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Trace Adkins - A Southern Man Sings His Heart Out

The award winning, Serepta, Louisiana native Trace Adkins filled both the seats of the convention center at the Riviera Hotel and Casino and hearts of all in attendance with his unique, soulful style of country music.  The closing days of the National Finals Rodeo brought country and western entertainers to virtually every possible venue in Las Vegas, but none had as much popularity as Adkins, who is a country music legend.  Non-country fans may better know him as a finalist on Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice, in his recurring role as the voice of Elvin on the adult comedy King of the Hill, or his role in the film adaptation of the Michael Connelly book, The Lincoln Lawyer.

Adkins started the night off with his pulse pounding, tough guy song, Whoop a Man’s Ass, and followed with the single he originally sang with Blake Shelton, Hillbilly Bone. The large screen behind him often played the music video of the song he was singing and the baseball video to his song Swing was the next to play and then  I’m Going to Marry for Money, Chrome and his 2006 number one hit Ladies Love Country Boys, much to the enjoyment of his faithful fans.

Trace slowed the show down with his ballad You’re Going to Miss This and then talked to the audience, showing his playful and humorous side. He had been in town for almost a week as the host of the American Country Awards on Monday, which included some backstage antics with WWE superstar Big Show on WWE RAW. He made a joke about how dry it is in the desert and a fan yelled out that she loved him; he swiftly replied, “I love you too, Mom” to the laughter of the crowd.

He continued the show with This Ain’t No Love Song and One Hot Mama (Adkins tells the people that this is his father’s favorite video due to the sexy actress in a skimpy bikini); the next song, Just Fishin’, featured one of his daughters and a video that makes his mother happy because it features one of her “grandbabies.”

The show continues with two songs from his newest album: the album’s title track, Proud to Be Here, and Million Dollar View (which he says is his obligatory “suck up” song to his wife, which he says he does on every album). Adkins talks about Christmas and sings a song for the season since he only has two remaining concerts for the year, The Christmas Song, stating, “I have Christmas—not holiday—spirit and if that bothers anyone, well, I don’t give a damn.”

Adkins let down his traditional ponytail and turned into a more southern rocker style to cover the ACE song, How Long and the song made popular by Larry Graham, One in a Million You. He then put his hair back up to finish the show with Songs About Me (a song that most country music listeners can relate to) and his biggest crossover hit from the same album, Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.

Trace Adkins has one of the most unique, yet memorable, bass voices in country music and showcased his vocal talents to the delight of everyone in attendance. His affable Southern personality made it evident as to why he is considered one of the best entertainers in country music.