Backstreet Boy to release solo debut May 2

Nearly two years after signing with top Christian record label Provident Music Group, Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell has announced that his highly anticipated Christian-market debut, entitled Welcome Home, will be releasing on May 2.

"This has been a dream of mine since I was a little boy singing in church in Lexington, Kentucky," said Littrell, who grew up singing in various youth choirs at Port Memorial Baptist Church. With Welcome Home,"I hope to encourage people to stand up for what they believe."

The album, which is produced by Billy Mann (Jessica Simpson, Ricky Martin), Dan Muckala (Backstreet Boys, Mandy Moore), and the production team of Mark Kibble and Dave Thomas (Take 6, Mariah Carey, CeCe Winans),"illuminates God’s unequivocal love for humanity and outlines the possibilities for life when people dedicate themselves to a higher calling," according to a news release.

"I've been writing Christian music for a long time," Littrell said,"and now I have the opportunity to share some of those songs with others. I'm a family guy making music for the family. This really is like a dream come true."

Littrell, who originally signed with Provident in December of 2004, postponed the release of Welcome Home to help promote the release of the Backstreet Boys’ highly successful sixth album Never Gone, which topped the charts in more than 20 countries last summer.

Terry Hemmings, President and CEO of Provident Music Group, called Littrell's signing—three years in the making—"one of the most unique partnerships ever to happen in Christian music." Hemmings continued, "Throughout the course of making the deal I got to know Brian as a forthright, sincere person of God. This is what Brian was built to do. His enthusiasm for the record just oozes out of him."

Littrell plans to support the release of Welcome Home at select Christian festivals this summer, with details forthcoming.