Country singer Jason Michael Carroll. Photo: Erick Anderson

Sure, Raleigh, N.C. country star Jason Michael Carroll is opening for Carrie Underwood in stadiums and performing live concerts on “Good Morning America” these days.

Lucky for us, he’s still got a soft spot for Cowboys in Kennesaw. The 29-year-old bearer of that crazy beer-soaked baritone returns to the Kennesaw club tonight at 10:30 to introduce local fans to the songs from his excellent upcoming sophomore album, “Growing Up is Getting Old.”

Prior to our interview Thursday, Buzz got an advance listen to the CD, and fans will be pleased to know that the Walmart shopping, young father of four hasn’t gone all Nashville on us.

In fact, the Carroll co-penned opening track, “Happened on a Saturday Night (Suzie Q)” could have been written at a Cowboys gig.

“I’ve seen a lot of drama playing in honky tonks the past 13 years!” Carroll told us laughing. “Oh man, people get into some things! That song is really about all I’ve seen over the years. I was looking for something in your face and high energy to open the album. That just seemed to fit.”

The album’s tear-stained first single, “Where I’m From,” wasn’t written by Carroll but he says he’s lived the song.

“I wanted to play it live and record it from the moment I heard it,” Carroll recalls. “I’ve sat on that wooden pew in my Baptist preacher daddy’s church, and I grew up on a tobacco farm and watched those deals go down out in the field. I knew what that song was about.”

While he gets recognized now a lot more when he does the family shopping at the Walmart, his family takes it in stride.

Says Carroll: “I leave Wendy [Phillips] and the kids in the truck and tell them, ‘I only need a few things. I’ll be right back.’ If I’m not back in 10 minutes now, one of the kids usually pipes up and says, ‘Daddy’s signing autographs again!‘ But they’re real understanding about it.”

“Growing Up” hits stores April 28. For info on tonight’s show, call 770-426-5006, or go to cowboysatl.com.

Braves season set

On Thursday, Buzz got a gander at some of the special offers and events being planned for Turner Field this season. Here’s a few highlights. First up, home games on Friday nights will feature post-game fireworks (here’s hoping this year’s team supplies plenty of fireworks during the game too…).

Also, home games on Sunday will feature up-close-and-personal alumni autograph sessions for fans and small fry can participate in Kids Run the Bases. On April 15, Jackie Robinson Day will be celebrated. May 3 and Sept. 6 mark the return of the stadium’s popular Bark in the Park outings, where well-behaved Fidos are welcome. Retro Braves cap giveaways also will happen on May 21 (for 70s Braves hats) and June 11 (for the 1980s Braves model). Of course, opening day against the Washington Nationals is slated for April 10.

Congrats to. . .

Local film director and Parkview High School grad Scott Teems. The former Lilburn resident’s new feature film “That Evening Sun” had its world premiere this week. Plus, it scored the Best Narrative Feature and Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble Cast at the South by Southwest music and film festival in Austin. The shot-in-Tennessee flick stars Hal Holbrook and local boys made good Ray McKinnon and Walton Goggins.

Atlantans will have an opportunity to see Teems’ work as well when “Sun” screens at this year’s Atlanta Film Festival April 19 at 5:30 p.m. at the Landmark Midtown.

Overscene

Actor Louis Gossett Jr. eating lunch at South City Kitchen in Midtown. We’re told the “An Officer and a Gentleman” star had the fried green tomatoes, crisp buttermilk fried oysters, and a Maryland crab cake with Creole mustard aioli and chow-chow.

Celebrity Birthdays

Producer Carl Reiner is 87. Actor Hal Linden is 78. Actor William Hurt is 59. Director Spike Lee is 52. Actress Holly Hunter is 51. Actor David Thewlis (”Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”) is 46. Actor Michael Rapaport (”Prison Break”) is 39. Singer Chester Bennington (Linkin Park) is 33.

Contributing: News Services.

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