With his deep, resonant voice and commanding stage presence, Trace Adkins has carved a successful niche in country music, as well as expanding his entertainment resume to include acting, scoring coveted film roles alongside Matthew McConaughey and Dennis Quaid.
Born in Sarepta, Louisiana, Trace learned to play guitar at an early age and first began performing in a gospel group called the New Commitments. When his career failed to take off, Trace found work on an oilrig off the coast of Louisiana and put in long hours in the dangerous profession before deciding to try his luck in Nashville.
Record producer Scott Hendricks was impressed with his voice and signed him to a deal with Capitol Nashville. His debut single, “There’s a Girl in Texas,” was released in 1996 and climbed into the top 20 of the country chart. His debut album, “Dreamin’ Out Loud,” gained traction, and Trace scored a top five hit with “Every Light in the House” and earned his first No. 1 with “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing.” Another single, “I Left Something Turned on at Home,” also hit the top five. He won the ACM’s Top New Male Vocalist award in 1996.
Since then, Trace has continued to churn out such hits as “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk,” “Ladies Love Country Boys” “Hillbilly Bone” (with pal Blake Shelton) and “You’re Gonna Miss This,” which was named ACM single of the year in 2008. One of his most poignant hits “Just Fishin’,” featured his youngest daughter, Trinity, in the video, which was shot at his Tennessee farm. Trace’s most recent album, 2017’s “Something's Going On,” was released on Broken Bow Records’ Wheelhouse imprint.
A member of the Grand Ole Opry, Trace was also a two-time contestant on “The Celebrity Apprentice,” originally finishing second to Piers Morgan in 2008, and then returning to win the top prize on “All-Star Celebrity Apprentice” in 2013. His film credits include “The Lincoln Lawyer,” “Deepwater Horizon” and “Moms’ Night Out.” In 2018, he can be seen in “I Can Only Imagine,” starring as Scott Brickell, the Nashville-based manager who shepherded the career of Dove Award-winning Christian band MercyMe. He’ll also be criss-crossing the country in 2018 on his “How Did We Get Here Tour.”
Trace, who had been divorced three times, is father to five daughters and also has several grandchildren.