Aaron Carter dead at 34; had pop music success starting as a child

LANCASTER, Calif. (AP) — Aaron Carter, the singer-rapper who had hit albums in his childhood and teen years, was found dead Saturday at his home in Southern California. He was 34.

Representatives for Carter’s family confirmed the singer’s death. They did not provide any immediate further comment.

Carter, the younger brother of Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys, performed as an opening act for Britney Spears as well as his brother’s boy band, and appeared on the family’s reality series “House of Carters” that aired on E! Entertainment Television.

Deputies responded around 11 a.m. Saturday following reports of a medical emergency at the home in the high desert city of Lancaster, said Deputy Alejandra Parra with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Parra said the deputies found a deceased person at the residence, but she could not immediately confirm it was Carter.

Two law enforcement officers who asked not to be named told the Los Angeles Times that Carter was found dead in the bathtub of his home.

Aaron Carter shot to fame at age 9, opening for the Backstreet Boys tour and releasing a gold-selling self-titled debut album in 1997. He reached triple-platinum status with his sophomore album, 2000’s “Aaron’s Party (Come Get It),” which produced hit singles including the title song and “I Want Candy.” His videos received regular airplay on Disney and Nickelodeon.

Carter earned acting credits through his appearance on television shows including “Lizzie McGuire” and in musicals on and off Broadway (“Seussical” in 2001 and “The Fantasticks” in 2011).

In 2006, he starred alongside his brother Nick and their siblings B.J., Leslie and Angel Carter on the E! unscripted series “House of Carters.” In 2009, he appeared on the ABC competition show “Dancing with the Stars,” finishing in fifth place with partner Karina Smirnoff.

Carter’s fifth and final studio album, “LØVË,” was released in 2018.

In the past 10 years, he was in the celebrity news for a series of problems concerning his finances, health, drug use and tumultous relationships.  In 2013, he filed for bankruptcy, saying he owed $1.3 million in back taxes. In 2019, he spoke publicly about his gaunt and unhealthy appearance — at 6 feet tall, he was reportedly 115 pounds — and shortly afterward went into drug rehab for at least the fourth time.

He and Melanie Martin had a son, Prince, who will be a year old on Nov. 22. More than once after the boy’s birth, the couple announced they had split up, but in a statement Saturday to the press Martin identified herself as Carter’s fiancee.