AJ McLean Says He Hopes to Reconcile with His Estranged Wife Rochelle: 'My Fingers Are Crossed’ (Exclusive)

AJ McLean is feeling incomplete without his estranged wife.

The Backstreet Boys singer, 46, and Rochelle DeAnna McLean jointly announced in January they had called it quits following a temporary separation they had embarked on in March 2023. Now, AJ told PEOPLE exclusively that he wants to call Rochelle, 42, his wife again.

“We’re co-parenting our kids the best we can, and everyone's really having a good time,” he said at the iHeart Radio Music Festival in Las Vegas on Friday, Sept. 20.

“We still spend as much time together as a family as possible, and who knows what the future holds, but secretly, but not secretly, my fingers are crossed [for a reconciliation]," AJ continued.

When asked directly if he would like to get back together with Rochelle, he responded with a definitive, "Oh yeah."

The duo, who married in Los Angeles in December 2011, share two children: Elliott, 11, and Lyric, 7.

“We are the best of friends, and honestly, we're in the best place I think we've ever been,” AJ told PEOPLE, adding, “We love each other and that's never going to change.”

At the time, the former couple's January statement noted the "deep love and respect" the pair have for one another.

"As you all know we have been separated for over a year now," they wrote. "While we have hoped for reconciliation we have decided to officially end our marriage. It is with deep love and respect that we have made this decision."

"Our focus now is moving forward in the healthiest way possible with friendship and co-parenting our girls at the forefront of this next chapter. We appreciate your kindness, respect, and privacy at this time," AJ and Rochelle concluded their statement.

AJ also told PEOPLE that he isn't interested in dating. “I'm too busy anyways. I got no time for that," he explained.

Most of his time goes towards being a dad to his kids, and he recently posted a heartfelt Instagram tribute to Elliott after she graduated from elementary school in June.

In the sweet message, AJ said he is "proud of my kids each and every day" but highlighted how the day marked "a new beginning and a new journey for my oldest daughter."

And though Elliott is a fan of her dad's band, AJ told PEOPLE that the Backstreet Boys’ biggest hit, "I Want It That Way," is, in fact, the song his daughter would prefer to never hear again.

“All of her friends at school are always singing it, and she's like, ‘God, dad, again?’ I’m like, ‘I'm sorry, but what do you want me to do about it? It's a good song,’ ” he said.

“Both of my kids, their least favorite is 'I Want It That Way,' " AJ added, noting that both of his children instead love "That's The Way I Like It" from Backstreet Boys’ 1997 album Backstreet's Back.

“It’s crazy! That song was never released in the U.S.," he said.