VOA常速英语2008年-Rising Country Star Jason Michael Carroll's Deb

By Mary Morningstar
Washington
04 February 2008

At the start of 2007, many critics predicted Jason Michael Carroll could become the next big thing in Country music. As VOA's Mary Morningstar reports, the 28-year-old father of four is proving them right.

Jason Michael Carroll says he was inspired to write his breakthrough hit, "Alyssa Lies," after seeing child abuse¹ reports on the news. The first single from his debut² album, Waitin' In The Country, reached the Top 5 on Billboard's Country chart, and set a record as the fastest-rising debut single by a male Country artist in 2006.

Jason was born in Texas, and grew up in Franklin County³, North Carolina. His father was a fundamentalist preacher, who didn't allow secular⁴ music in the family's home. But, Jason was able to listen to pop and Country music while working at an automotive shop. His first taste of performing was in a radio station's karaoke competition. He won the singing contest, which led to an invitation to join a local Country band. After the group fell apart, Jason gained more regional exposure⁵ by winning a televised talent show.

Jason earned a gold record for selling 500,000 copies of Waitin' In The Country. The album's Number One debut on the Country chart was the highest entry by a new male Country singer since Billy Ray Cyrus in 1992. Jason was also named Billboard's Number One new male Country artist of 2007.

He wrote or co-wrote five of the tracks on Waitin' In The Country.  He also recorded songs by Nashville hitmakers Jeffrey Steele, Casey Beathard, Craig Wiseman, and pop-turned Country singer Jewel, who duets with Jason on "No Good In Goodbye."

Last year, Jason attracted thousands of new fans as the supporting act on Alan Jackson and Brooks⁶ and Dunn's co-headlining tour. Next month, he'll head back out on the road to open shows for Country star Trace⁷ Adkins. Jason is also among the up-and-coming stars scheduled to perform at the Country Radio Seminar's New Faces Show in March.

1 abuse   

vt.滥用；辱骂；诋毁；n.滥用；恶习；弊端

参考例句：

• You can't make personal abuse on her.你不可对她进行人身攻击。
• She screamed abuse at me.她尖声责备我。

2 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

3 county   

n.县，郡

参考例句：

• When the good news reached there,the whole county rejoiced.喜讯传到那里时，全县的人都欢欣鼓舞起来。
• In that year county after county fell to the enemy.那一年一个又一个的县城沦入敌人手中。

4 secular   

n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的

参考例句：

• We live in an increasingly secular society.我们生活在一个日益非宗教的社会。
• Britain is a plural society in which the secular predominates.英国是个世俗主导的多元社会。

5 exposure   

n.暴露，面临；揭露，揭发；曝光

参考例句：

• After only a short exposure to sunlight he began to turn red.他在阳光下只晒了一会儿，皮肤就开始变红了。
• I threatened them with public exposure.我扬言要公开揭发他们。

6 brooks   

n.小溪( brook的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Brooks gave the business when Haas caught him with his watch. 哈斯抓到偷他的手表的布鲁克斯时，狠狠地揍了他一顿。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Ade and Brooks exchanged blows yesterday and they were severely punished today. 艾德和布鲁克斯昨天打起来了，今天他们受到严厉的惩罚。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 trace   

n.痕迹，踪迹，微量；vt.追踪，找出根源，描绘；vi.追踪

参考例句：

• There isn't a trace of a smile on her face.她脸上没有一丝笑容。
• We have lost all trace of him.我们找不到他的踪迹。