Singer-songwriter Aaron Carter has tragically died aged thirty-four…
And his older brother, Nick, has shared a heartbreaking tribute.
Scroll on for more…
Aaron Carter first shot to fame in the late ’90s.
The teen pop singer was an instant hit.
Being the younger brother of the Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter, he had an excellent path to stardom.
Carter began performing at the age of just 7 years old!
And went on to release his debut album 2 years later, at age nine.
But what’s even more impressive is he sold 1 million copies worldwide.
And his success skyrocketed from there.
His second album in 2000, Aaron’s Party (Come Get It), sold a whopping 3 million copies here in the US.
This led to him guest-starring in some of Nickelodeon’s hit shows, such as All That.
After his album’s success, he toured with his brother and the Backstreet Boys.
Carter later released 2 more albums, Oh Aaron, which went platinum, and Another Earthquake!, in 2002.
The singer also ventured into the world of acting…
Making an appearance on Lizzie McGuire in 2001.
His achievements at such a young age were astronomical.
Despite earning far more than any teen would even dream of making…
He found himself in difficult financial situations over the years that followed.
And as a result, Carter filed for bankruptcy in 2013.
But that wasn’t the only struggle he faced.
Carter went to rehab in 2017 after he was arrested for DUI and drug possession.
He even told Us Weekly he “thought [he] would die by 30.”
“Life, it was pretty tough. I dealt with a lot of trauma, a lot of loss, a lot of loneliness…
“My goal is to be the phoenix that rises from the ashes,” he told the publication at the time.
Carter also suffered from drug addiction and mental health issues.
In 2019, he revealed on the talk show The Doctors that he had been diagnosed with both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
“The official diagnosis is that I suffer from multiple personality disorder, schizophrenia, acute anxiety, and manic depression,” Carter said, as per TMZ.
Revealing that he was “prescribed to Xanax, Seroquel, Gabapentin, Hydroxyzine, Trazodone, Omeprazen.”
And sadly, his last few years were also laced with difficulties…
Not only was he estranged from his family, but his relationship with his partner, Melanie Martin also broke down.
Carter and Martin had a child together in 2021, but their on-and-off relationship was a struggle for the singer.
And in September this year, he checked into rehab for the fifth and final time.
Carter started a month-long outpatient program at the Lionrock rehab center in Los Angeles, in an effort to get his son Prince back.
Devastatingly, just months later, news came out that he had died.
Law enforcement sources told TMZ they received a 911 call at 11 AM Saturday.
A cause of death is still yet to be announced but his family said: “We are extremely saddened and shocked to confirm the passing of Aaron Carter today. At the moment his cause of death is being investigated.”
Homicide detectives initially reported that there was no evidence of foul play…
And a representative from Carter’s team said that his cause of death was still being determined.
Many have paid tribute to the star following the news of his death.
Hilary Duff paid tribute to the singer, writing “For Aaron – I am deeply sorry that life was so hard for you and that you had to struggle in front of the whole world.
“You had a charm that was absolutely effervescent… boy did my teenage self-love you deeply. Sending love to your family at this time. Rest easy [heart emoji].”
Since his death, Carter’s final social media post has left fans feeling heartbroken…
In the video posted to Instagram of him performing with CheckTheStar, he can be heard rapping the lyrics: “I’ll tell my honey I’ll be gone but it’s not for long.”
Tributes quickly poured in for the singer-turned-rapper…
“Rest in peace brother. You took me through my childhood. I’m so sorry things got so hard for you and happened this way,” one fan wrote.
“Rest In Peace. You deserve the peace and quiet. The chaos is done friend,” a second added.
And a third commented: “I’m so heartbroken, I have a lifetime of memories following you. I hope you are at peace.”
And perhaps the most heartbreaking tribute of all came from Carter’s big brother, Nick.
“My heart is broken,” he wrote on Instagram.
“Even though my brother and I have had a complicated relationship, my love for him has never ever faded.
“I have always held on to the hope that he would somehow, someday want to walk a healthy path and eventually find the help that he so desperately needed,” Nick continued.
“Sometimes we want to blame someone or something for a loss, but the truth is that addiction and mental illness is the real villain here.
“I will miss my brother more than anyone will ever know. I love you Chizz.
“Now you can finally have the peace you could never find here on earth…. I love you baby brother,” he concluded his post.
Nick also broke down on stage on Sunday during his performance with the Backstreet Boys in London, as per TMZ.
Our thoughts are with Carter’s friends and family at this difficult time.
Rest in peace, Aaron Carter.