Editor’s Note: I thought I would do something a little bit differently here in order to celebrate an artist that has had quite the career retrospective. You know you are destined for stardom when you immediately get offered a record deal by Capitol Records management while playing a gig at a bar in New Juliet, Tennessee. You’ve appeared on TV shows, 2012 Republican Presidential campaign stops, sung the National Anthem at a Dallas Cowboys football game, and won awards for your work in country music! Ladies and gentleman, Trace Adkins has seen a lot of success in this! I’m going to narrow it down to the Top Ten Trace Adkins Moments in his career.
10. Trace Adkins sets a record with magician Penn Jillette on The Celebrity Apprentice. Yes, we know that the reality television show was hosted and ran by the infamous President Donald Trump, however, Trace Adkins was doing this for charity for The American Red Cross, and managed to raise a record setting $672,000 in sales. What was he selling? Meatballs. Trace Adkins sold $672,000 in meatballs. Here is Trace Adkins on the Wendy Williams Show. Guess you could say it was magic!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnJFVEVpqBQ
9. Trace Adkins does voiceover for “American Dad”. In 2012 episode entitled “The Unbrave One”, Trace Adkins shows off his sense of humor by playing the role of a transvestite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogXKfovvKpw
8. Trace Adkins hosts his own Sirius XM Radio Show. Trace Adkins does a weekly top 30 country songs, however, from a different year. The show is called “Throwback 30”. If you want to check out the show or subscribe to it, click here!
7. Small town Sarepta, Louisiana Trace Adkins gives back to his hometown in 2014 by performing at the town’s annual Independence Day celebration. There is few things cooler than when a high profile singer goes back to their roots and does a performance. They say there is nothing like the hometown, and with this move, Trace Adkins proved just that. Trace would also help give back by helping raise money for the local restoration of the town auditorium. Westbound 21 also got to open for Trace Adkins at this special event!
6. In 2003, Trace Adkins releases the album “Comin’ On Strong”. This album would sell over one million copies in the United States. Featured two top 15 country singles in “Hot Mama” and “Rough & Ready”. That same year, “Hot Mama” would be featured on the video game Karaoke Revolution Party and Trace Adkins would be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, which signifies that you have made it as a country music singer. We would also see Trace Adkins crossover as a celebrity by doing voiceovers for KFC and being the center square for the game show “Hollywood Squares”. This was also Trace Adkins first album along with a greatest hits album since he became sober from alcohol.
5. Trace Adkins records a duet with Ronnie Milsap entitled “My First Ride”. I know what you’re thinking, what’s the big deal? Trace Adkins and Ronnie Milsap agreed to do this duet in order to benefit the police officers and firefighters of the United States and Canada. There was controversy, as Capitol Records refused to release the song as a single with no explanation and Ronnie Milsap would storm Capitol Records, sing the song outside while protesting it. Country music stations would also temporarily ban Trace Adkins, which I’m sure was due to Capitol Records telling them to do so. We get a taste of Trace Adkins stepping in the political arena.
4. Trace Adkins crosses over into the pop charts. The song “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” would take over not only the country western bars, but the hip-hop and dance clubs the world over. The song was written by Jamey Johnson, Randy Houser, and Dallas Davidson. It was the second biggest country hit of 2006 behind “Jesus, Take The Wheel” by Carrie Underwood. The song would peak at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country charts and at No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. Some argue that due to the success of Adkins and Underwood, we begin to see a lot of crossover appeal between the country and pop charts. The song would have almost 20 million hits on YouTube on Trace Adkins’ YouTube channel alone.
3. Trace Adkins wins Academy of Country Music Award for “Best New Male Vocalist”. 1996 was the year that Trace Adkins stepped on the scene. The ladies loved him for his rugged redneck good looks and the dudes wanted to be him, heck he played college football for Louisiana Tech(granted he never played a game due to injury), he worked on an oil rig for a living, and was discovered by chance while playing a gig at a dive bar in small town Tennessee. “Dreamin’ Out Loud” was a hot album, as it produced the singles “There’s A Girl In Texas”, “Every Light In The House Is On”, “(This Ain’t) No Thinking Thing”, and “I Left Something Turned On At Home”. It was undoubtedly clear that Trace Adkins had arrived. Here is the song that went No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country charts “(This Ain’t) No Thinking Thing”.
2. Trace Adkins helps ignite Blake Shelton’s career even further. Blake Shelton, yes that guy that is known as “People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive”, began to hit his stride and his collaboration with Trace Adkins on the song “Hillbilly Bone” ignited Blake Shelton’s career into superstardom. In 2010, “Hillbilly Bone” would win an ACM award for “Vocal Event of the Year” and a CMT Award for “Collaborative Video of the Year”. “Hillbilly Bone” has over 27 million hits on Blake Shelton’s YouTube channel alone. Check it out!
- Trace Adkins loves America! Cheesy title I know, but Trace Adkins utilizes his status to preach about the Republican Party and give back to the military. Case in point, he performed the National Anthem for the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, and West Virginia Mountaineers college football team. He’s performed for WWE’s annual event “Tribute To The Troops”, performed at the 2012 Republican National Convention, and he has also released one of his big songs that I wanted to highlight entitled “Arlington”. “Arlington” was seen as a controversial song because it was about a specific fallen soldier name, although it was told as a fictional story. People took it the wrong way and it made Trace Adkins into somewhat of a polarizing figure in the world of country music, especially during a time when the Dixie Chicks were ostracized for making comments about President George W. Bush at a concert. Trace Adkins repeatedly said that this song was based on a true story that it has nothing to do with politics nor the military. The song would peak at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot Country charts.
What are some of your favorite Trace Adkins moments? Let us know in the comments below!
Trace Adkins is also performing around the country! Check out tour dates below!
Tuesday, February 20th- Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee
Thursday, February 22nd- Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Friday, February 23rd- TaxSlayer Center in Moline, Illinois
Saturday, February 24th- Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri
Friday, March 2nd- American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas
Saturday, March 3rd- CenturyLink Center in Bossier City, Louisiana
Wednesday, March 7th- Strawberry Festival in Plant City, Florida
Thursday, March 8th- Phillips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia
Friday, March 9th- Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina
Saturday, March 10th- Greensboro Coliseum Complex in Greensboro, North Carolina
Sunday, March 11th- Norton Center For The Arts in Danville, Kentucky
Wednesday, March 14th- Patsy Cline Theatre in Winchester, Virginia
Thursday, March 15th- Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio
Friday March 16th- Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, Maryland
Saturday, March 17th- Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Wednesday, March 21st- Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee
Thursday, March 22nd- NYCB Theatre in Westbury, New York
Friday, March 23rd- Vine At Del Lago in Waterloo, New York
Saturday, March 24th- Eisenhower Hall Theatre in West Point, New York
Tuesday, March 27th- Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee
Tuesday, April 3rd- Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee
Friday, April 6th- IP Casino Resort and Spa in Biloxi, Mississippi
Saturday, April 7th- Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth, Texas
Saturday, April 14th- Southern Jam 2018 in Boca Raton, Florida
Friday, April 27th- Welk Resort Theatre in Branson, Missouri
Friday, May 4th- OC Inlet Parking Lot in Ocean City, Maryland
Saturday, May 5th- Mountaineer Park in New Cumberland, West Virginia
Sunday, May 6th- Punxsutawney Community Center Auditorium in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
Friday, May 11th- Northern Star Mohican Casino in Bartelme, Wisconsin
Saturday, May 12th- Grand Casino Hinckley Event Center in Hinckley, Minnesota
Saturday, June 2nd- Cattleman’s Ball at Hergott Farm in Martell, Nebraska
Thursday, June 7th- Parker Days Festival in Parker, Colorado
Sunday, June 10th- Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan
Thursday, June 21st- Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield, Connecticut
Friday, June 22nd- Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
Saturday, June 23rd- Hollywood Casino in Charles Town, Virginia
Thursday, June 28th- Ponoka Stampede in Ponoka, Canada
Saturday, June 30th- Starlight Amphitheater in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Wednesday, July 4th- Fort Bragg in Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Thursday, July 5th- Southern Ground Amphitheater in Fayetteville, Georgia
Saturday, July 7th- Delta Downs in Vinton, Louisiana
Wednesday, July 11th- Casino Pauma Showroom in Pauma Valley, California
Thursday, July 12th- Jackson County Fair in Santa Maria, California
Sunday, July 15th- California State Fair in Sacramento, California
Monday, July 16th- Stanislaus County Fair in Turlock, California
Wednesday, July 18th- Lane County Fair in Eugene, Oregon
Thursday, July 19th- Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort in Worley, Idaho
Saturday, July 21st- Snoqualmie Casino Showroom in Snoqualmie, Washington
Friday, July 27th- Champaign County Fair in Urbana, Illinois
Saturday, July 28th- Grainger County Tomato Festival in Rutledge, Tennessee
Tuesday, July 31st- Tri County Fair in Petersburg, West Virginia
Monday, August 6th- Full Throttle Saloon in Whitewood, South Dakota
Tuesday, August 7th- Sioux Empire Fair in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Wednesday, August 8th- Club Regent Event Centre in Winnipeg, Canada
Thursday, August 9th- Saskatoon Prairieland Park in Saskatoon, Canada
Saturday, August 11th- Boone County Fair in Belvidere, Illinois
Saturday, September 8th- Blue Gate Theater in Shipshewana, Indiana
Monday, September 10th- Wayne Country Fair in Wooster, Ohio
Friday, September 14th- Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson, Kansas
Saturday, September 15th- Sandia Resort & Casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Friday, September 21st- Washington County Fair in Brenham, Texas
Saturday, September 22nd- Anderson County Cornstock in Garnett, Kansas
Saturday, September 29th- Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, Alabama
Sunday, September 30th- Renfro Valley Entertainment Center in Mount Vernon, Kentucky
Friday, October 26th- Horseshow Riverdome in Bossier City, Louisiana
Saturday, October 27th- Gold Strike Casino Resort in Robinsonville, Mississippi
For tickets and further information for any of the shows listed above, click here!
Find Trace Adkins at the following locations:
