Nick Carter began sobbing on stage at London’s O2 on Sunday night after it was revealed his brother Aaron was found dead in a bathtub at his home in California a day earlier.
The 42-year-old singer performed with his band Backstreet Boys as part of their DNA World Tour less than 24 hours after the tragic news broke.
He got emotional while singing his verse on her hit show Me The Meaning of Being Lonely and couldn’t finish it.
Emotional: Nick Carter began sobbing on stage at London’s O2 on Sunday night after it was announced his brother Aaron had died
His bandmates were seen hugging and supporting him on stage while Nick was seen in tears before paying tribute to Aaron.
“Tonight we have a heavy heart because we lost one of our family members yesterday,” Kevin Richardson told fans.
He continued, “We just wanted to find a moment on our show to recognize it. He is separated from our family and we thank you for all your love and support.’
Horrifying: Aaron Carter, 34, was found dead in his bathtub at his home in Lancaster, California on Saturday
Earlier in the day, the Backstreet Boys opening act confirmed the gig would still go ahead.
KnowleDJ wrote on Instagram: “From what I’ve been told the show is happening and I’ll be there tonight to do my set.
“But I would suggest checking the official sites in case anything changes. Thank you for your patience and understanding and let’s all pray for Nick and his family.”
Brave: The singer, 42, performed with his band Backstreet Boys as part of their DNA World Tour less than 24 hours after discovering the tragic news
Support: His bandmates were seen hugging and supporting him on stage while Nick was seen in tears before paying tribute to Aaron
Hours earlier, Nick had posted several throwback photos of the two together, writing that despite their complicated relationship, his heart was broken, adding that his love for Aaron never faded.
Nick went on to write that he “held on to the hope” that his brother “would one day find a healthy path and eventually find the help he so desperately needed,” but added that it’s “simple, to blame someone or something for the loss”. ‘ he wrote that ‘addiction and mental illness are the real villains here’.
Aaron, 34, was found dead in his bathtub at his home in Lancaster, California on Saturday.
Neighbors said a woman believed to be the house sitter opened the door and yelled, “He’s dead, he’s dead.” In a 911 record obtained by TMZ, the operator states that EMS units are needed in an apartment for a “female scream” and there was a reference to “in the tub.”
Carter’s family later confirmed the singer’s death. His cause of death was not released. Carter’s fiancee Melinda Martin, seen crying outside his home, asked for privacy while the family mourned.
The singer’s death comes exactly a week after he tweeted that he had put his nearly $800,000 home up for sale, adding that he was “ready for a new chapter.”
Aaron and Nick had a tumultuous relationship in the years leading up to the singer’s death, but Nick put that aside for a heartfelt tribute on Sunday at his brother’s tragic loss.
“My heart is broken today,” Nick wrote. “Although my brother and I had a complicated relationship, my love for him never waned. I’ve always held onto the hope that one day he might somehow find a healthy path and eventually find the help he so desperately needed.’
Tragic: Nick paid tribute to his younger brother Aaron on Sunday after it was revealed Aaron was found dead in a bathtub at his California home a day earlier at the age of 34
He ended the touching news with: “I will miss my brother more than anyone will ever know. I love you Chizz, now is your chance to finally have some peace that you could never find here on earth…God please take care of my little brother.’
He continued, “Sometimes we want to blame someone or something for a loss. But the truth is, addiction and mental illness are the real villains here.
“I will miss my brother more than anyone will ever know. I love you Chizz, now is your chance to finally have some peace that you could never find here on earth…God please take care of my little brother.’
Carter also has two sisters, one of whom is his twin Angel and Leslie, who died of a drug overdose in 2012 at the age of 25.
Heartbroken: He wrote that despite the brothers’ complicated relationship, his heart was broken, adding that his love for Aaron never faded