Hard work leads Aaron Carter back on tour

TORONTO – If there is a performer who should have Destiny’s Child’s hit “I’m a Survivor” on his set list, it’s Aaron Carter.

The 25-year-old singer, who has been famous virtually all of his life, has endured the kind of addiction, legal woes, family problems and personal tragedies that might be in the bio of someone much older.

“I faced a lot of struggles and had lots of times where drugs and things like that were presented to me,” he said Monday on Global’s The Morning Show. “I dabbled in those kinds of things and I partook in it and it got me in a lot of trouble.”

Carter, who was arrested in 2008 for having a small amount of marijuana in his car, checked into a rehab facility in 2011 to deal with unspecified addiction issues.

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His parents divorced; he sued his former manager over royalties; he was sued over a recording deal; and he had several failed relationships and a short-lived engagement.

Carter said his older brother (and House of Carters co-star) Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys wasn’t able to help him as much as some might believe.

“We were always pretty much on the other side of the world from each other so Nick really couldn’t help even if he wanted to,” he recalled. “It was a battle that I had to do on my own.”

The battle cost Carter the kind of career his talents arguably deserve. As an adult, he found himself ostracized by the industry that had profited from him when he was a child.

“It became very difficult,” said Carter. “I had to start trying to figure out ‘What am I going to do to start rebuilding myself and rebuilding my life? I have to find a way to get out there.’ It was very difficult and I had a lot of proving to do.”

He competed on Season 9 of Dancing With the Stars (he placed fifth) and then landed a lead role in the Off-Broadway show The Fantasticks — both projects in which he was able to showcase his work ethic.

“That was my proving ground,” Carter recalled. “I prayed every night. I said, ‘God, please let me tour again. Let me tour.'”

He was approached by an agent who put Carter back on the road.

The pop star who hasn’t released a studio album since 2002, is currently touring around the U.S. and Canada performing for diehard fans at small venues.

His next Canadian date is Nov. 24 at the Fortune Sound Club in Vancouver.