Mixing traditional with contemporary, Trace Adkins has shown his diversity in musical abilities as well as his fearlessness when it comes to taking risks. Despite a few minor setbacks, Trace has made it to the top of country music with several hits in his path.

Tracy “Trace” Darrell Adkins was born on January 13, 1962 in Sarepta, Louisiana. Finding an interest in music at a young age, Trace took up the guitar. His love for music grew and he later studied music at Louisiana Tech, in addition to playing football. After he graduated, Trace worked at an oil rig where he, unfortunately, severed his left pinkie finger. When the doctors reattached it, he asked for it to be bent to fit around the neck of his guitar because he wouldn’t be able to move it. Although this accident led to a few years without performing music, he rekindled this passion and joined the New Commitments, a gospel quartet.

In the 1990’s, Trace set out for a solo career in country music. He played clubs and honky-tonk bars and began to attract substantial attention. When Trace moved to Nashville in hopes of a recording contract, he did not end up disappointed. Shortly after his move he was signed to Capitol Records and jumpstarted his career.

In 1996 he released his debut album, Dreamin’ Out Loud, which quickly brought him to the center stage of popular country music. While his single, “Every Light in the House is On,” jumped to the No.3 spot on the charts and “I Left Something Turned on at Home” rose to No.2, Trace gained an even larger fan following when his single “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing” became a No.1 hit.

After the major successes of the debut album, Trace’s following releases did not render a comparable level of success. The 1997 release, Big Time, did have one Top Five hit, “The Rest of Mine.” “Lonely Won’t Leave Me Alone” almost made the Top Ten list. Trace’s next album, More, was left even further in the dust than Big Time; only one single reached the Top Ten list. However, Trace rose back to the top in 2001 with Chrome which reached the Top Five albums chart. “I’m Tryin” also made it to the Top Five singles list and later, in 2003, “Chrome” also made it in the Top Ten. 2003 proved to be a busy year after the single’s belated climb in the charts; Trace pleaded guilty to a drunk driving charge in July. Also, his Greatest Hits Collection, Vol. 1 was released the same month. By the end of the year, Trace released his fifth album, Comin’ On Strong.

Trace continued with his stream of hits in 2005 with the popular “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” from his album, Songs About Me. The single not only made it to the No. 2 spot on country charts, but also reached No.30 on the all genre list. In 2006, Trace released Dangerous Man, which included the hit songs “Swing” and “Ladies Love Country Boys.”