Marine 1st Lt. Andrew Kinard, representing the Wounded Warrior Project (the charity chosen for 2009 by ACM's charitable fund) introduced Trace to the ACM audience.
Trace's performance was emotionally heartrending under two spotlights, one on Trace backed up by the West Point Glee Club, the other on wheelchair bound Kinard. Trace's voice was true to every note and full of the emotion he gives to every performance. I can't imagine how Trace kept those emotions in check sharing the stage with Kinard, but he did, just barely. I didn't.
"Til the Last Shot's Fired" appears on Adkins' newest album, X. Profits from digital downloads of the song on iTunes will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. A video of the performance, including Kinard's introduction, is already posted on YouTube. You can read about Kinard, who was wounded in Iraq, and his amazing story of courage here.
"It's a privilege to perform this song with such a distinguished choir for the great servicemen and women in whose honor it was written," said Adkins. "We should always let our military know how much we appreciate them putting their lives on the line for us every day. The WWP provides an incredible service to those wounded in combat, so it's an honor to donate proceeds of the performance downloads to support this important and worthy charity."
Accepting his Single of the Year Award, Trace said, "This song was recorded by a father whose oldest daughter had just gotten married. It was very personal to me, and I didn't think other people would relate to it the way that I did." Adkins said he never thought it would be a single, but he later got a call from Capitol Nashville chief Mike Dungan, who said the label was going to seek radio airplay for the song.
Adkins recalled, "I said, 'Go ahead. Ain't nobody gonna play it.' Glad I'm an idiot." The song, written by Ashley Gorley and Lee Thomas Miller, was a bonus track on his "American Man: Greatest Hits Vol. II" album. It was also a great night for Lee Miller who is a co-writer of ACM's Song of the Year, "In Color".
I would love to know who Trace was pointing at in the audience when he accepted the award. Do any of you all know?
Please make sure to visit iTunes and dowload a copy of "Til the Last Shots Fired" to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project and get a beautiful tune in the bargain. You can pre-order the single today for $2.49. It is expected to be released April 7th 2009. Link to iTunes Store
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