Trace Adkins Biography

The huge frame and deep voice of Trace Adkins has let him stand out from the pack and create a career like few other artists.

Trace Adkins: Early Life
The sleepy town of Springhill, Louisiana, welcomed Tracy “Trace” Adkins in 1962. The small lumber town had seen native son Joe Stampley become a Country-music star in the past and was a pretty big cultural hub for a town of 6,000 people. Influenced by a musical household and the Gospel music at church, Trace Adkins soon developed an appreciation for music and developed a baritone voice that was a true rarity. Genetics also gifted Trace Adkins with a tall and powerful body perfect for a football player, getting him a scholarship with the LSU Tigers.

Trace Adkins: Music
Life after football was hard and a dangerous job on an oil rig cost Trace Adkins his pinky finger. Always dedicated to music, he made sure it was reattached in such a way that he could keep playing guitar. The accident pushed Trace Adkins back into music, and he initially focused on Gospel, before the lure of Country Music sunk its hook deep into him. Trace Adkins left for Nashville, Tennessee, and became a stalwart on the Honky-Tonk scene that had raised so many others. Many who bought Trace Adkins tickets knew they had something special in that voice.

Trace Adkins: Dreamin’ Out Loud
Producers on Music Row could not wait to get the baritone voice of Trace Adkins in the studio. Able to be as smooth as black ice or as rough as sandpaper, there was no song that Trace Adkins could not give instant credibility to. The 1996 debut album Dreamin’ Out Loud explored all this territory, but Trace Adkins did not need expensive songwriters to have his first charting single as he wrote “There’s a Girl in Texas”. “Every Light in the House” pushed the newcomer to the top of the charts, and old-school Country fans lined up to buy Trace Adkins tickets after hearing his sound.

“(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing” was the first No. 1 single for Trace Adkins and officially blew his career wide open. With a gravel and presence in his voice to appeal to traditionalists and the style to rope in the Pop-Country crowd, Trace Adkins was the new wunderkind of Nashville. “I Left Something Turned on at Home” would also introduce fans to the risqué and comedic side that would help establish Trace Adkins as a maverick and superstar. Dreamin’ Out Loud would go on to be certified platinum.

Trace Adkins: Big Time
Trace Adkins attracted many songwriters thanks to his vocal and showman qualities, and there was no shortage of material for follow-up album Big Time. “Rest of Mine” was the culmination of this collaboration and was a No. 4 hit. “Rest of Mine” was a vocal showcase along with a cover of traditional song “Wayfaring Stranger”. Singles “Big Time” and “Lonely Won’t Leave Me Alone” did well but were not smash hits. Big Time went gold, but fans would have to wait a long time for a follow-up thanks to record-company problems.

Trace Adkins: Chrome
After personal demons derailed album More..., Trace Adkins was back to focusing on music and wanted to give all his fans the album they deserved. The 2001 album Chrome returned Trace Adkins to his comedic roots with single “Chrome”, and the video packed full of models got significant airplay. “Chrome” did well in the video format, but “I’m Tryin’” was the strong single that moved Trace Adkins into the mp3 age. Chrome gave Trace Adkins a second chance to be the man he wanted, and his fans were there every step of the way to lend their support.

Trace Adkins: Return to Platinum
If Chrome was the comeback, then 2003 album Comin’ on Strong was the evidence that proved Trace Adkins was here to stay. Single “Hot Mama” was another fun-loving song that also showed the maturity Trace Adkins had gained in the last few years. “Rough & Ready” also lit up the charts and helped push Comin’ on Strong to platinum status. Fans were also treated to a blockbuster tour to support the album, and the showman was back in fine form.

The tour and recent hits allowed album Songs About Me to debut No. 1 on the charts and eventually go double platinum. Unusual single “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” was the crossover catalyst that sold more Trace Adkins tickets than ever before. “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” would sell over 100,000 mp3 downloads alone, and the music video was a smashing success on video channels usually well outside the Country genre. “Arlington” showed the patriotic and softer side of Trace Adkins and was a hit on the charts.

Trace Adkins: Touring
Riding the success and press from Songs About Me, Trace Adkins has become the face of Country music to millions of fans who are strangers to the genre. No. 1 singles “Ladies Love Country Boys” and “You’re Gonna Miss This” were hits on the Country scene while an appearance on The Celebrity Apprentice gave Trace Adkins a whole new following that he might never have reached with his music.

In support of 2008 album X, Trace Adkins has been touring from 2008 and into 2009. With the tour winding down, Trace Adkins has saved the best for last as he prepares to play the biggest gig of the year, RodeoHouston. 70,000 fans with Trace Adkins tickets will crowd the state-of-the-art Reliant Stadium to see Trace Adkins unleash a set list powered by a discography of hits and platinum albums. RodeoHouston is the perfect way to cap-off a great Country-music tour.

Trace Adkins: Greatest Hits

• “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing” from the Dreamin’ Out Loud album
• “I Left Something Turned on at Home” from the Dreamin’ Out Loud album
• “The Rest of Mine” from the Big Time album
• “I’m Tryin’” from the Chrome album
• “Chrome” from the Chrome album
• “Hot Mama” from the Comin’ on Strong album
• “Rough & Ready” from the Comin’ on Strong album
• “Arlington” from the Songs About Me album
• “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” from the Songs About Me album
• “Ladies Love Country Boys” from the Dangerous Man album
• “You’re Gonna Miss This” from the American Man: Greatest Hits Volume II album