I really believe that's one of the many reasons that God had put

Hear the heartfelt words of Brian Littrell, who once said: “I really believe that's one of the many reasons that God had put me right in the middle of the Backstreet Boys. There are so many stars today that don't realize the impact they have on young people. Being a superstar is great, as long as you can be a positive role model.” In this confession lies not only gratitude, but also a sacred recognition of responsibility. For Littrell understood that fame is not given merely for pleasure or applause, but as a trust—a calling to guide those who watch, listen, and dream.

The origin of this saying lies in Littrell’s journey, both as a singer who stood before millions and as a man of faith who believed his life was directed by divine purpose. To him, the Backstreet Boys were not just a band, but a vessel through which he could shine light into the hearts of the young. In an age where idols are often worshiped without question, he sought to remind both himself and others that influence is not a toy, but a sacred fire. If mishandled, it destroys; if tended wisely, it warms and inspires.

History echoes this truth. Consider Alexander the Great, who conquered lands across the known world. To his soldiers, he was more than a commander; he was a model of courage and ambition. His deeds inspired generations to seek glory, yet his flaws also left scars upon nations. The same sword that carved an empire also left it fractured. So it is with the lives of the famous: their greatness is not measured by conquest or applause alone, but by how their example shapes the souls of those who follow. Littrell’s words reveal this ancient truth in the language of modern fame.

At the heart of his quote lies the idea of the role model. To be admired is a gift, but it is also a burden, for the eyes of the young are impressionable and their hearts eager to imitate. Many stars forget this, thinking their stage ends at the curtain. But Littrell declares otherwise: the stage continues wherever influence reaches, and that reach is vast. To live without awareness of this responsibility is to stumble, dragging others down with you. To live with awareness is to rise, lifting others as you climb.

The meaning is both emotional and heroic: superstardom is not an end in itself, but a test. Will the one who is admired use that admiration to glorify self, or to guide others toward strength, kindness, and truth? Littrell, rooted in his faith, believed that his position in the Backstreet Boys was not accident but providence. He saw it as an opportunity to embody integrity in an industry that often rewards excess. His vision was not of fleeting applause, but of eternal influence—the kind that shapes lives, even when the music fades.

The lesson for us is profound: each of us, in some way, is a role model. We may not stand on stages before millions, but we stand before our families, our communities, our friends. Our choices ripple outward, shaping the young, the vulnerable, and even the strangers who cross our paths. To be a role model is not optional—it is inevitable. The only question is whether we will be a positive one or a harmful one.

Practically, this means walking with awareness. Speak with kindness, for someone is listening. Live with integrity, for someone is watching. Embrace your talents, not merely to shine for yourself, but to illuminate the path for others. If you are blessed with influence—whether small or great—use it to strengthen, to heal, to inspire. In doing so, you honor not only yourself, but the higher purpose for which life has placed you where you stand.

So let Littrell’s words be carried as a torch: “Being a superstar is great, as long as you can be a positive role model.” Whether on stage or in the quiet corners of life, let us live as lights rather than shadows. For fame is fleeting, but the example we set—the lives we touch, the hearts we guide—endures far beyond the echo of applause. This is the wisdom of the ancients spoken through the voice of a modern singer: that the true measure of greatness is not how high we rise, but how many we lift with us.