Trace Adkins on the CMA Awards Red Carpet at "The 42nd Annual CMA Awards," on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008, broadcast live from the Sommet Center in Nashville on the ABC Television Network. Photo courtesy of the Country Music Association.
Nov. 17, 2008 — Trace Adkins took a big chunk out of his schedule in September to visit American troops in the Middle East on a USO tour, and the trip is documented in a GAC special, Trace Adkins: X (TEN) Days.
The title is appropriate. Trace spent 10 days overseas, played to 10,000 soldiers and has his tenth album, X, on the books for release Nov. 25, the same date the GAC special premieres.
"It’s our duty to make sure those men and women know we know [and appreciate] them putting their lives on the line for us everyday," Trace says. "You are playing for a crowd that is more appreciative and responsive than any other crowd you’ll ever play for again, and you just want to make them smile. That’s what it was about for me."
Trace made sure he spent time with troops in some of the most isolated areas of Iraq and Afghanistan, performing 11 shows at forward operating bases. The set list featured several songs from the new album, including "Muddy Water" and "Hillbilly Rich," plus such familiar hits as "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk," "Ladies Love Country Boys" and "I Got My Game On." Trace also delivered the military tribute "Arlington."
The special includes concert footage, one-on-one conversations with the soldiers at the front and a personal reunion between J.W. Williams, of Trace’s management team, and son Trey Williams, currently serving in the sand.
Trace Adkins: X (TEN) Days debuts Nov. 25 at 9 p.m. ET.
Get Social With GAC
Message Boards
Join the conversation about your favorite artists.
Fan Photo Galleries
Share your photos with country music fans.
Superfan
Watch GAC. Earn points. Get cool prizes.
Blog
Stay up-to-date with all of our daily country news.
facebook
Become a fan on Facebook.
twitter
Follow us on Twitter.
YouTube
Watch our videos on our YouTube channel.