Trace Adkins

In 2003, Trace Adkins became a member of the prestigious Grand Ole Opry. The 6’6” country music star looked 4’11” Opry star Jimmy Dickens in the eyes—a stepladder was involved—and accepted Little Jimmy’s invitation to join the Opry cast. It was an emotional night for Trace, who says the event was a huge honor and definitely one of the biggest highlights of his professional career.

And Trace Adkins has had quite a few highlights throughout his career.

Trace has one of the most powerful and distinctive voices in country music today and he’s one of the genre’s true rugged individualists. His basement deep baritone and unshakeable sense of self have made him a star, but it is his music and the life he brings to it, that has appealed to so many of his fans and made his body of work so important. His songs have insightful lyrics and cover a wide range of interests and come from many of his own life experiences.

A former oil driller, gospel singer, and aspiring pro-football player, Trace took a long road from his hometown of Sarepta, LA to country music stardom. For more than a decade, he played more than 300 shows a year in roadhouses and honky-tonks throughout Louisiana and Texas, before moving to Nashville, where he was eventually signed to a record deal.

When Trace first broke onto the scene in the mid-90s, his debut album sold more than a million copies and it didn’t take long before he had a string of hits including “Every Light In The House Is On,” “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing,” “I Left Something Turned On At Home,” “Chrome,” “Hot Mama,” “I’m Tryin,’” “Rough & Ready,” “Songs About Me,” “Arlington” and many more.

Since then, he has built a big name for himself through his hit singles and gold and platinum albums. He’s sold millions of records, won dozens of awards, received massive exposure on national television and print media and, he’s developed a huge fan base from performing at more than 120 packed venues across the United States each year.

Trace’s CD, Songs About Me, made its entry at the top of the country albums chart upon its release in March 2005 – marking his third chart-chopper in a row. The album is filled with more of the kind of grit and passion for which he’s best become known.

2006 proved "Ladies Love Country Boys" as Trace's single rode all the way to the top, charting his first number one single since 1997. Trace is continuing to be recognized as a Dangerous Man, testing his chops as author of A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions from a Freethinking Roughneck, and furthermore, proving his business savvy on NBC's The Celebrity Apprentice.

Since that emotional night in 2003 when Trace accepted the invitation to become a member of the Opry, he has made numerous performances on the hallowed stage. 

 “The country music fans at the Opry are the best and they’ve always made me feel like I’m at home, no matter how many times I perform there,” says Trace. “I just want to thank them from the bottom of my heart. I’ve been blessed with a career that I enjoy and being an Opry member is just an awesome honor.”