Trace Adkins

Trace Adkins

At sea aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on November 27, 2002
Background information
Birth name Tracy Darrell Adkins
Born January 13, 1962
Sarepta, Louisiana, United States
Origin Springhill, Louisiana, United States
Genres Country, country rock, blues rock
Occupation(s) Singer, music artist, actor (film and television)
Instruments Vocals, Guitar
Years active 1995–present
Labels Capitol Nashville, Show Dog-Universal Music, Broken Bow
Associated acts Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson, 38 Special, Ronnie Milsap, Toby Keith, Blake Shelton
Website TraceAdkins.com

Tracy Darrell "Trace" Adkins (born January 13, 1962) is an American singer and actor. He made his debut in 1995 with the album Dreamin' Out Loud, released on Capitol Records Nashville. Since then, Adkins has released seven more studio albums and two Greatest Hits compilations. In addition, he has charted more than 20 singles on the Billboard country music charts, including the Number One hits "(This Ain't) No Thinkin' Thing", "Ladies Love Country Boys", and "You're Gonna Miss This", which peaked in 1997, 2007, and 2008, respectively. "I Left Something Turned on at Home" went to No. 1 on Canada's country chart. All but one of his studio albums have received gold or platinum certification in the United States; his highest-selling to date is 2005's Songs About Me, which has been certified 2× Multi-Platinum for shipping two million copies. Trace Adkins is widely known for his distinctive baritone singing voice.[1][2]

He has also made several appearances on television, including as a panelist on the game shows Hollywood Squares and Pyramid, as a 2008 finalist and as the 2013 winner on The Celebrity Apprentice, as the voice for recurring character Elvin on King of the Hill, and in television commercial voice-overs for the KFC fast food restaurant chain and the "Firestone Tire and Rubber Company". In addition, Adkins has written an autobiography entitled A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions from a Free-Thinking Roughneck, which was released in late 2007. He has appeared in numerous films, including The Lincoln Lawyer and Moms' Night Out.

Early life

Sarepta, Louisiana, honors its home-town celebrity, Trace Adkins

Adkins was born in Southern California, then moved to LA]] in Webster Parish in north Louisiana. He is the son of Aaron Doyle Adkins, a mill worker, and the former Peggy Carraway.[3] His uncle was the Christian musician James W. Carraway (1923–2008).[4][5] His musical interest came at an early age when his father taught him to play the guitar.[6] In high school, he joined a gospel music group called the New Commitments. He was also a member of the FFA. Later, Adkins attended Louisiana Tech University. A walk-on offensive lineman on the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team, Adkins left the team after his freshman season due to a knee injury, without ever playing in a game.[7]:26[8][9] Though he never officially graduated he took up work at an oil rig. He lost the pinky finger on his left hand in an accident while using a knife to open a bucket, and asked doctors to reattach the finger at an angle so that he could continue to play guitar.[6] Adkins then moved on to playing in honky tonk bars around Nashville, Tennessee, in the early 1990s. An executive of Capitol Nashville spotted Adkins playing at a honky tonk, and soon afterwards signed him to the label.

Music career

Early career

Adkins' first single, "There's a Girl in Texas", was released in 1996, reaching the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. It was followed by the release of his debut album, Dreamin' Out Loud, later that year. The album produced several hit singles, including his first Top 5 single, "Every Light in the House", his first Number One in "(This Ain't) No Thinkin' Thing", and another Top 5 hit in "I Left Something Turned on at Home". The latter single was also a Number One hit in Canada. His second album, Big Time, produced a Top 5 in "The Rest of Mine", but subsequent singles proved less successful.[6] A change in management delayed the release of Adkins' third album,[10] but the album (titled More...) was eventually released in late 1999. Although the album's title track reached Top 10, More... failed to achieve gold status.

2001–2004

In 2001, Adkins was injured in a tractor accident and had to temporarily cancel touring.[11] He later entered a 28-day alcohol rehabilitation program in Nashville[12] shortly after the release of his Chrome album. Chrome was his first album to reach the Top 5 on the country albums charts; its title track reached Top 10 in late 2002.[6]

In 2003, Adkins released two albums—a Greatest Hits collection and Comin' on Strong.[6] The same year, he was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.[13] He also made appearances as the center square on the game show Hollywood Squares,[14] and did voice-overs in commercials for fast-food chain KFC.[15] Only one single, "Then They Do", was released from this Greatest Hits compilation. This album, which succeeded the Greatest Hits collection, produced two singles: the Top 5 single "Hot Mama" and "Rough & Ready", which peaked at No. 13.

Adkins and Travis Tritt played the roles of prison convicts in a February 2004 episode of the television series Yes, Dear (Greg & Jimmy's Criminals).

2005–2007

In 2005, Adkins released his next album entitled Songs About Me.[6] The title track was released as its first single in December 2004. The album's second single, "Arlington", generated controversy over its content (a first-person account of a fictional soldier who was about to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery).[16] It was followed by "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk", which became a highly successful crossover hit, bringing Adkins into the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time.

2006 saw the release of Adkins' seventh studio album, Dangerous Man. "Swing", the album's lead-off single, peaked at No. 20, while the follow-up "Ladies Love Country Boys" became Adkins' second Number One single on the country charts and his first since "(This Ain't) No Thinkin' Thing" in 1997. The album's final release, "I Wanna Feel Something", proved unsuccessful on the charts; as a result, Adkins announced that he would stop supporting the single.

In August 2007, Adkins released a single entitled "I Got My Game On".[17] Originally, the song was planned to be the lead-off to a new album, tentatively titled Game On; however, Adkins decided not to release a full album, and instead released his second Greatest Hits compilation, American Man: Greatest Hits Volume II, for which "I Got My Game On" served as the lead-off single.[18] The album has also produced Adkins' fastest-climbing single to date in its second single, "You're Gonna Miss This".[19] "You're Gonna Miss This" has also become his third Number One hit on the Hot Country Songs, as well as the most successful single to date on the Billboard Hot 100 (#12), Billboard Pop 100 (#19), and Hot Digital Songs charts (#8).

Trace released his first book, entitled A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions from a Free-Thinking Roughneck.[20]

2008–present

In November 2008, Trace Adkins made an appearance at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Trace rode with his family on the "Jimmy Dean" float and performed his popular song "You're Gonna Miss This." In 2009, Adkins appeared in local Kansas City commercials to advertise season tickets and the 50th season of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs.

Adkins recorded a duet with country legend Ronnie Milsap called "My First Ride" to benefit fire-fighters and police officers in the US and Canada. Then, after the song's release the label said 'no' to radio stations playing it with no explanation given. Milsap led a protest at Capitol Records to "Free Trace" and allow the song to be played.

In November 2009, Adkins embarked on the Shine All Night Tour, a co-headling venture with fellow country artist Martina McBride. Also in 2009, Adkins joined fellow country artist Blake Shelton in recording a duet titled "Hillbilly Bone," which was released as the lead-off single from Shelton's upcoming sixth album.

On October 18, 2009, Trace made an appearance on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to help Ty Pennington and his design team build a new home for the Marshall family.

Two men in a small pickup truck lost their lives after crashing into one of Trace Adkins' tour buses. The truck was believed to have crossed the "no passing" line in the center of the road which resulted in the crash. Several members of Adkins' band were aboard the bus, but did not suffer any major injuries. Adkins himself was not on board the bus at the time.[21]

In January 2010, Adkins parted ways with his long-time record label, Capitol Nashville, and subsequently signed with Show Dog-Universal Music.[22][23] Adkins' first single with the label, "This Ain't No Love Song," was released on May 17, 2010, and served as the lead-off single to his ninth studio album, Cowboy's Back In Town. It debuted at No. 54 on the chart for the week of May 29, 2010. The album's second single "Brown Chicken, Brown Cow" released to country radio on January 10, 2011.

On October 10, 2010, Adkins sang the National Anthem at Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

On December 18, 2010, Trace performed at WWE's annual extravaganza 'Tribute To The Troops' to amazing reception by the soldiers in attendance.[24] Trace appeared once again on the May 13, 2011, episode of SmackDown live from Nashville, Tennessee, as the special member of the WWE audience.

On June 4, 2011, Adkins' home in Brentwood, Tennessee burned down, at approximately 3:35pm.[25]

On October 20, 2011, Adkins sang the National Anthem at game 2 of the 2011 World Series in St. Louis.

In April 2011, Adkins revealed that he had a crush on the Baylor Lady Bears' head coach, Kim Mulkey, while the two were in college at Louisiana Tech, then dedicated his performance of "One in a Million You" to her.[26] Mulkey's sister arranged a phone call in December 2011 between the singer and coach, during which Kim Mulkey invited him to sing at Baylor's home game against Connecticut;[27] Adkins, unable to attend, arranged to perform the National Anthem at the Lady Bears' February 2012 home game against the Texas A&M Aggies.[28] In March 2012, Adkins visited the Lady Bears while on tour in Kansas City to encourage them before their NCAA Championships semi-final match; the team attended one of his concerts later that week.[29]

In February 2012, Adkins appeared as a guest vocalist on Meat Loaf's album Hell in a Handbasket [30]

Adkins performed "The Star-Spangled Banner"at the West Virginia Mountaineers' home football game against the Baylor Bears on September 29, 2012; his was just the third live performance of the national anthem in the 32-year history of Mountaineer Field.[31]

Adkins released a new album, Love Will..., on May 14, 2013. The album's first single, "Watch the World End", was released to country radio on May 13, 2013. In September 2013 it was announced that Trace was no longer on the Showdog roster according to the official website.

Adkins released his first Christmas album, The King's Gift, on October 29, 2013.[32]

On April 6, 2015, it was announced that Adkins had signed with Broken Bow Records.[33]

Celebrity Apprentice

Adkins was a January–March 2008 contestant on NBC's The Celebrity Apprentice.[18] Each celebrity contestant was playing for charitable donations for their selected charity. Adkins was playing for the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network. Adkins chose the charity because his daughter suffers from life-threatening reactions to peanuts, milk and eggs. Ultimately Trace was the runner-up of that season, losing to Piers Morgan.

Trace returned for the All-Stars version of The Celebrity Apprentice. Adkins was project manager for his team, Plan B, in the first task, which was to sell meatballs and won $670,072 for his charity The American Red Cross, which was a Celebrity Apprentice record for a first task. Together with Vegas illusionist Penn Jillette, he made it to the finals again (becoming the first and only person in the history of the show to do so), where Adkins won and became The All-Star Celebrity Apprentice. He also broke the record for the highest amount of money raised for his charity by any one person in the history of the show, with $1,524,072 raised for the American Red Cross.

In 2008, Trace Adkins released the single "Muddy Water," the lead single from X, which was released on November 25. The video for "Muddy Water" also has an appearance by fellow Celebrity Apprentice competitor Stephen Baldwin as a man being baptised in a muddy river, and later approaching Trace as a friend. X also includes the Top 20 hits "Marry for Money" and "All I Ask For Anymore," both of which reached a peak of No. 14.

Spokesperson

In 2012, Adkins signed a deal with truck stop chain Pilot Flying J to become the company's new spokesman.[34]

Filmography

Film

Year Film Role Notes
1987 Square Dance Bayou Band Member as Tracy D. Adkins
2008 Trailer Park of Terror The Man
2008 An American Carol Angel of Death/Trace Adkins
2010 Tough Trade Scared Television movie
2010 Lifted Jimmy Knox
2011 The Lincoln Lawyer Eddie Vogel
2012 Wyatt Earp's Revenge Milfin Kennedy
2013 Kix Brooks A Country Christmas Sheriff Arrington post-production
2013 The Virginian The Virginian filming
2014 Moms' Night Out Bones
2014 Palominas Judge Guilt Roads pre-production

Television

Year Show Role Notes
2003 King of the Hill Big John Episode: "Livin' on Reds, Vitamin C and Propane" (voice)
2003-2004 Hollywood Squares Himself 10 episodes
2004 Yes, Dear Curtis Episode: "Greg and Jimmy's Criminals"
2004-2005 King of the Hill Elvin Mackleston 3 episodes (voice)
2005 Higglytown Heroes Cowboy Hero Episode: "Higgly Hoedown" (voice)
2005 Blue Collar TV Himself Episode: "Battle of the Sexes"
2005 My Name is Earl Himself Episode: "Pilot"
2007-2009 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Himself 2 episodes
2008 The Young and the Restless Himself Episode: "#1.8885"
2008-2011 Celebrity Apprentice Himself 16 episodes
2010 Ace of Cakes Himself Episode: "A Four Letter Word for Pastry"
2012 American Dad! Transvestite Episode: "The Unbrave One" (voice)
2013 All-Star Celebrity Apprentice Himself 12 episodes
2013 To Appomattox John Gregg 4 episodes

Personal life

Adkins has two daughters, Tarah and Sarah, with his ex-wife, and three daughters with current wife: MacKenzie, Brianna, and Trinity. Adkins is a Republican and he performed at the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida.[35] He also performed the National Anthem at Republican Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam's second inauguration in 2015.[36] Adkins is also a life-member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the NRA.

As a youth, Adkins was in an automobile accident in which his 1955 pickup truck hit a bus head-on. Both his arms, a leg, and some ribs were broken and his nose was partially torn off. Adkins was forced to give up football after a severe knee injury at Louisiana Tech. He has also experienced a number of serious injuries as an adult, including being shot by his ex-wife in 1994.[37] The bullet went through his heart and both lungs. He survived and chose not to press charges.[38]

In early 2014, Adkins checked into rehab for alcoholism after getting into an altercation on a cruise ship.[39] In March 2014, Trace Adkins and his wife Rhonda filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.[40]

Discography

Studio albums
Compilation albums

Awards

This list of songs or music-related items is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Year Award Result
1996 ACM Top New Male Vocalist Won
2008 CMT Male Video of the Year - "I Got My Game On" Won
Grammy - Best Male Country Vocal Performance - "You're Gonna Miss This" Nominated
Grammy - Best Country Song - "You're Gonna Miss This" (Ashley Gorley & Lee Thomas Miller) Nominated
2009 ACM Single of the Year - "You're Gonna Miss This" Won
Grammy - Best Male Country Vocal Performance - "All I Ask For Anymore" Nominated
Grammy - Best Country Song - "All I Ask For Anymore" (Casey Beathard & Tim James) Nominated
2010 ACM Vocal Event of the Year - "Hillbilly Bone" with Blake Shelton Won
CMT Award - Collaborative Video of the Year - "Hillbilly Bone" with Blake Shelton Won

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Trace Adkins's Biography at AllMusic". Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Trace Adkins". Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  3. ↑ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=124488937
  4. ↑ McCall, Michael (June 13, 2004). "A Dream Come True for Trace Adkins". American Profile. Archived from the original on October 18, 2006.
  5. ↑ "Trace Adkins: A Personal Stand". Cmt.com. 2007-11-26. Retrieved 2011-12-08.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Huey, Steve. "Trace Adkins Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
  7. ↑ Sweetland, Phil (September 2000), "Trace elements", American Cowboy: 24–27
  8. ↑ Gardiner, Amy (February 13, 2012). "Singer Trace Adkins reunites with Baylor's Kim Mulkey". USA Today. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  9. ↑ Tracy Adkins is not listed in Louisiana Tech's letterwinners list. "Letterwinners" (PDF). Louisiana Tech 2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl Media Guide. Louisiana Tech University. 2014. p. 176.
  10. ↑ Edward Morris (2001-07-12). "CMT.com : Trace Adkins : Trace Adkins Nixed Song That's Now His Album's Lead Single". Web.archive.org. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ "CMT.com : Trace Adkins : Trace Adkins Completes Rehab Program". Web.archive.org. 2003-01-21. Archived from the original on 2008-04-24. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
  13. ↑
  14. ↑
  15. ↑
  16. ↑ USA WEEKEND Magazine
  17. ↑ Benson, John. "Adkins Impatient To Unveil New Single, Album". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Trace and Trump". Country on Demand. 2007-10-26. Archived from the original on 2007-11-14. Retrieved 2007-10-26.
  19. ↑ "Trace Adkins brings "The Boardroom" to Nashville". That's Country.com. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  20. ↑ "First Book by Country Star Trace Adkins Hits Bookshelves Nationwide". Hot Schatz.com. 2007-09-24. Retrieved 2008-02-17.
  21. ↑ "Trace Adkins' Tour Bus Involved in Fatal Crash". TMZ. 13 February 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  22. ↑ "Adkins Joins Show Dog Universal". MusicRow. 2010-01-13. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
  23. ↑ Roughstock Staff (2010-01-13). "Trace Adkins Joins Show Dog-Universal Records". Roughstock.com. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
  24. ↑ "WWE "Trace Adkins, Diddy-Dirty Money, Cedric the Entertainer and Ariel Winter to perform on WWE Tribute to the Troops"". WWE.com. 2010-12-07. Retrieved 2011-12-08.
  25. ↑ "Country Star's House Burns Down". Huffington Post. 2011-06-05.
  26. ↑ ZEPFAN269 (2011-04-15). Trace Adkins. YouTube (published 2011-04-18). Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  27. ↑ Cherry, Brice (2012-02-08). "Affection for Kim Mulkey brings Trace Adkins to Waco". Waco Tribune-Herald. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  28. ↑ Gardiner, Andy (2012-02-13). "Singer Trace Adkins reunites with Baylor's Kim Mulkey". USA Today. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  29. ↑ Mulkey's biggest fan. ESPN. 2012-04-01. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  30. ↑ "Legacy Recordings Announces The Stateside Release Of Hell In A Handbasket, The New Full-Length Studio Album From". Meat Loaf. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
  31. ↑ "Trace Adkins Will Perform Anthem Saturday In Morgantown". WCHS Radio 58. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  32. ↑ Sterdan, Darryl (August 29, 2013). "Miley Cyrus, NIN top the 2013 fall music preview". Canoe.ca. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  33. ↑ Stark, Phyllis (April 6, 2015). "Trace Adkins Eyes Radio With BBR Music Group Deal: 'I Can Ring the Bell Another Time or Two'". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  34. ↑ "Pilot Flying J". Pilot Flying J. 2012-02-17. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
  35. ↑ "GOP’s musical lineup includes stalwarts Journey, Kid Rock and Trace Adkins - Washington Post". Articles.washingtonpost.com. 2012-08-12. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
  36. ↑ http://www.tennessean.com/picture-gallery/news/politics/2015/01/17/gov-bill-haslam-2015-inauguration/21924177/
  37. ↑ John Geromeap (2007-12-13). "Trace Adkins’ life an open book with ’A Personal Stand’". NevadaAppeal.com. Retrieved 2011-12-08.
  38. ↑ Miller, Samantha (June 23, 1997). "Mr. Invincible". People. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  39. ↑ http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20776357,00.html
  40. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/27/trace-adkins-divorce_n_5043981.html

External links

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