Trace Adkins

Trace Adkins
Name	Trace Adkins
Caption	Adkins in 2010
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Tracy Darrell Adkins
Birth date	13 January 1962
Birth place	Springhill, Louisiana, U.S.
Genre	Country
Occupation	Singer, songwriter, actor
Years active	1995–present
Label	Capitol Nashville, Show Dog-Universal Music
Associated acts	Blake Shelton, Lynyrd Skynyrd
Website	traceadkins.com

Trace Adkins is an American country music singer, songwriter, and actor known for his deep bass-baritone voice and string of hit singles. Since his debut in the mid-1990s, he has released over a dozen studio albums, achieving multiple platinum and gold certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America. His career has expanded into acting, with roles in films and television, and he is a noted philanthropist, particularly for military causes.

Early life and education

Tracy Darrell Adkins was born in Springhill, Louisiana, and raised on a family farm in nearby Sarepta, Louisiana. He began singing and playing guitar as a teenager, influenced by country music legends like Merle Haggard and George Jones. After graduating from Sarepta High School, he attended Louisiana Tech University on a football scholarship but left to pursue work in the oil industry. A serious accident on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico led him to refocus on music, and he performed with various bands in the Louisiana and Texas club circuits before moving to Nashville, Tennessee.

Musical career

Adkins signed with Capitol Records Nashville in 1995 and released his debut album, Dreamin' Out Loud, the following year. The album produced his first top-ten hit, "Every Light in the House", establishing his career. His breakthrough came with the 1997 single "(This Ain't) No Thinkin' Thing", which reached number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs chart. Subsequent albums like Big Time (1997) and More... (1999) solidified his status with hits including "The Rest of Mine" and "Lonely Won't Leave Me Alone". His 2005 album Songs About Me and the single "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" brought him crossover success, with the latter receiving heavy rotation on Country Music Television. He has since released successful albums on Show Dog-Universal Music, such as Proud to Be Here (2011) and The Way I Wanna Go (2021), and has frequently collaborated with artists like Blake Shelton and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Acting and other ventures

Adkins has built a parallel career in acting, making his film debut in The Lincoln Lawyer (2011) alongside Matthew McConaughey. He has appeared in several feature films, including Deepwater Horizon (2016) and I Can Only Imagine (2018). On television, he had a recurring role on the series The Bold and the Beautiful and has been a contestant on NBC's The Celebrity Apprentice, winning his season in 2013. His voice has been featured in animated projects like The Fox and the Hound 2. Beyond entertainment, Adkins is a published author, releasing the memoir A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions from a Free-Thinking Roughneck in 2007, and has been a spokesperson for the Wounded Warrior Project.

Personal life

Adkins has been married four times; he is currently married to actress Victoria Pratt since 2019. He has five daughters from previous marriages. A well-known supporter of the United States Armed Forces, he has performed for troops overseas on numerous USO tours. His life has not been without challenges; he publicly battled alcoholism and entered rehabilitation in 2003, and he survived a near-fatal shooting in 1994 following a domestic dispute. He is an avid outdoorsman and resides primarily in Nashville, Tennessee.

Discography

Adkins's discography includes over a dozen studio albums. His major releases include Dreamin' Out Loud (1996), Big Time (1997), More... (1999), Chrome (2001), Comin' On Strong (2003), Songs About Me (2005), Dangerous Man (2006), X (2008), Cowboy's Back in Town (2010), Proud to Be Here (2011), Love Will... (2013), The Way I Wanna Go (2021), and a celebrated Christmas album, The King's Gift (2013). He has also released several compilation albums and has charted more than 20 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Awards and nominations

Throughout his career, Adkins has received numerous accolades. He has been nominated for three Grammy Awards, including for Best Male Country Vocal Performance. He has won multiple Academy of Country Music Awards, including the 1997 Top New Male Vocalist award, and has received several nominations for Country Music Association Awards. In 2011, he was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. His philanthropic work, particularly for veterans, earned him the USO's Merit Award and recognition from organizations like the American Red Cross.

Category:American country singers Category:American country songwriters Category:21st-century American singers