Title: Backstreet's little brother takes own road to fame
Source: USA TODAY
Source: LIFE; Pg. 2D
Date: September 27, 2000
Author: Arlene Vigoda
Topic: Article/Interview
"He's so cool, and he taught me a lot about not being stuck up," Aaron says of Backstreet Boy Nick Carter, 20. "When he joined the band, I went to rehearsals and decided that's what I wanted to do."
Aaron's on his way with his second album, Aaron's Party (Come Get It). The single of the same name is No. 37 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart after six weeks. Also out: a music video collection; The Little Prince of Pop (Onyx paperback, $ 9.95), a bio penned by mom Jane Carter; and a 15-store singing tour at Wal-Mart.
Not bad for a seventh-grader whose first album sold more than 1 million records overseas and who landed a job as lead singer for a rock band at age 7. "We were called Dead End, and it was a dead end," he says. "We were really bad, but I had fun doing it."
Aaron's latest single is a catchy rap ditty about throwing a party without parental supervision. Any autobiographical elements to the song? " I think I tried to get my mom and dad out of the house once or twice, but they were onto me," says Aaron, one of five kids.
Speaking of rap music, what does he think of Eminem's explicit lyrics? "I think he must not really like himself to say the things he does and rap about really violent things," Aaron says. His favorite rapper? Will Smith, "because he sings about positive stuff."
Aaron says fame has its advantages. "I love traveling, and I get to do a lot of it when I'm on tour. I especially like turbulence on planes. It's exciting." The downside? "Not being able to see my family as much as I'd like."
In his spare time, Aaron likes to ride dirt bikes and Jet Skis, but you'd be hard-pressed to find him surfing the Internet. "Computers are for boring people," he says. "You could be doing more things with your life, active things."
Like having a girlfriend? Says Aaron: "I date off and on, but no one steady. I'm only 12."
GRAPHIC: PHOTO, B/W, Robert Ascroft, Jive Records; Aaron Carter: He's a star in his own right but still a little young to date.
