Trace Adkins has been making a name for himself in country music for 30 years, having released his debut album, Dreamin’ Out Loud, in 1996. He’s celebrating that anniversary with a major tour this year, but according to Adkins, fans may not see him much after the run ends.
Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, Adkins was asked whether he has “another 30” years in him, to which the 64-year-old replied in the negative. “I don’t have another 30 in me. I do not,” he said. “No. I’m going to give ’em this year, I’m on tour hard this year, but then I can’t promise you anything after that.” Adkins joked that he “knew 10 years ago” it was time to take a step back, “but my accountant was like, ‘No.’”
Reflecting on his longevity in the business, Adkins was nothing but grateful for the fact that he’s been able to sustain his career for three decades. “I just can’t believe I’m still around and maybe somewhat relevant still,” he shared. “I’m just proud to be here and I’m glad that I’ve had fans that have stuck with me all these decades. I’m going to give them another year.”
Adkins’ 30th Anniversary Tour began on January 16 and runs most of the year, visiting cities across the country like Fort Worth, Orlando and more, with a final show on September 19 in Charles Town, West Virgina. Adkins will also make two stops at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on May 22 and 23.
He again remarked on his longevity in the business when the tour was announced, sharing in a statement, “I recently read that if you lined up all the country music artists who ‘break through at all,’ the majority cluster tightly around 5-7 years of an active career. Only about 10% have a career spanning 20 years. As I embark on my 30th year of touring, I find myself in the single-digit percentile of artists. I am humbled that my fans and promoters have let me do this for so long. Hope to see you one more time in 2026.”
The Louisiana native has also stayed busy outside of music, having acted in multiple projects. His latest is the film I Can Only Imagine 2, the sequel to the 2018 film I Can Only Imagine. The faith-based movie is based on the story behind MercyMe’s hit song of the same name and features Adkins as the band’s manager.
The country music icon’s signature humor was also on display while discussing the first film at the premiere of the new sequel, with Adkins joking, “They didn’t pay me anything. I didn’t even get paid for that. I’m going to have to talk to somebody about this.”
Reflecting on the 2018 film’s success, Adkins noted that “it’s a great story” and MercyMe lead singer Bart Millard “has a great story.” “I was just happy to be a little part in that first movie, and then they wanted me to come back and I was like, ‘Absolutely,’” he said. “These guys are a lot of fun to work with. There’s no pressure, no stress on the set. I always like that.”
