Ten years into his recording career as a country chartbuster, with dozens of hits under his belt and eight top-selling albums, Trace Adkins has entered elite territory. The man long known for his imposing physical stature, world-class baritone and bedrock authenticity has clearly earned his place among the most identifiable and important artists of his generation. Adkins has built a solid career and a strong fan base by recording songs that possess insightful lyrics and cover a wide range of interests --many from his own life experiences.
A one-time pipe fitter on an offshore oil rig, Adkins worked his way up in the music business. In his younger days, he sang in a gospel group and then went on to perform in small honky-tonks and clubs throughout Louisiana and Texas. He made his move to Nashville in 1992 and never looked back.
Over the past decade, Adkins has racked up a long string of hits including "Every Light In The House Is on," "(This Ain't) No Thinkin' Thing," "I Left Something Turned On At Home," "Hot Mama," "I'm Tryin,'" "Rough & Ready," "Arlington," "Songs About Me," "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk," "Ladies Love Country Boys," "I Wanna Feel Something" and "I Got My Game On." He has sold millions of records, won dozens of industry awards and become a member of the prestigious Grand Ole Opry.
He has made countless appearances on national television including "The Tonight Show," "The Late Show with David Letterman," "The Conan O'Brien Show," "Last Call with Carson Daly," "The Late, Late Show With Craig Ferguson" and has been featured in numerous mainstream articles such as People, USA TODAY and Entertainment Weekly. Adkins has even tested the waters at voice-over work and acting, making special guest appearances on sitcoms like "Yes, Dear" and "My Name is Earl."
The double-platinum SONGS ABOUT ME release in 2005 featured the monster hit, "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk." The song ruled the country charts, with digital downloads surpassing 800,000 and more than 500,000 ringtone purchases--an impressive feat in a market primarily dominated by R&B & hip hop. His 2006 release of "Dangerous Man" scored the biggest first-week sales in his career and became his third CD to make its entry at the top of the charts. The album quickly received a Gold-certification from the RIAA and produced three more hit singles.
A seasoned performer, Adkins consistently performs to sell-out venues all across the country with his hard-driving stage show that's chalked full of hits. He has truly become of country music's top headlining and in-demand artists today.
On Tuesday, November 13, Adkins will release his first book, "A PERSONAL STAND: Observations and Opinions from a Freethinking Roughneck" (Villard Books).
His ninth album for Capitol Records, AMERICAN MAN, GREATEST HITS VOLUME II will follow Tuesday, December 4.
