Nick Carter's Backstreet Boys bandmates 'saved' him

Los Angeles: Singer Nick Carter says the Backstreet Boys "saved" him and became the family he never had when he joined the group.

The 35-year-old singer, who had a troubled childhood and is estranged from his parents, joined the group when he was 12 and credits his bandmates, AJ McLean, Howie Dorough, Kevin

Richardson and Brian Littrell, for giving him the family that he never had, reported Access Hollywood.

"They became the family that I didn't really have at that time. All the other guys had great families and great morals, and things that I could connect to and learn from, and really reflect with my own family. I was really able to learn from the guys," he said.