Roger Paul’s statement did not list a cause of death. A spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office said detectives were investigating a report of a “suspicious death” at Carter’s home in Lancaster, California, on Saturday. Carter, who struggled with addiction, said earlier this year that he had been five years sober. He was the brother of Backstreet Boys singer Nick Carter. The singer-turned-actor-turned-rapper was famous for his early years 2000s hits “Aaron’s Party (Come Get It),” “I Want Candy” and “That’s How I Beat Shaq.” He released his first solo album in Europe on December 1, 1997, six days before his 10th birthday. The album sold 1 million copies worldwide, a sign of his early rise to stardom. Carter’s second album, “Aaron’s Party (Come Get It),” released in 2000, was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, and its title track peaked at No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100. He was also known for “I Want Candy” from that album and “I’m All About You” from his 2001 album, Oh Aaron. His 2001 single “That’s How I Beat Shaq” featured the NBA player’s title shot in a park court video and featured minors dancing along to the bubblegum hit. He made several television appearances, including a cameo in the first season of “Lizzie McGuire” in a Christmas-themed episode titled “Here Comes Aaron Carter.” In 2001, Carter made his Broadway debut in the cast of the musical “Seussical.” One of five siblings, Carter co-starred in the family’s 2006 reality TV show, “House of Carters.” The show followed the siblings as they moved in together and tried to solve their problems. It ended after a season of eight episodes. In a statement on Saturday, Paul said many people didn’t know how “tender” Carter was. “He genuinely cared about others and the love he felt for those around him was immeasurable. so much so, that we think it’s safe to say its exceeding timelines,” the statement said. “We can still feel his presence and warmth around us.” Carter is survived by his brother, Nick, and sisters Angel Carter and Bobbie Jean Carter. She also has an infant son named Prince, the Los Angeles Times reported last month. His sister Leslie Carter died in 2012. His father, Robert Gene Carter, died in 2017. “We are still in the process of accepting this unfortunate reality,” his fiancee, Melanie Martin, said in a statement to The Associated Press. “Your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated.” Adam Grandmaison, host of the “No Jumper” podcast, said in a tweet that he had heard the news of the singer’s death from a close friend. Carter has appeared on the podcast at least three times, most recently in an episode posted Wednesday. “He was a good guy despite all the demons he was fighting,” Grandmaison wrote in a tweet. “I’m sorry to see him go.” In 2013, Carter filed for bankruptcy, the Tampa Bay Times reported, and a representative for the musician told the paper that most of his $2.2 million in debt stemmed from when he was a minor and had no control over his finances. For years, Carter has been open about his struggles with mental health and drug addiction. He gave interviews on the talk show “The Doctors” about his dependence on prescription drugs and his addiction to huffing. In a 2019 interview on the show, Carter said he put himself on a “regime” to manage his work, cook his meals and set up his home to raise a family. “To be strong,” he said of his plans in the interview. “I can say I’ve been through hell and back.” In 2013, Carter was on his ‘After Party’ tour, which he embarked on after a multi-year hiatus from music to revitalize his career and release new songs. Asked what it was like performing in 2014 while trying to resettle on the pop scene, Carter told the Washington Post: “People are losing their minds. It’s nice to show them I’m still that guy.” Avi Selk contributed to this report.
