Title: Aaron Carter: All in the family, Brother follows Backstreet Boy success
Date: Friday, January 25, 2002
Type: Interview
Author: Nick Marino
Source: Times-Union
Source: http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/012502/ent_8418766.html
Topic: 2002 Article/Interview
He may be only 14, but Aaron Carter is already a music sensation. The younger brother of Backstreet Boy Nick Carter, his most recent album was titled Oh, Aaron. Aaron Carter: All in the family Brother follows Backstreet Boy success
In a family that's quickly becoming a '00s version of the Osmonds, 14-year-old Aaron Carter is Donny, the energetic kid heart-throb. Sister Leslie is just getting her career off the ground. Eldest brother Nick Carter, of course, is a member of the Backstreet Boys, a pop-singing group that has had a rough couple of months, with singer A.J. McLean going to rehab and Nick getting arrested after a verbal dispute outside a Tampa nightclub.
With his mother as his manager, Aaron seems to have had the smoothest ride to the top. He continues to pump out music, and he has a pay-per-view special (featuring some duets with Nick) airing next month. The release of last year's album, Oh, Aaron, made him popular enough to merit a Saturday Night Live parody.
Aaron Carter will kick off his national tour with a performance tonight at the Coliseum.
T-U: First things first, is there anything you can clear up about your brother's arrest a couple weeks ago?
Carter: That's messed up. Just because he's a celebrity they arrest him and make a big deal about it. It wasn't a big deal. He didn't do anything wrong, and it wasn't his fault. And he just got a whole bunch of crap for nothing.
T-U: That's all it was, huh?
Carter: That's all it was. I'm not lying to you or nothing either.
T-U: Have you ever had anything like that happen to you?
Carter: I've had some people try, but my dad has always cleared it up.
T-U: What have people tried to do?
Carter: Just people trying to sue us or something. We had this little girl come on our property, and we had our dog out. And we said if she came on our dog might bite her. [She was like] 'My mom's gonna sue you if I come on your property and he bites me.' That's not possible because we've got fences up and everything. But that's just, you know, the life of being a singer.
T-U: How did you choose Jacksonville as the city that will kick off your tour?
Carter: Actually I didn't pick it -- it was my mom. That's where they wanted the tour to be, so I was like 'OK, cool.' We usually start off in the biggest and most important places.
T-U: Apart from Nick not performing with you, how will your show here differ from the 2001 New Orleans concert that'll be on pay-per-view in February?
Carter: We've got more dancers involved. The show's gonna be a lot different. The stage has changed up a lot. All of the new songs off the new album. It's gonna be a lot different, and a lot more exciting. I can't wait. I can't wait to see what it's gonna be like.
T-U: Do you have anything tricky that you've still gotta learn?
Carter: Well, I've been doing a lot of backflips and back-tucks and back layouts and stuff like that.
T-U: Your rap-style on Jump on the Fizzy sounds a lot like Nelly. Was that a conscious choice or did it just happen from listening to a lot of his music?
Carter: [Laughs] I think it just happened from listening to a lot of his music. I never thought of that. It does, I guess.
T-U: What did you think of Mena Suvari's impression of you on SNL?
Carter: It was funny, man. I thought it was hilarious. It was pretty cool.
T-U: Who's hotter: Mary-Kate or Ashley?
Carter: Ashley, man. I've always liked Ashley.
T-U: What's the difference?
Carter: The difference between the two?
T-U: Yeah. Why is she hotter?
Carter: I have no clue -- a little big longer hair?
T-U: You've said that you want to be a marine biologist. As you know, that takes a lot of schooling. Would you be willing to give up music to follow that dream?
Carter: Yeah, I would for a little bit. I'm talking when I'm older, though. I'm doing a lot of studies in marine biology.
T-U: You are right now?
Carter: Yep, as of right now. Actually, yesterday I did a study on what's called a spoon-billed bird. They're very, very rare birds.
T-U: There have been lots of famous Carters. Would you rather have dinner with Jimmy Carter, Gary Carter or June Carter Cash?
Carter: Jimmy Carter.
T-U: Why?
Carter: I don't know. That's a good question. Probably 'cause the president is the most important guy.
T-U: What about Vince Carter?
Carter: I don't know. I met Vince Carter -- he wasn't really nice to me.
T-U: One of your lyrics says, "Even though I got a lot of dough I keep it real." Boxing promotor Don King has said, "If you can count your money, you don't have any." Can you count your money?
Carter: Can I count my money? Not really. It's all in a trust fund.
Aaron Carter
With: Dreamstreet and Lindsay Pagano.
When: 7 tonight.
Where: Jacksonville Coliseum, 1145 E. Adams St.
Tickets: $35 and $25.
Information: (904) 353-3309.
