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Jason Michael Carroll

The accomplishments are impressive enough for any new artist – a chart-topping debut album nearing a half-million in sales, three hit singles from that album (all of which he wrote or co-wrote), a Gold ringtone certification, and opening spots on some of country’s hottest tours. The key to Jason Michael Carroll’s success is evident in every note he sings – live or in the studio – and it lies in his authenticity. Whether it’s the empathy brought to bear on the tragedy of “Alyssa Lies,” the pure passion of “Livin’ Our Love Song” or the youthful exuberance of “I Can Sleep When I’m Dead,” Carroll knows how to connect with fans, and together with hard work, undeniable talent, and good looks, that connection has launched one of country’s most impressive young careers. It’s a career whose music aptly depicts Carroll as country’s Gen-Y family man, reflecting his generation’s transition from party to parenthood, and able to fully express the joys inherent in both worlds and the tensions that can come in moving from unencumbered freedom to the responsibilities of home and hearth. As a husband and father of four, Carroll sings eloquently about both sides of the equation in songs that recognize the firm foundation that country roots and a sense of community provide in a fast-moving world. Now, with the April 2009 release of his sophomore album, Growing Up Is Getting Old (Arista Nashville), he fulfills the promise of his first record and takes his career a big step forward. The first single, “Where I’m From,” could have come from the pages of his life, and yet paradoxically enough, given his strengths as a songwriter, it’s one he didn’t write. “People ask me, ‘Do you only record songs you wrote?’ My answer is always, ‘No, if I believe in a song I didn’t write more than a song I did, I’d record it first,’” Carroll says, “and here I kind of had the chance to put my money where my mouth is.” The tale of two men from seemingly opposite worlds who meet by chance explores the similarities that lie beneath most of our differences. “No matter where life carries you, and it carries us in all different directions, if you boil it down to the nuts and bolts of it, most of us are really the same,” he says. The song is filled with points that hit home, from the seat he occupied in his father’s church and the fact that his son bears part of his grandfather’s name to the affect cancer has had on those close to him. Its authenticity is ideal to an album that finds Carroll digging deeper creatively and solidifying his place in country music. “You have a responsibility to your fans,” he says, “not only to record songs that are hits but also to record songs that mean something to you and convey to your fans who you are.” Those songs are all over Growing Up Is Getting Old. A Carolina-born preacher’s son raised in a strict household, Carroll threw himself whole-heartedly into life and music when he got the chance. The resulting tension between experience and responsibility, and the hard-won wisdom that grows out of the maturing process have always infused the music he makes. Jason Michael sees himself in songs like the title cut, of which he says, “I don’t think there’s a truer statement out there right now, especially to a father of four who tries to get home as much as I do and who travels as much as I do.” His children – three from a previous marriage – are at the core of Carroll’s identity, and his relationship with them helped bring vocal passion to songs like the cathartic “Hurry Home” and the poignant “Tears.” “Sorry Don’t Matter” explores the cold reality of a betrayed relationship, while “Barn Burner” gives him the chance to revel in the joy of days when responsibility could be set aside one party at a time. Love’s complexities figure in “Happened on a Saturday Night (Suzie Q),” a story with a rocking pace and a hairpin plotline, “Let Me Go,” featuring a seemingly star-crossed pair of lovers, and “We Threw It All Away,” in which two people rolling the dice surprise everyone with a win. The laid-back anthem, “That’s All I Know,” sums up the easygoing, comfortably fitting philosophy that permeates the record. Growing Up Is Getting Old found Jason Michael once again working with producer Don Gehman, known for his work with Hootie and the Blowfish, John Mellencamp, Tracy Chapman, and R.E.M. “We collaborate really well together,” Carroll says. “Now, we butt heads really well together, too,” he adds with a laugh, “but I think that’s part of a great relationship when you have two people with really creative sides who can find a way to get both their influences into what they’re working on.” The creative tension behind the teamwork produced an album that showcases both the passion and sincerity in his voice and the talent that brought Jason Michael from the Carolina nightspots where he honed his craft to national attention. He was an unlikely candidate for the clubs. He was not allowed to listen to secular music growing up in North Carolina. In fact, his father once took him to task for having a copy of Billy Ray Cyrus’s first record, but through friends and later at his job in a motor shop, he immersed himself in music and found himself drawn to country. After winning a radio station’s karaoke contest, Carroll was asked to join a local country band in need of a singer. He began paying his dues in clubs, and his mother, who was by then encouraging his dream, signed him up for a televised talent show in Raleigh/Durham. He won, and the visibility opened doors that led to Gehman. Soon, Carroll was signed to Arista Nashville, and his first album, Waitin’ in the Country, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. His first two singles, “Alyssa Lies” and “Livin’ Our Love Song,” shot into the Top 5. He opened for Brooks & Dunn, Trace Adkins, and Alan Jackson, and became part of the 2008 tours of Carrie Underwood and Martina McBride. He was also featured on Good Morning America, thrilled the crowd at the CMA Music Festival, and has played multiple times at the Grand Ole Opry. He quickly learned how his music could truly affect lives, with fans regularly approaching him with stories of the impact that “Alyssa Lies” or “Livin’ Our Love Song” had on them. “My songs speak so much to so many people,” he says. “I really can’t take for granted what I’m doing, and I thank God every day I have the chance to keep doing it.” He is especially thrilled with the RIAA Gold Mastertone certification of “Livin’ Our Love Song,” recognizing sales of 500,000 ringtones and ringbacks. “Standing in line at a bank or at a fast food restaurant and hearing somebody’s phone ringing and it’s my song, that’s pretty cool,” he says. But through it all, he remains a young man who has not lost touch with his roots, and it’s obvious he’s embraced the wisdom he received from a superstar touring partner. “I was hanging out with Brooks & Dunn on the road, and Ronnie Dunn said, ‘Jason, don’t let anything change you. Be who you are. That’s what got you here.’ It’s great advice.”

Latest bulletin 12.18.09

JMC's Shares His Family Christmas Photo!

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Nov 25, 09:13 AM

JMC Has Fond Memories of Childhood Thanksgivings

"I think one of my favorite memories of Thanksgiving was probably going hunting with my dad. You know, I was a kid and probably six, seven years old. My dad and I, you know, every Thanksgiving, I would look forward to there was a football game to watch, but early in the morning, my dad getting me up, getting me dressed, letting me go get in the pick-up truck with him, and we'd drive out to the hunting club, and he'd go hunting. And we'd be out there all day. We'd have ham sandwiches for lunch that he got from the little community store, and I remember getting back home to the smell of turkey in the house. We lived in a trailer in Louisburg, North Carolina, and you know, if my dad got a deer, he'd be cleanin' the deer in the yard, or whatever. And then we'd sit down and have dinner and watch football, or you know, that kind of stuff. And I remember those days. Those were some of my favorite, you know, times, goin' huntin' and stuff like that, and it's definitely a good memory for me."
Oct 23, 03:18 PM

Jason's Family Celebrates Halloween In A Big Way!

Jason and his family really enjoy getting into the spirit of Halloween each fall. Jason says it's one of their favorite holidays of the year and describes in his own words, how they go about celebrating Halloween.
"We always decorate our house early for the season. Every year, we pick out a few new decorations to add to our already large collection. The older the kids get, the scarier the decorations get. We pick out our costumes months in advance, and try to go with some sort of theme. Last year, we were Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Gang. This year, we are working on a Batman theme. Buying our costumes in advance gives us a chance to make them AWESOME! One of our good friends helps us with alterations. Even the grandparents, aunts, and uncles, are dressing up to fit with our theme this year!
While we're all getting our make-up and costumes on, we play the Michael Jackson "Thriller" video on TV and the kids try to get all the moves down. (They were so sad to find out that he had passed this year.) Then we're off to go trick-or-treating and wind up at my mom's house for food, because all that walking makes us hungry. The kids also hand out candy to the rest of the kids that show up while we're there.
Even though Halloween isn't until October 31st, we make it a month long celebration, leading up to the big night. We always watch 'The Nightmare Before Christmas,' 'The Addams Family' and 'Hocus Pocus.' We also have Halloween soundtracks on our IPods, too, like 'Monster Mash,' 'Ghostbusters,' 'Thriller,' and 'Nightmare On Elm Street.' My wife and I make Halloween all about the kids and in doing so it makes us feel a little like kids again too."
CLICK HERE to see a picture of Jason and hius family on Halloween!
Sep 30, 02:59 PM

"Hurry Home" To Address Runaway Crisis and Awareness

The National Runaway Switchboard (NRS) and Jason have formed a partnership to raise awareness about the runaway crisis in America and the help that youth and families can receive by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY.
The announcement comes after the recent release of Michael's second single, "Hurry Home". A song about a father and his runaway daughter and the struggles each faces during a challenging time, "Hurry Home" poignantly portrays the love of a parent whose overriding wish is simply for the safe return of his child.
Carroll personally experienced the effects of what a runaway episode can do to a family when his aunt ran from home when he was a young boy.
"I was so young when my aunt left home that I grew up not knowing who she was - just someone we prayed for every night," says Carroll. "For all the families who are missing someone dear to them, and for all the young people who need a hand getting home, or staying home, I hope that what we're doing can help bring attention to an important issue and to the great resources available through NRS."
To learn more about NRS, visit www.1800RUNAWAY.org.
Aug 21, 09:46 AM

Jason's NEW music video for "Hurry Home"

CLICK HERE to check out Jason's NEW music video for "Hurry Home" from the album Growing Up Is Getting Old - Available Now!
Aug 19, 09:39 AM

Jason made his 13th appearance on the Grand Ole Opry!

Jason recently made his 13th appearance on the Grand Ole Opry since exploding on the country scene in 2007. Jason, who lives in Raleigh, NC to be closer to his children, makes a special effort to perform the Opry as often as possible when he comes thru Nashville.

During his set, Carroll performed three of his hits, including "Livin' Our Love Song," "Where I'm From," and "Hurry Home," his latest Top 40 single still heating up the charts from his current album, Growing Up Is Getting Old.
Click HERE to see where Jason is playing next!
Jun 29, 10:37 AM

Jason Hits the Heartstrings with Beautiful New Single, “Hurry Home”

Jason first connected with fans with his powerful Top 5 debut single, "Alyssa Lies," and his gift for heartfelt poignancy takes center stage once again with the beautiful new ballad, "Hurry Home."
The tale of a worried father anxiously and hopefully awaiting word from his runaway daughter, "Hurry Home" immediately resonated with Jason, not just because he's a devoted dad himself, but also because his family endured a similar experience when he was a child.
Jason recalls, "My mom's sister ran away when I was a kid, when I was two. We prayed for this lady every night, and I had no clue who she was. Years later, at Christmas, my grandma's phone rang, and I remember handing the phone to my grandma and watching her face go flush. After 16 years of this woman being gone, her oldest daughter called home, and to me, ‘Hurry Home' captures a lot of that." ....
It's that sense of unconditional love of a parent for a child that Jason sees at the heart of "Hurry Home." He says, "It doesn't matter what you've done and doesn't matter where you've been, you can still come home. Their families - all they want is them back. None of that other stuff matters to them anymore" but to have their loved ones home again.
The new single continues an exciting time for Jason, who just scored his latest Top 10 with the smash, "Where I'm From."
Jun 05, 01:39 PM

Jason was the featured guest at Chicago Cubs' "Country Music Night"

On Tuesday, May 26, JMC was the featured guest at the Chicago Cubs' "Country Music Night," at the world-famous Wrigley Field in Chicago. Jason performed the National, threw out the first pitch, lead the crowd in "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" and conduct the 7th inning stretch from the announcer's box!
Photo Credit: Steve Green
Apr 28, 10:28 AM

Growing Up Is Getting Old In Stores Today!

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