Jason Michael Carroll performs at the "Country Kickstart Show" at the Greased Lightning Riverfront Daytime Stages Thursday, June 5 in Downtown Nashville during the 2008 CMA Music Festival. Photographer: Theresa Montgomery / CMA
May 29, 2009 — The life of a country singer is anything but normal: It requires large chunks of time away from home and traveling from city to city in a way that almost guarantees something will go wrong every single day in an unfamiliar place. It’s packed with stress, but Jason Michael Carroll has found a good way to counter that.
"Part of my stress relief," he told The Sioux Falls Argus Leader, "is to write music."
Jason’s musical past was initially restricted. His father was a preacher and forbid listening to anything but gospel. Nonetheless, Jason found Aerosmith and country music and set a pattern for his current path, including his recently released sophomore album, Growing Up Is Getting Old. The job does indeed have its drawbacks, but he’s not complaining.
"Having a wife and kids at home while I'm on the road is definitely difficult," he said, "but this job is the only thing that I've been able to do with a 100% commitment. This is, without a doubt, the best thing that I can do for my family."
Jason will be on hand with many of his fellow artists during the CMA Music Festival in Nashville next month. He’s slated to play a stage at Riverfront Park on his birthday, June 13, when the bill will also feature Tracy Byrd, Emerson Drive, Jo Dee Messina, Keith Anderson and Chris Young, among others.