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. 18, 2008 — Trace Adkins was surprised when he found out he was receiving a star in the Music City Walk of Fame this month. He was even more surprised to find out that one of his fellow inductees is a huge Trace Adkins fan.
"This man can sing!" the incomparable Little Richard exclaimed at the induction. "He’s good! God has blessed him. He’s really good. This guy’s got it goin’ on."
Not only has the R&B legend heard Trace’s recordings, he’s also seen the "Muddy Water" video, which features a guest appearance by Trace’s "Celebrity Apprentice" competitor Stephen Baldwin.
"Trace made me wanna go in the muddy water," Little Richard said. "I am serious. That’ll make you wanna get right in the water. Trace is almost preachin’! I’m goin’, ‘Take me to the water!’ Woooooo!"
"Little Richard knows who I am!" Trace beamed. "That’s unbelievable! He started talkin’ about ‘Muddy Water’ a little while ago, and I’m like, ‘Is anybody else listenin’ to this?’"
Indeed, it is documented. While the "Tutti Frutti" singer, noted for his off-the-cuff shrieks and outlandish costumes, is a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, he’s no stranger to country music. He sang a duet with Tanya Tucker on the 1994 album Rhythm Country & Blues, which was nominated for a Country Music Association Award. And two of the songs he wrote eventually became country hits: "Slippin’ And Slidin’," for Billy "Crash" Craddock in 1973; and "Lucille (You Won’t Do Your Daddy’s Will)," for Waylon Jennings in 1983.
"I love country music," Little Richard insists. "I’ve always loved it from a child. I’m from Macon, Ga., so you know I can hear them [country artists] singin’ in Macon. They ain’t got to have no microphone."
Fully recovered from his encounter with Little Richard, Trace is looking forward to the release next Tuesday of his tenth album, X. The same night, GAC will premiere Trace Adkins: X (TEN) Days, a special shot during a September USO tour in the Middle East. Trace also appears next week in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, along with Miley Cyrus, James Taylor and Darius Rucker.
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