Baylee Littrell is no newbie when it comes to the tour lifestyle. Being the son of Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell, Baylee has spent the majority of his life on the road supporting his dad and learning what it takes to be a real road dog.
Now at age 16, Baylee has released music of his own and is making quite the name for himself in the country music industry. Baylee’s first single, “Don’t Knock It” is currently on rotation on SiriusXM’s influential country music station, The Highway and is also being played on both CMT and Nickelodeon.
Littrell has been performing “Don’t Knock It,” along with his new summer single “We Run This Beach” at arenas worldwide on Backstreet Boys’ DNA World Tour and spoke to Celeb Secrets Country about his experience.
Baylee Littrell performs at the Maui Jim Broadway Stage at Bridgestone Plaza on Saturday, June 8 during the 2019 CMA Music Festival in downtown Nashville. (Photo Credit: Courtesy of CMA)
Celeb Secrets Country: So let’s talk about the writing and recording process for your debut single “Don’t Knock It.”
Baylee Littrell: “The actual last version of ‘Don’t Knock It’ was very, very simple. About a year ago, I heard the demo for it. Cory Crowder sent it over from Tree Vibez and we listened to it and we loved it. We wanted to record it and unfortunately it was on hold. We were like, ‘oh man, we just had this song. Like what happened?’ A couple months go by, and Corey told me that it was available, so a month later we came running back to the studio, and recorded it in 3 hours. We dropped it a month later and it’s been history ever since.”
Celeb Secrets Country: So of course you’re no stranger to the business. Your dad is a Backstreet Boy! Has he given you any tips on performing and recording?
Baylee Littrell: “My dad has given me the best tips. My mom and dad both say the same thing — just to be myself on stage and to not get tense, which is hard because I’m a very nervous person. But overall the best advice has been to calm down, be myself and project my mouth when I’m recording.”
Celeb Secrets Country: Can you talk to us about your new song “We Run This Beach?”
Baylee Littrell: “‘We Run This Beach’ is a super fun beach song. I think that it’s really fun for everybody. If you’re stressed out and need to listen to something, ‘We Run This Beach’ is going to be the bomb.”
Celeb Secrets County: You’re on tour with your dad for Backstreet Boys’ DNA World Tour. How did you mentally prepare for that?
Baylee Littrell: “I’m not the little little kid on a scooter anymore… I’m the opening act. It’s like my business now, but I’m the opening act for my dad. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. I’m not nervous for this because it’s been my whole life since I was 2 years old so its all I know. It’s not that big of a change.”
Celeb Secrets County: Will we see you collaborating with your dad on tour, or on a song at all?
Baylee Littrell: “It is a possibility. The album will hopefully have a song with me and my dad, we may release it after. I think that’s the first time I’ve ever said that, but that is to come. But for tour I’m not sure.”
Celeb Secrets County: And since we’re Celeb Secrets Country, can you tell us a secret or fun fact about you that your fans might not know?
Baylee Littrell: “I’m a goon. I don’t seem like it most of the time, but you just sit in a room with me for like three minutes and I go crazy.”
