Trace Adkins, born Tracy Darrell Adkins on January 13, 1962, in Sarepta, Louisiana, is an American country music singer, actor, and television personality.
He has carved out a multifaceted career in entertainment, blending heartfelt country ballads with lively anthems.
Adkins’ journey from a small-town Louisiana upbringing to a celebrated figure in Nashville’s country music scene is marked by resilience, having overcome personal challenges like alcoholism, a gunshot wound, and other life-threatening incidents.
Adkins’ authentic storytelling and rugged persona have resonated with fans, making him a beloved icon in country music and beyond.
Siblings
Trace grew up with two brothers, Clay and Scott Adkins, in the rural town of Sarepta, Louisiana.
The Adkins family was close-knit, shaped by their father Aaron, a mill worker, and their mother Peggy Carraway, who instilled a strong work ethic in their sons.
Tragically, Trace’s younger brother, Scott, passed away in 1993 at the age of 21 in a pickup truck accident, a loss that deeply affected Trace.
Scott was a devoted fan of his brother’s music, often joining him on the road during club performances.
Little is publicly known about Clay Adkins, as he has remained out of the spotlight, but the brothers shared a rural upbringing filled with music.
Career
Adkins’ career began in the honky-tonk bars of the Ark-La-Tex region after he left Louisiana Tech University, where he studied petroleum technology and played football until a knee injury sidelined him.
Working on oil rigs and as a pharmacy technician, Adkins faced setbacks, including the loss of his pinky finger in an accident, which he had reattached at an angle to continue playing guitar.
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In 1992, he moved to Nashville, where he was discovered by Capitol Records Nashville president Scott Hendricks while performing at Tillie and Lucy’s bar.
His 1996 debut album, Dreamin’ Out Loud, launched him into the spotlight with hits like “There’s a Girl in Texas” and “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing,” the latter becoming his first number-one single.
Over the next two decades, Adkins released eleven studio albums, including Songs About Me (2005), which earned double-platinum certification, and Dangerous Man (2006).
His discography includes over twenty charted singles, with additional number-one hits like “Ladies Love Country Boys” (2007) and “You’re Gonna Miss This” (2008).
Beyond music, Adkins has built an acting career, appearing in films like The Lincoln Lawyer (2011) and I Can Only Imagine (2018), and television shows such as King of the Hill and The Celebrity Apprentice, where he won the All-Star edition in 2013.
Accolades
In 1997, Adkins won the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Award for Top New Male Vocalist, marking his arrival as a rising star.
That same year, he received the Country Weekly Award for Favorite Male Newcomer, followed by the TNN/Music City News Male Star of Tomorrow in 1998.
Adkins has garnered three Grammy nominations, including Best Country Song for “You’re Gonna Miss This” in 2008.
His collaboration with Blake Shelton on “Hillbilly Bone” earned him the 2010 ACM Vocal Event of the Year and the CMT Collaborative Video of the Year.
Adkins also secured CMT Music Awards and was nominated for the Country Music Association’s Horizon Award.
His induction into the Grand Ole Opry in 2003, invited by Little Jimmy Dickens, remains a pinnacle of his career, cementing his status as a country music icon.
Additionally, his charitable work, particularly with the Wounded Warrior Project and the American Red Cross, earned him the 2010 Artist Humanitarian Award from Country Radio Broadcasters.
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