American Idol winner Maddie Poppe will tour with Backstreet Boy Nick Carter in the fall
American Idol season 16 winner Maddie Poppe has announced she will be the opening act for Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter on his upcoming solo tour this October. The announcement, shared on her social media, marks a notable pairing between a recent mainstream pop-rock solo project and a widely recognized pop star from one of the largest boy bands of the 1990s.
Poppe expressed her excitement about joining Carter on the road, saying she never imagined she would tour with a Backstreet Boys member and that she’s thrilled to be part of the fall schedule. Tickets are expected to go on sale this week, according to her post.
The run opens on October 4 in Lexington, Kentucky, and concludes on October 24 in Las Vegas, Nevada. This short fall tour will feature intimate venues and a more personal, musician-driven set from Carter, who described his solo shows as an opportunity for creative expression — playing guitar and drums and performing with a full band.
Maddie Poppe is currently headlining a tour with Megan Danielle
Before joining Carter’s tour this fall, Maddie Poppe is headlining her own summer tour, with American Idol season 21 runner-up Megan Danielle serving as her opening act. Poppe announced Danielle’s participation with enthusiasm and the two recently performed a live-streamed concert from Los Angeles that reached audiences in more than 30 countries.
Poppe has been steadily building her career since winning American Idol, releasing new music and relocating to Nashville to deepen her songwriting and recording. Her most recent single, “Good Enough to Let You Go,” was co-written in Nashville with David Spencer and Bryan Simpson. The song explores the complicated emotions of being stuck in a relationship or situation that has run its course and the dark wish for a definitive ending that would finally allow closure.
As a writer and performer, Poppe emphasizes relatability in her music. She says the song captures feelings many people experience: the pull to reopen a door that has quietly closed and the struggle to find the willpower to walk away for good when an easy out is no longer present.
Nick Carter moving forward despite tragedy and controversy
Nick Carter, best known as a member of the Backstreet Boys, has kept an active performance schedule in recent years and is now presenting a solo tour that he describes as more organic and personally expressive than a typical pop production. In interviews discussing the tour, Carter highlighted his involvement as a multi-instrumentalist during the shows, noting guitar and drum performances as part of the set.
Carter has also faced a difficult period personally and legally. Last year he experienced the loss of his brother Aaron Carter, who died at age 34. Aaron’s death was later ruled accidental. In addition to that family tragedy, Nick Carter has been named in civil legal claims alleging sexual misconduct, which he has publicly denied. Carter has expressed his confidence in the legal process and said he looks forward to addressing the matter further once proceedings conclude.
Throughout his career, Carter has participated in a variety of television projects outside of the Backstreet Boys, including reality and competition shows. He has appeared on programs such as Dancing with the Stars and The Masked Singer, and has taken on roles as a judge and mentor on music competition series. These appearances complement his ongoing work as both a solo artist and band member.
For fans of both artists, the pairing presents an opportunity to experience contrasting but complementary styles: Poppe’s singer-songwriter, Nashville-influenced material alongside Carter’s pop-rooted, live-band arrangements. The short fall tour is positioned to appeal to audiences who appreciate live instrumentation and intimate concert settings.
As tour dates approach, fans are encouraged to follow official artist channels for ticket announcements and venue details. With Poppe’s rising profile and Carter’s established name, the collaboration is expected to draw attention from longtime Backstreet Boys followers as well as newer listeners discovering Poppe’s evolving catalogue.