Tracy Darrell "Trace" Adkins was born on January 13th, 1962, in Springfield, Louisiana. He first began performing with a gospel quartet while still attending high school in the nearby town of Sarepta. He continued to sing gospel throughout his years at Louisiana Tech University, where he studied petroleum technolegy. After working on an oil rig for a few years after school, he embarked on what he call his "true musical education" - playing one honky tonk after another. While singing at Tillie's and Lucy's Pub in Nashville, Adkins was spotted at a Capitol Records executive and was signed to the label.
