Trace Is Nominated For An Award And You Can Help Him Win

Voting is now open for CMT's 2009 Music Awards, the only fan-voted country music awards.  Trace is nominated in two categories; Video of the Year and Male Video of the Year, both for "You're Gonna Miss This".

To vote visit CMT's website.  CMT requires that you register to vote.  You can only vote for four videos per category, and you can only vote one time. The final four nominees will be announced May 19 on CMT.

Also nominated for Director of the Year are Trey Fanjoy who directed Trace's video "Muddy Water" and Peter Zavadil who directed "You're Gonna Miss This".

Trace's Fan Club Worth the Bucks

Recently I received a message that there was a letter waiting for me at home from Trace.  I smiled knowing it was my passport for special access to the Big Guy - my 2009 fan club card.  If you are not already a member of Trace's fan club, let me tell you what you are missing. 

First, you have the opportunity to purchase tickets before anyone else.  As a member of the fan club you receive emails announcing date and times for release of TAFC (Trace Adkins Fan Club)ADVANTAGE TICKETS for all of Trace's concerts.  You are allowed up to four tickets for each show, so you and three friends will have great seats for any concert you can attend.

Second, as a fan club member you can sign up for Meet and Greets held before Trace's concerts.  Only fan club members are eligible and you are allowed only one Meet and Greet a year, but hey the price of membership is worth the chance to get a hug from country music's sexiest male isn't it.

Third, you are eligible to attend the TRACE ADKINS FAN CLUB PARTY held each year in Nashville.  Each attendee receives an autographed keepsake souvenir at the door and all attendees will have access to a PHOTO SESSION with Trace!  Sorry, tickets are sold out for this year's party to be held in June so get on board and be ready for 2010. 

Members have access to portions of Trace's Official Website that are not available to the general public.  This includes a member exclusive area of the fan boards, wallpapers, downloads, interviews with Trace, etc. 

What a bargain huh!!

Singing "Til The Last Shots Fired" While Smoking a Brisket

Hey ya'll, I'm still swimming in the sweet water of Trace's recent successes, humming that beautiful tune "Til The Last Shot's Fired", while I research authentic Texas brisket recipes. I've smoked some succulent brisket before, but this one is as special as they get and deserves a little more – something.

I got a call yesterday – we are throwing a going away party for James – will you bring a brisket and whatever else you want to cook. Shoot, I would cook Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter dinner all rolled into one for James. He is a United States Marine heading toward his eighth or ninth tour of duty – this time in Afghanistan (he’s been there before). The caller was someone who ate dinner with him last week and heard him say “I haven’t had good Texas brisket in 14 years”.

First, let me say, I have not neglected James. I cooked breakfast (brunch) for him last Sunday with everything you can imagine on the menu, including sausage gravy and biscuits and green camo Easter baskets at each place setting. But, there is no higher honor than to do something for a soldier fighting for my freedom and yours.

The last time he was in Iraq, his girlfriend dumped him, while he was a war!!!!. (he later married that girl) .   I heard he and his buddies had no pillows. So I sewed a camouflage pillowcase and embroidered his name in gold thread on it, squished all the air out of the pillow and taped them tightly together with a note that said, “when you lay your head on this pillow at night, know that there are people who love and care about you beyond what you can imagine”. He left the pillow behind in the Iragi barracks, but the pillowcase is still in his traveling bag.

So what do I do now? I cook the most authentic Texas brisket I can muster. And I will send him a 6-pack of new socks every week. I told him I would never survive if he didn’t let me be in charge of sending him something. It’s the one thing he would agree to. When my brother-in-law was in the first Iraq, his biggest complaint was dirty socks. So I mailed him a 6-pack of new ones every week so he had clean socks when he got up to go out on patrol in that hot, horrible desert. James will have clean socks too; in the mountains of Afghanistan.

Wow, does that thought scare me. So this weekend he will have “authentic” Texas brisket – the smoker is ready- and a hug. The only thing that keeps me from going crazy at the thought is knowing that if I was a man, I would be where James is.  But I'm not, so I will make sure he has an authentic Texas brisket before he leaves.

I love all that Trace does for our troops, the USO tours, the song benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project – so much more than I could do in a lifetime.  Help Trace support our soldiers by downloading "Til The Last Shots Fired" on ITunes.

And, say a prayer for peace.

Congratulation Trace on the Single Record of the Year

The 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards show (April 5th) turned out to be a big night for Trace Adkins fans.  Not only did he give a standing ovation worthy performance of "Til the Last Shots Fired", he was honored with the ACM Single Record of the Year for "You're Gonna Miss This". 

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

Nascar Embraces Trace as Grand Marshal in Martinsville

If you haven't done so yet, hop on over to Nascar.com and read the interview Raygan Swan did with Trace when he recently served as grand marshal for the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

Love the photo of Trace leading fans on the track walk.  He is surrounded by at least a hundred people and Trace is a head taller than every single one of them. 

I enjoy the fact that Trace is not afraid to speak out or give his opinion and get tickled when his comments hit the headlines.  But I don't understand the recent commotion spawned by the Nascar interview (see GAC Headlines).  Trace was asked his opinion of "American Idol" and his comments, for some reason became newsworthy.   I have to ask, why do people even care if Trace likes "American Idol" or not?

I heard Trace's "Marry For Money" on the radio a couple days ago and was anxious to hear what the three radio deejays from the morning show would say about the song.  Unfortunately, they were more interested in Trace's comments about "Idol" and who was kicked off the show this week. 

Good news is they are playing the song.  "Marry For Money" rose to 14 on the Radio and Records (R&R) Country National Airplay Chart this week!

TRACE ADKINS: TUNE IN ALERT!!!

Trace's people released the attached alert today....

Sunday, April 5
44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards
7:00 pm/CT; 8:00pm/ET/PT - CBS


Trace will perform “Til the Last Shot’s Fired” backed by the West Point Glee Club choir during the 44th Annual ACM Awards Show on Sunday, April 5. This special performance is in support of the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), the charity selected this year by the ACM's charitable fund, Lifting Lives.


Fans will be able to download the song at iTunes, with all profits benefiting the WWP, an organization providing extensive support to troops who have been wounded in combat. The song is also included on his 10th album for Capitol Records Nashville: Trace Adkins: "X" (TEN).

 Be Sure to Mark Your Calendars and Don't Miss What's Sure To Be An Unforgettable Performance!