Why Aaron Carter Once Called Off His Engagement After Only 6 Days

When Aaron Carter emerged in the entertainment industry, he was only known as Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter's cute younger brother. But it didn't take too long until he paved his own way, successfully launching an illustrious music career that had every teenager in America and across the world bopping to his songs.

In the late 90s to the early aughts, Aaron was also a bona fide heartthrob. On top of capturing people's hearts with saccharine hits like "I'm All About You" and "I Want Candy," he was seemingly the object of affection of teeny boppers of his time, so everyone paid attention to who he was dating, too. No one can ever forget that time he was in an on-again-off-again relationship with Hilary Duff and how, along the way, Lindsay Lohan somehow got involved. "I was dating [Hilary] for like a year-and-a-half, and then I just got a little bored so I went and I started getting to know Lindsay," he told CNBC in 2005 (via Us Weekly).

But after his dramatic love triangle with his fellow teen stars, the singer shocked the world when he publicly proposed to his then-girlfriend, Playboy model Kari Ann Peniche. It didn't last long, though, and the engagement ended less than a week after he got down on one knee.

Aaron Carter was barely a full-fledged adult when he asked Kari Anne Peniche to get married. The singer was only 18 years old when he popped the question to the Playboy model during the Playboy Comedy Tour at the Palms Casino Resort, per People. Peniche, who once dated Aaron's brother, Nick, told the outlet how ecstatic she was to be betrothed to the star.

"I'm very excited about it. Aaron is the most genuine person I know. He's kind, loving, and I love him so much," she shared at the time, adding that she didn't see it coming at all. "I don't remember it happening. It was such a blur. I had no idea he was going to do this, but I'm glad he did." They planned to get hitched within six months of his proposal, but they didn't make it down the aisle, as the engagement was called off not even a week later.

Speaking with Us Weekly, the crooner confessed that marriage wasn't for him after all — or at least not yet anyway. "I got caught up in the moment and proposed. I then realized it was a hasty thing to do and I am not ready for marriage quite yet," he said. A source close to the star also told the magazine that Peniche wanted to continue dating him, but Aaron was having second thoughts. "They are just going to be friends now. She still wants to keep dating him but Aaron is not quite sure," they dished.

Aaron Carter moved on rather quickly, and a month later, he shared that he was seeing singer Kaci Brown. "Now I'm in a great relationship. I've only known her for, like, seven days, but I have a connection with her that's like nothing else I've ever experienced," he told People at the time. "It's really amazing." The relationship fizzled out after a few months, and since then, he has been linked to multiple personalities, including actor Madelaine Petsch, influencer Trisha Paytas, model Jenna Shea, and photographer Madison Parker.

His most notable relationship as of late, however, was with Melanie Martin, with whom he shares a son. In November 2021, only a month after Martin gave birth, Aaron announced that they had called it quits via Twitter. "Due to personal reason[s] Melanie Martin and I have decided to go our separate ways," he wrote. But in another Twitter post, he assured fans that co-parenting their son would still be their top priority. "Mel and I appreciate the support and concern we have been shown," the "I Want Candy" singer said. "We both will continue to make prince our priority during this difficult time ... please be respectful while we transition and navigate this unfortunate situation. #HeartBroken."