Rapper and singer Drake celebrated his 40th birthday on Oct. 24 by sharing personal childhood photographs on social media and joining the Backstreet Boys for a surprise onstage duet the night before in New York City.
Social posts and a surprise performance
On the eve of his 40th birthday, Drake posted a series of childhood snapshots on Instagram. In one image he is seated on the hood of a car holding a copy of the book My Teacher Fried My Brains. In the caption addressing his younger self, Drake wrote:
“I accept you for you” — Drake on Instagram
Friday night, Oct. 23, Drake appeared with the Backstreet Boys during a private birthday event in New York, joining the group on their 1999 hit “I Want It That Way.” Band members Howie Dorough, Nick Carter, Brian Littrell, AJ McLean and Kevin Richardson all took part in the surprise performance, and Dorough worked a line from Drake’s own song “Hold On, We’re Going Home” into the bridge.
The Backstreet Boys’ single peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1999. Drake, who was 13 that year, has previously described the track as one of his all‑time favorites and said it made him feel acknowledged and cool for the first time.
Event details and remarks
The birthday gathering was reportedly hosted at Casa Cipriani, a members‑only club in New York City. Video of Drake singing the ballad and taking the vocal outro was shared on X. At the party he told guests, “Tonight isn’t about a tour, an album release, or a bunch of videos we shot,” adding, “It’s about being alive, staying alive.”
- Date: Drake’s 40th birthday was Oct. 24, 2026; the Backstreet Boys duet occurred Oct. 23.
- Song: “I Want It That Way,” Backstreet Boys (1999), peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Location: The performance was reportedly at Casa Cipriani in New York City.
Drake’s social‑media tribute and the publicized duet gave fans both a private glimpse into his childhood and a public celebration that referenced his longtime affinity for late‑1990s pop. The performance included full participation from the five Backstreet Boys members and a vocal handoff that concluded the ballad.
Photos and video from both Drake’s Instagram account and posts shared on X documented the celebration. The duet also included a brief melodic nod to Drake’s 2013 single “Hold On, We’re Going Home” woven into the Backstreet Boys’ arrangement.
The Oct. 23 appearance follows Drake’s long history of high‑profile collaborations and public moments that blend personal storytelling with stage spectacle.
