A liquid crystal display (LCD) device including a backlight with vertically stacked light emitting diodes (LEDs). The LCD device includes an LCD panel and a backlight for illuminating the LCD panel. The backlight includes a plurality of LEDs and a light guide. The plurality of LEDs are stacked vertically and disposed behind the LCD panel along one or more edges of the LCD panel. The plurality of LEDs include at least a first color LED and a second color LED emitting first light and second light at a first direction, respectively, at a first wavelength and a second wavelength, respectively. The light guide is disposed behind the LCD panel and adjacent to the plurality of LEDs. The light guide is configured to combine the first light and the second light received from the plurality of LEDs into combined light to illuminate the LCD panel.