Born on January 13, 1962 in Sarepta, Louisiana, country music star Tracy Darrell "Trace" Adkins developed his love for music at an early age, as his father taught him to play the guitar. In school, he actively participated in musical groups and later entered the Louisiana Tech University, after which he worked at an oil rig. During an accident, he lost his pinky finger, but asked the doctors to reattach the finger so that he could still play the guitar.
In the early 1990s, Adkins began playing in bars in Nashville, Tennessee, where an executive from Capitol Records discovered him and offered him a deal. In 1996, he released his first album entitled "Dreamin' Out Loud," which produced a number of hits. His follow up album entitled “Big Time” came a year later and he consequently changed management, thus delaying his third album, "More," which was released in 1999. His other albums include "Chrome" (2001), "Greatest Hits Collection, Vol. 1" (2003), "Comin' On Strong" (2003), "Songs About Me" (2005), and “Dangerous Man” (2006). An accomplished singer and songwriter, he has had twenty-three singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, two of which ("This Ain't No Thinkin' Thing" and "Ladies Love Country Boys") hitting the number 1 spot.
His long career had brought him extensive experience in the music industry, and Atkins has not only written and sang his songs, but has also worked as a producer, along with Frank Rogers, Tony Lane and Rascal Flatts' Jay Demarcus.
Aside from being a musical artist, Atkins also appeared on political talk shows, and has become a spokesman for commercial products. He also lent his voice to a recurring role on King of the Hill, and has appeared on television shows such as ESPN's
Cold Pizza, NBC's
My Name Is Earl,
Late Night with Conan O'Brien,
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,
Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson and the Food Network's
Emeril Live.
Adkins is also one of 14 contenders in the seventh season of
Donald Trump's
The Apprentice: Celebrity Edition, where he is to vie for the ultimate prize of $250,000 for the charity of his choice.
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(Photo courtesy of NBC)