Nick Carter

Although he initially pursued acting, Carter shot to fame as the youngest member of the Backstreet Boys during the boy-band boom of the '90s. With his nonthreatening, pretty-boy looks and strong lead vocals, he became an instant teen idol and was frequently cited on magazine hot lists. The breakout star of the group, he decided to go solo in 2002 by releasing Now or Never, and while the album's sales were respectable, they weren't Backstreet numbers. Carter gave acting another try with sitcom guest spots and a horror flick (The Hollow), but as the '00s wore on, his personal life eclipsed his professional accomplishments (his relationship with celebutante Paris Hilton; his rumored, but never substantiated engagement to Bai Ling; and an inevitable drunk-driving arrest). Even a 2005 Backstreet Boy reunion couldn't dim the spotlight on his offstage life. But the enterprising heartthrob made the lack of privacy work in his favor by starring in the reality series House of Carters along with his younger brother, Aaron, and their three sisters.