"Lifted" Among New Non-Musical Projects For Trace

According to Country Standard Time, once Trace finishes his current run on Toby Keith's America's Toughest tour, he will head back to Nashville to make more music, and to focus on the non-musical things he has going for him. Numerous news outlets are reporting on one of those "things" he is working on - a new Indy film titled “Lifted”.

The short, $675,000 film is about a father who encourages his son to pursue his dream of becoming a singer against strong obstacles. (Trace's role in the film has not been released, but we know he does not appear as the "father".) The project introduces twelve-year-old Uriah Shelton in the central role of Henry Matthews, and includes Nicki Aycox, James Handy, American Idol’s Ruben Studdard and, of course our guy, country music singer Trace Adkins.

Alabama Gov. Bob Riley's office announced last week that Alan Hunter and Hugh Hunter, two Birmingham filmmakers with an Academy Award to their credit, will produce the first film to qualify for economic incentives under the state's new law designed to attract more entertainment industry business. Their credits include the 2003 Academy Award for Best Short Film, "Johnny Flynton."

They began filming Monday on "Lifted."

Lexi Alexander, whose credits include Punisher: War Zone and Green Street Hooligans, is directing this film about a singing prodigy who gets inspired to win a contest when his marine father is deployed to Afghanistan.

“At the end of a long audition day a young actor walked in who grew up in Mobile, Alabama and didn't know that he could sing until a few weeks prior to the audition,” says Alexander.

“Aaaah, in my next life I want to be handed the sheet music to AIN'T NO SUNSHINE, listen to the original a couple of times and then be able to sing it perfectly a cappella. That's what URIAH SHELTON did in the room, after he broke our hearts with a beautiful and emotional reading. Needless to say, we all believe wholeheartedly that young URIAH was destined to be in our movie.”

Alexander promises frequent updates on the movie production. “You will be updated about LIFTED a lot, since one of our Executive Producers, TOMMY ALASTRA, is an internet genius who is on a mission to create awareness for independent films on the web with his company TENTPOLESTER. They will start a campaign for LIFTED within the next few days and I will let all of you know where to go for updates.”

"This movie will employ more than 160 Alabama residents in front of and behind the cameras, and it is very clear from the script that the story is set in Birmingham and rural Alabama," Riley said.'Lifted' will be first film for Coronet.

Trace To Appear On Celebrity Apprentice Pal, Gene Simmons', Reality TV Show

It was just announced that Trace will appear on Gene Simmons’ “reality” television show,"Gene Simmons Family Jewels" airing Sunday, August 9 at 9:30pm ET/8:30pm CT. As you remember Trace and Gene appeared together on the 1st Celebrity Apprentice which aired during the 2008-2009 television season.

This is as close to Trace has come to another “reality” show since completing Celebrity Apprentice in March 2009.

In an interview with Reality Rocks he said, “I can't imagine any other reality show that I would even consider doing. This is it for me.” Obviously he never imagined that Gene Simmons would call.
One of the things I came away with after watching Celebrity Apprentice was admiration for Trace’s people skills and his ability to judge a person’s character. Despite both being “alpha male” types, Trace said that he and Gene never clashed.

“If you can't laugh at it, if you take everything he says and does too seriously, you're missing the point of it all--of how fun it can be to hang out with him and laugh at some of the absolutely ridiculous things he'll say. I laughed at him so much. And he knew that I got it, that I understood what he was saying most of the time. That's just how I always took the stuff Gene said. I thought he was hilarious,” he said.

In the episode, titled "Rootin' Tootin' Gene," Simmons travels to Nashville as a favor to KISS' manager and takes a promising but bickering country band under his wing. Adkins stops by the studio to surprise his former "Celebrity Apprentice" co-star and friend and give his expert opinion.

“I love Gene. He's awesome. Of all the things that I'll take with me from that experience, one of the things I'll cherish the most is getting to hang out with Gene Simmons. That guy's a trip!”, he told Reality Rocks.

This episode will also air on Monday, August 10th at 1:30 p.m.

Missed Trace By a Couple Seconds - Just Wait Till Midnight

So, the other person in this house finally gives up the remote to head to the shower - thank God - and I hit the Guide button which says "Trace Adkins" 9:00 to 10: 00 P.M.
I said, "hell".
It was 10:00 p.m. and despite hitting numerous bottons, I found that I couldn't see Trace again untl 12:00 a.m. Yes midnight.  I had just missed DirectTV Concert Series presenting Trace Adkins performing the Acedemy Music nominated single song of he year "You're Gonna Miss This", and other highlights including "American Man" and "Honky Tonk Badonkydonk". Is  that how you spell it?
I could do without seeing Trace perform "You're Gonna Miss This" again.  Yet I would stay up until the end of the world just to just hear a new performance of anything else.
I just don't like YGMT.   Never have.  The song is just too mainstream which accounts for its mainstream appeal and awards, etc.
I love all the Trace songs that push the limit or that are just true country music.  I realize Trace has to perform outside the traditional, just to be heard, but I resent having to wade through po?p tarts just to hear the true country greats.
Which reminds me that I heard the new single -what's its name - on the radio this weekend.  Okay its another of those mainstreams that I hate which means it will probably be a number one.  Still it was Trace - and if its Trace it is country.
The TV is programmed to automatically switch to Trace showings.   Don't tell okay?