That Way', Drake opened up to the audience about why the song held such deep personal significance. 'At 13 years old, I had a bar mitzvah, and at my bar mitzvah — for the first time in my life — this girl I was in love with came up to me while one of the greatest songs in the world was playing, and she asked me if I would dance with her,' he told the crowd, as seen in fan-captured video footage.
The now 39-year-old 'Passionfruit' singer added, 'It was the first time I ever felt acknowledged, and it was the first time I ever felt like, you know, I had a shot at being cool.' He rounded off the moment with a playful quip: 'If she can see me now, you know what I'm talking about?'
The Band's Reaction
The Backstreet Boys were visibly moved by Drake's candour and affectionately dubbed him their 'sixth member' that evening. Richardson described the moment as one of the coolest things to have happened during the tour, particularly for his children who were fans of the 'Nokia' rapper.
What the Backstreet Boys Are Doing Next
The group is set to return to Sphere in Las Vegas in July for their Into the Millennium residency. On the music front, their latest release, 'Bottle Up', serves as the theme song for the upcoming animated film Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie. The band continues to demonstrate remarkable longevity in pop culture, a point underscored by the fact that artists of Drake's calibre still cite their music as formative.
Point of View
When it is genuine, travels further than any press release. Drake's bar mitzvah anecdote did more for the Backstreet Boys' cultural relevance than a dozen comeback singles could — and the band was smart enough to turn a restaurant encounter into a stage moment. What mainstream coverage often misses here is the generational bridge: Drake is the defining voice of a younger hip-hop era, yet his most vulnerable public admission is rooted in a late-1990s boy band ballad. That crossover speaks to the Backstreet Boys' enduring hold on collective memory, and to how formative pop music shapes identity in ways artists rarely admit publicly.
NationPress
25 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Drake reveal about the Backstreet Boys?
Drake told The Backstreet Boys that his very first kiss took place to one of their songs. He shared this during a private conversation at a Toronto restaurant while the band was on their DNA Tour.
When did Drake join the Backstreet Boys on stage?
Drake joined the Backstreet Boys on stage in Toronto in 2022, during their performance of 'I Want It That Way' on the DNA Tour. The band referred to him as their 'sixth member' that night.
What is the bar mitzvah story Drake told on stage?
Drake told the Toronto audience that at age 13, during his bar mitzvah, a girl he was in love with asked him to dance while 'I Want It That Way' was playing. He described it as the first time he felt acknowledged and believed he 'had a shot at being cool.'
Who are the members of the Backstreet Boys?
The Backstreet Boys consist of Kevin Richardson, Nick Carter, Howie D, AJ McLean, and Brian Littrell. They are one of the best-selling pop groups of all time, known for hits including 'I Want It That Way' and 'Everybody.'
What are the Backstreet Boys working on now?
The Backstreet Boys are set to return to Sphere in Las Vegas in July for their Into the Millennium residency. Their latest song, 'Bottle Up,' is the theme for the upcoming Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie.
