Shortly after Valentine's Day 2000, Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson announced his engagement to long time girlfriend Kristin Willits. They were wed at the summer camp he grew up at in the hills of Kentucky in June of 2000.

Little was known about his bride and their wedding plans as Kevin has been tight lipped about the love of his life. Kevin and Kristin have been good friends since they met working at Walt Disney World, before the Backstreet Boys were formed. The two have dated on and off for eight years, maintaining their relationship even with Kevin's busy touring schedules.

In an MTV interview, which can be viewed in Real Video on the MTV web site, MTV.com, Kevin spoke about his relationship:
"I'm engaged now. I just got engaged over the holiday," Backstreet's Kevin Richardson told MTV News before taking the stage at Albany's Pepsi Arena. "[We've been together] seven years, off and on. We've been through a lot together, but she knew me when I was a Ninja Turtle. I met her in the cafeteria at Walt Disney World. We were both working there. She was a dancer. She's been on Broadway, done lots of things... being in the business, she definitely has an appreciation for it. I mean, I'm not necessarily gonna say that you need somebody in the business, but you need somebody that can understand a lot."

As Kevin indicated, Kristin is a trained dancer who has performed on Broadway and tour with Cher on her "Do You Believe?" Tour in 1999.

Kristin appeared in the Backstreet Boys music video for "I'll Never Break Your Heart" (Version 1 - the snow video) as Kevin's love interest. She's also in Cher's "All or Nothing" video and has attended many events with Kevin, including the 1999 MTV VMA's, and Movie Premiers for the movies "Any Given Sunday" and "Never Been Kissed". She regularly attends the Backstreet Boys concerts and Kevin has returned the favour and seen her on tour with Cher in various cities.

On behalf of Beyond Backstreet and all the Backstreet Boys fans around the world, I'd like to congratulate Kevin and Kristin on their marriage and wish them all the best in their future together.