Tracy Darrell Adkins[1] (born January 13, 1962)[2] is an American country music singer and actor. Adkins made his debut in 1996 with the album Dreamin' Out Loud, released on Capitol Records Nashville. Since then, he has released ten more studio albums and two Greatest Hits compilations. In addition, Adkins 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. At least six 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. Adkins is widely known for his distinctive bass-baritone singing and speaking voice.[1][3]
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 All Star Celebrity Apprentice, as the voice for recurring character Elvin on King of the Hill, and the main role of Albie Roman on Monarch, as well as in television commercial voice-overs for KFC and Firestone.
Also, Adkins has written an autobiography titled 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, Moms' Night Out, and I Can Only Imagine.
Adkins was born in Sarepta, Louisiana, the son of Peggy Carraway and Aaron Doyle Adkins.[1][4] His maternal uncle was the Christian musician James W. Carraway (1923–2008).[5][6] His musical interest came at an early age when he was ten and his father bought him a guitar and hired someone to give him lessons.[7]
At Sarepta High School, since defunct, Adkins joined a gospel music group called the New Commitments.[8] He was also a member of the FFA. Later, Adkins attended Louisiana Tech University in Ruston.[8] A walk-onoffensive lineman on their football team, Adkins left the team after his freshman season due to a knee injury, without ever playing in a game.[9]:26[10][11] Adkins never graduated. After leaving college, he worked on an oil rig. He also played music in a band called Bayou.[8] Adkins also worked as a pharmacy technician before pursuing a career in music. He lost the pinky finger on his left hand in an accident 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.[7] Adkins moved to play in honky-tonk bars for the next few years in the Ark-La-Tex area and eventually moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1992.[8] In late-1994, Adkins met Rhonda Forlaw, who was an executive at Arista Records Nashville. Forlaw had numerous music industry friends come out to hear Adkins over the next few years. Scott Hendricks of Capitol Nashville signed him "on the spot" one night while Adkins was playing at Tillie and Lucy's bar in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.[8]
Music career
Early career
Adkins in 1997
Adkins' first single, which he wrote himself,[8] "There's a Girl in Texas", was released in 1996, reaching the Top 20 on the BillboardHot 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.[7] Adkins was named "Top New Male Artist" by the Academy of Country Music in 1997.[8] In 1998, Adkins appeared on the PBS music program Austin City Limits (season 23). A change in management delayed the release of Adkins' third album,[12] 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. Adkins' daughter, Mackenzie, was featured in the "More" video.
2001–2004
In 2001, Adkins was injured in a tractor accident and had to cancel touring temporarily.[13] Shortly after the release of his Chrome album, he entered a 28-day alcohol rehabilitation program in Nashville.[14]Chrome was his first album to reach the Top 5 on the country albums charts; its title track reached Top 10 in late 2002.[7]
In 2003, Adkins released two albums—a Greatest Hits collection and Comin' on Strong.[7] The same year, he was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.[15] He also made appearances as the center square on the game show Hollywood Squares,[16] and did voice-overs in commercials for fast-food chain KFC.[17] 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.
In March 2005, Adkins released his album entitled Songs About Me.[7] 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).[18] It was followed by "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk", which became a 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. Adkins' daughter, Brianna, was featured in the "Ladies Love Country Boys" video. 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".[19] 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.[20] The album has also produced Adkins' fastest-climbing single to date in its second single, "You're Gonna Miss This".[21] "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).
Adkins released his first book, entitled A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions from a Free-Thinking Roughneck.[22]
2008–2009
In 2008, Adkins released the single "Muddy Water," the lead single from X, which was released on November 25. The video for "Muddy Water" has an appearance by fellow Celebrity Apprentice competitor Stephen Baldwin as a man being baptized in a muddy river, and later approaching Adkins as a friend. It reached the Top 30 on the country charts, peaking at number 22. "Marry for Money" and "All I Ask For Anymore" were released as the album's second and third singles, and both peaked at No.14 on the country charts.
Adkins recorded a duet with country legend Ronnie Milsap called "My First Ride" to benefit fire-fighters and police officers in the U.S. 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-headline venture with fellow country artist Martina McBride. Also, in 2009, he recorded a duet with Blake Shelton titled "Hillbilly Bone", which was released as the lead-off single from Shelton's upcoming sixth album. On October 18, 2009, Adkins made an appearance on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to help Ty Pennington and his design team build a new home for the Marshall family.
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.[citation needed]
Two men in a small Dodge pickup truck lost their lives after crashing into one of Trace Adkins' tour buses on February 13, 2010. 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 were not seriously injured. Adkins himself was not on board the bus at the time.[25] On October 10, 2010, Adkins sang the national anthem at Dallas Cowboys Stadium.[citation needed]
On December 18, 2010, Adkins performed at WWE's annual extravaganza Tribute To The Troops to amazing reception by the soldiers in attendance.[26] He appeared once again in an episode of SmackDown live from Nashville, Tennessee, on May 13, 2011, as the special member of the WWE audience.
In March 2011, Adkins released "Just Fishin" which featured his youngest daughter, Trinity, in the video, which was shot at their farm. The song reached #6 on Billboard. On June 4, 2011, at approximately 3:35 pm, Adkins' home in Brentwood, Tennessee, burned down.[27] On October 20, 2011, Adkins sang the National Anthem at game 2 of the 2011 World Series in St. Louis.[citation needed]
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.[28]
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;[29] Adkins, unable to attend, arranged to perform the National Anthem at the Lady Bears' February 2012 home game against the Texas A&M Aggies.[30]
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.[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 he was no longer on the Showdog roster according to the official website.[citation needed]
Adkins released his first Christmas album, The King's Gift, on October 29, 2013.[34]
2015–present: Move to Wheelhouse Records
On April 6, 2015, it was announced that Adkins had signed with Broken Bow Records, under the Wheelhouse imprint.[35] In August 2015, Broken Bow announced that Adkins was one of the first artists signed to the label's new imprint, Wheelhouse Records.[36] His first single for the label was "Jesus and Jones", which was released to country radio on January 18, 2016, and peaked at number 41 on the Country Airplay chart. "Lit" was released to country radio on July 25, 2016, though it failed to chart. Both singles are on the album Something's Going On, which was released on March 31, 2017, via Wheelhouse Records, and its title track became a video.
On July 4, 2016, Adkins made a surprise appearance at his hometown Independence Day celebration in Sarepta, Louisiana. He joined on stage the Backbeat Boogie Band with several unrehearsed songs.[37]
In 2019, Adkins appeared on Hardy's new album, Hixtape Volume 1. On the album, he appears on the song "Redneck Tendencies" with Joe Diffie.[38] also in 2019, Adkins later reunited with Blake Shelton in Hell Right in Shelton's completion album Fully Loaded: God's Country
Spokesperson
In 2012, Adkins signed a deal with truck stop chain Pilot Flying J to become the company's new spokesman.[39] Adkins also lent his signature voice to Firestone as part of the "Drive a Firestone" campaign to revitalize the brand in 2012.[40]
Television career
Adkins was a January–March 2008 contestant on NBC's The Celebrity Apprentice.[20] Each celebrity contestant was playing for donations to their selected charity. Adkins played for the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network. Adkins chose the charity because his daughter suffers from life-threatening reactions to peanuts, milk, and eggs. Ultimately, he was the runner-up of that season, losing to Piers Morgan.
Adkins returned for the All-Stars version of The All-Star Celebrity Apprentice. He was the project manager for his team, Plan B, in the first task, which was to sell meatballs and won $670,072, a Celebrity Apprentice record for a first task, for his charity The American Red Cross. Together with Vegas illusionist Penn Jillette, Adkins 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.
Adkins has two daughters, Tarah and Sarah, with his first wife, Barbara Lewis, and three daughters with his third wife, the former Rhonda Forlaw: Mackenzie, Brianna, and Trinity. Adkins endorsed Mitt Romney and performed at the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida.[42] He performed the National Anthem at Tennessee governor Bill Haslam's second inauguration in 2015 and a year later during candidate Donald Trump's nomination at the 2016 Republican National Convention .[43]
At age 17, Adkins was in an automobile accident in which his 1955 Chevrolet pickup truck hit a school bus head-on. He broke some ribs, punctured both lungs and his nose was partially torn off.[44] Adkins was forced to give up college 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 second ex-wife Julie Curtis in 1994.[45] The bullet went through his heart and both lungs. He survived and chose not to press charges. They got divorced after 3 years.[46] In 1989, Adkins, along with nine coworkers, were stranded on an offshore oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico during Hurricane Chantal.[44]
In 2001, Adkins entered a 28-day alcohol rehabilitation facility. After relapsing in early 2014, Adkins checked into rehabilitation for alcoholism after getting into an altercation on a cruise ship.[47] In March 2014, Rhonda filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences.[48] Rhonda and Trace then dismissed and expunged the divorce petition via T.C.A. Section 36-4-127 (Expunction of Divorce Records upon Reconciliation of Parties) due to an attempted reconciliation.[49] Less than a month later, Trace filed for divorce. Since this time, the matter has been pending, with the parties awaiting finalization of their divorce. On August 24, 2023, the Tennessee Court of Appeals finalized said divorce.[49] The case has now been remanded to the lower court.
Martina Mariea McBride is an American country music singer-songwriter. She is known for her soprano singing range and her country pop material.
Blake Tollison Shelton is an American singer, songwriter and television personality. In 2001, he made his debut with the single "Austin" from his first album, Blake Shelton. "Austin" spent five weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The now Platinum-certified debut album also produced two more top 20 entries.
Julie Roberts is an American country music singer. Signed to Mercury Nashville in 2003, Roberts made her debut with the single "Break Down Here" in February 2004, a Top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts and the first track from her self-titled debut album. A second album for Mercury, Men & Mascara, followed in 2006. This album produced two non-charting singles in its title track and a cover of Saving Jane's "Girl Next Door".
Jamey Johnson is an American country music singer and songwriter.
Ralph Anthony Smith is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. As a Nashville recording artist, Smith's debut album, If That Ain't Country, on Mercury Records Nashville. Produced three Top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. As a songwriter Smith has had over 250 songs recorded by other Nashville recording artist Such as George Strait, Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Trace Adkins, Faith Hill and more.
Roger Dean Miller Jr. is an American country singer, songwriter and music producer known professionally as Dean Miller. He is the son of Roger Miller, a country pop artist who had several hit singles from the 1960s through the 1980s. Dean Miller has recorded four studio albums, in addition to charting four singles on the Hot Country Songs charts and writing singles for Trace Adkins and Terri Clark. His highest-peaking single as a performer was "Nowhere, USA", which reached No. 54 in 1997. He has had many songs recorded by artists including George Jones, Trisha Yearwood, and Jamey Johnson. Dean has produced music with some of the biggest names in music, including Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson and many more.
"You're Gonna Miss This" is a song written by Ashley Gorley and Lee Thomas Miller and recorded by American country music artist Trace Adkins. It was released in January 2008 as the second and final single from Adkins' compilation album American Man: Greatest Hits Volume II. Adkins's fastest-climbing single to date, it is his third number one hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. It also peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number 19 on the Pop 100 charts.
Trace Adkins is an American country music singer. His discography consists of fourteen studio albums and six greatest hits albums. Of his fourteen studio albums, six have been certified by the RIAA: 1997's Big Time is certified Gold, as are 2001's Chrome, and 2006's Dangerous Man. His 1996 debut Dreamin' Out Loud and 2003's Comin' On Strong are certified Platinum. 2005's Songs About Me is his best-selling album, certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA. Two of Adkins' compilation albums, Greatest Hits Collection, Vol. 1 and American Man: Greatest Hits Volume II are certified Platinum
Shawn Randolph Houser is an American country music singer, songwriter, and actor. Houser has racked up over half a dozen hits and over 1 billion streams. His How Country Feels album topped the country radio charts with the title track, “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” and “Goodnight Kiss” and earned critical acclaim for his powerful delivery of the Top 5 smash and nominated CMA Song of the Year, “Like A Cowboy.”
American country music singer Blake Shelton has released 12 studio albums, four extended plays, five compilation albums, and 54 singles. According to Recording Industry Association of America, Shelton has sold 52 million singles and 13 million albums in the United States. He also has achieved 14 No. 1 hits on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart. Billboard ranked him as the 31st Top Artist of the 2010s decade.
Scott Hendricks is an American record producer who has produced over 30 country music artists. His productions have garnered 121 Top 10s, and 78 Number One hits. Between 1995 and 1997, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Capitol Records Nashville. Between 1998 and 2001 he served as President and CEO of Virgin Nashville. He now serves as Warner Music Nashville's Executive Vice President of A&R. Acts for whom Hendricks has produced include Restless Heart, John Michael Montgomery, Brooks & Dunn, Trace Adkins, Alan Jackson, Faith Hill, Blake Shelton, Jana Kramer, Dan + Shay, Michael Ray, William Michael Morgan, Drew Parker and Tegan Marie.
"Rough & Ready" is a song written by Blair Mackichan, Brian Gene White and Craig Wiseman, and recorded by American country music artist Trace Adkins. It was released in April 2004 as the second and final single from his album Comin' On Strong. Although the song was not a Top 10 hit, it was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Dallas Davidson is an American country music singer and songwriter from Albany, Georgia, who has written for artists such as Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Cole Swindell, Jake Owen, Luke Bryan, Randy Houser, Lady Antebellum, and Billy Currington. He generally writes with others, notably as a member of The Peach Pickers.
"Hillbilly Bone" is a song written by Luke Laird and Craig Wiseman and recorded by American country music artist Blake Shelton for his extended play Hillbilly Bone. The song features guest vocals from Trace Adkins, and its chart run overlapped with his singles "All I Ask For Anymore" and "Ala-Freakin-Bama".
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 2010.
Hillbilly Bone is the first extended play, and seventh studio release overall, by American country music singer/songwriter Blake Shelton. It was released on March 2, 2010 via Warner Music Group Nashville, his first album under its Reprise label. The only single released was the title track, a duet with Trace Adkins which was released to radio in November 2009. This song reached number one on the U.S. Billboard country singles charts in April 2010.
Based on a True Story... is the eighth studio album by American country music artist Blake Shelton. It was released on March 26, 2013, through Warner Bros. Records, and debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200. In a career best for Shelton at the time, nearly 200,000 copies of the album were sold in its first week. Based on a True Story... became the ninth best-selling album of 2013 in the US, earning Shelton a Platinum certification by the RIAA on September 30, 2013. In 2016, Based on a True Story… was certified double-platinum by the RIAA.
Mickey Jack Cones is an American record producer, engineer, session musician, singer and songwriter. Raised in a musical family, he is the grandson of Glenn Gray Orchestra singer Jane Cones and son of Jackie Cones of The Cones Sisters; Produced by Barry Beckett for RCA during the late 80's. Cones moved to Nashville in 1996 to finish his BBA at Belmont University.
"Hell Right" is a song written by David Garcia, Brett Tyler and Michael Hardy, and recorded by American country music artist Blake Shelton, featuring guest vocals from fellow country artist Trace Adkins. It was released on August 16, 2019 as the second single from Shelton's compilation album Fully Loaded: God's Country.
Fully Loaded: God's Country is a 2019 compilation album by American country music singer Blake Shelton. It was released on December 13, 2019, via Warner Records Nashville. The album includes his most successful singles from Shelton's two previous albums, If I'm Honest and Texoma Shore, along with four new songs and a cover. Among the new songs are "God's Country" and the Trace Adkins duet "Hell Right" and also Gwen Stefani Duet "Nobody but You" both released as singles. Fully Loaded: God's Country reached the number-one position on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
↑ ZEPFAN269 (April 15, 2011). Trace Adkins. YouTube (published April 18, 2011). Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2012.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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