Jason Michael Carroll (born June 13, 1978 in Houston, Texas[1]) is an American country music singer-songwriter. After being discovered at a local talent competition in 2004, Carroll was recommended to the Arista Nashville label in 2006. That year, his debut single "Alyssa Lies" was released to radio, entering Top 10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Carroll's debut album, Waitin' in the Country, was also released in late 2006; it has been certified gold in the United States for sales of over 500,000. The album's second single, "Livin' Our Love Song", was released in summer 2006, and has also entered Top 10 on the country charts.
Biography
Carroll grew up in a religious household in Franklinton, North Carolina; his father was a fundamentalist preacher who viewed popular music as sinful and would not allow any secular music played in the home, or even on family trips in the car. His father went so far as to spank him when he found a copy of Billy Ray Cyrus' "Achy Breaky Heart" in his bedroom.[1]
In 2004, encouraged by his mother, Carroll won a local singing competition, WRAZ FOX 50's Gimme the Mic. During this same period, Carroll had finished writing "Alyssa Lies." Carroll says he struggled to the point of getting migraines for a year and a half before finishing the song. He was discovered by Rusty Harmon, the manager who produced Hootie & the Blowfish a decade ago. By the summer of 2005, Carroll was a regular along Nashville's Music Row. He later signed with the booking agency Monterey Peninsula Artists Nashville and entered a recording agreement with Arista Records.
Carroll's debut album Waitin' in the Country, produced by Don Gehman (Pat Green, John Mellencamp, Hootie, REM) was released on February 6. In its opening week, it debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Charts.
With first-week sales of 57,608, and a Billboard 200 pop chart entry at #8, Carroll had once achieved both the best unit sales and the highest pop chart debut by a new country male artist since Billy Ray Cyrus in 1992[1]. However, thanks to his exposure on "American Idol", newcomer Bucky Covington's debut album later surpassed Carroll's sales[2].
On Saturday February 24, 2007 Carroll made his second (first televised) appearance on the Grand Ole Opry performing "Alyssa Lies" and "Livin' Our Love Song".
Jason Michael Carroll has four children, Gavin Michael, Savanna Nicole, Stori Paige, and J.W.
Discography
Albums
Singles
References
External links
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