Already experiencing a momentous 2007, including sweeping this year's CCM Magazine's "Readers' Choice Awards," garnering a Dove Award nod and performing at the 15th Annual MovieGuide Faith & Values Awards, award-winning artist Brian Littrell continues his non-stop pace in Japan, where he performed four sold-out shows last week; one with a surprise visit from his cousin, former Backstreet Boy, Kevin Richardson.

"Kevin is currently with the cast of Chicago, which is performing in Tokyo," says Littrell. "I went to see him on Sunday night, and then on Monday, he came to my show. He surprised the audience by walking on stage and joining me in singing, 'I Want It That Way'. The crowd went crazy. It was a great moment."

Littrell received an overwhelming welcome from capacity crowds at his two shows in Tokyo, along with his performances in Osaka and Nagoya.

Returning to the States on Saturday, he was able to rest for a couple of days with his family, then immediately returned to writing for his next solo album, and finishing up the next Backstreet Boys album which is due out this summer.

Littrell, a member of the multi-million selling, superstar pop group, Backstreet Boys, scored his first Dove Award at last year's show in the Inspirational Recorded Song category for his hit single, "In Christ Alone." This chart-topping track was recorded for the WoW #1's project, and was Littrell's first foray into the Christian market. This year, Littrell is competing in the Short Form Music Video category for his clip "Welcome Home (You)," a video supporting the hit song off his debut solo album, Welcome Home (5/2/06). Littrell will also co-host the 38th Gospel Music Association Dove Awards with Dove-winning artists Natalie Grant and Donnie McClurkin, on April 25 in Nashville, Tenn.

You can hear Brian on Christian radio airwaves nationwide on the song "By His Wounds," the first single from the multi-artist worship album Glory Revealed: The Word of God in Worship. He takes the project on the road this April and will be joined by Mac Powell, David Nasser, Shane & Shane, Tim Neufeld (Starfield) and others.