CATCHING UP WITH TRACE ADKINS

4x Host Of The Ultimate Cowboy Showdown On The Insp Network

In the world of entertainment, there are always new and exciting shows that capture our attention. From gripping dramas to heartwarming comedies, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. And now, getting ready to air its fourth season, the Ultimate Cowboy Showdown combines the thrill of competition with the rugged spirit of the Wild West. This exhilarating TV show, hosted by the legendary country music artist, Trace Adkins, takes viewers on a journey to discover who has what it takes to be the ultimate cowboy. With intense challenges, breathtaking landscapes, and a cast of talented contestants, this show is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. So, saddle up and get ready for an adrenalinefueled adventure unlike any other. “Ultimate Cowboy Showdown” is a must-watch for fans of adrenaline-pumping competitions and those who appreciate the timeless allure of the cowboy way of life.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Trace Adkins as the filming of Season 4 of Ultimate Cowboy Showdown was wrapping up. I was able to spend some time with him to talk to him about the show, his movies, music, and his legendary career.

ROB: WITH ALL THE REALITY SHOWS OUT THERE, WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO BE THE HOST OF THE ULTIMATE COWBOY SHOWDOWN?

Trace: Andrew Glassman came to me about eight years ago and said he had this idea for this kind of show. We shot a sizzle reel of what Andrew thought would be the idea for the show and went with it. After a while, I just forgot about it, then about four years later, he called me and said, “Hey, I found somebody to pick that show up.” So INSP came along and said that this is something they’d be interested in doing. We did that first season, not really knowing what we were getting into, but it worked out great and we had a great time doing it. People really seemed to enjoy it and so here we are in Season Four.

ROB: HOW DID YOU FEEL AFTER THAT FIRST SEASON?

Trace: The funny thing was I started having people come up to me, and most of the time, they would come up and go, “How do I get on that show?”, “Those aren’t real cowboys? I can do that!!”, and I was like, ”Okay, sign up, I dare you.” And so I knew immediately that this was something that people were going to be interested in and that people were going to talk about.

ROB: WHY DO YOU THINK THE IDEA OF BEING A COWBOY IS SUCH AN APPEALING THING RIGHT NOW?

Trace: You know, I think there’s something in our DNA. I think that we want to harken back to a time when it was a little more romantic, perhaps, or at least we believe that it was. This is the closest thing that we have in this country to medieval times where you had knights jousting with one another on horseback.

These are hard-working people. These cowboys that we have on this show, this is what they do for a living. What I’ve been amazed by, is just the knowledge that these contestants have about the business, the industry, and even veterinary stuff. These aren’t just people that know how to throw a rope, or ride a bucking bronc or something. They are knowledgeable about every aspect of the business of cattle, horses, ranching, and more.

ROB: HOW DIFFICULT IS IT FOR YOU TO SEND PEOPLE HOME?

Trace: That’s the hardest thing about this, especially this season. I know every one of these people, I know their names, and some of them I know their backstories because I’ve become invested in these people. But you know, that has to happen, it’s part of the competition.

Yesterday, I was watching these guys, and there were six of them out there cutting some longhorns out of a herd of cows. I saw them as a unit making a mistake, and I turned to Cash Myers and said, “I feel right now, it’s almost impossible for me not to ride my horse out there and tell them you’re messing this up.” but I had to just stand back and watch the inevitable wreck happen.

ROB: WHAT DO YOU THINK THE LINE IS BETWEEN BEING A COWBOY AND PLAYING THE GAME?

Trace: On The Apprentice, I was playing the game too, but you didn’t see that. I just did it in a way that I thought was subtle. These guys have to come into this competition with the burden of the cowboy code, which sometimes prevents them from being able to play the game in a ruthless manner. It’s a very intricate dance that they’re trying to do; stick to the code, but still play the game. It’s interesting to watch.

ROB: WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS A PART OF THAT COWBOY CODE?

Trace: The code is all-encompassing and it’s the way that these people try to live their lives. If I had to describe it in a nutshell, it would be to look at the situation that you’re faced with and just do the next right thing. You just have to think, “What’s the thing I should do right now, that is within my ethical boundaries and the right thing to do.” It’s just as simple as that. Sometimes it’s sacrificing your advancement to help somebody else, maybe that’s what you have to do at that moment.

ROB: WHAT ELSE DO YOU HAVE COMING FOR YOU IN THE FUTURE?

Trace: I just shot a movie and we’re going to tour again this year. Last year, I didn’t get to tour very much because I was doing Monarch on Fox.

ROB: YOU’VE CERTAINLY HAD YOUR FAIR SHARE OF HITS. YOU’VE BEEN A COUNTRY MUSIC ICON FOR MORE THAN A QUARTER OF A CENTURY, WHICH IS AMAZING. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT STAYING SO BUSY?

Trace: I do keep busy and I’m not going to say that I like to keep busy. I stay busier than I want to be, I’ll say that. I’m kind of getting to that point where it’s like, “Hey, when do I get to slow down a little bit and enjoy some of the success that I’ve worked for.” I’m about to get to that point I think. It’s the travel that has really become intolerable. But I’m going to be on tour and we’re going to go at it again this year. And I still have other television and movie stuff on the itinerary. So, that slowing down thing, I don’t know when that’s going to happen.

ROB: YOUR ALBUMS ARE JUST FUN TO LISTEN TO, ESPECIALLY THE LAST ONE WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT DUETS. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE PROCESS OF PRODUCING YOUR MUSIC?

Trace: I’m so proud of that last record. I want to let that one marinate a little bit because it’s good. If people want to hear my latest thing, I want that one to still be the latest thing that they hear because I don’t think it’s received its due. It’s a very wellput-together record, and very wellproduced. All the songs are great.

As far as producing, you know, these days, it’s just hard to get any attention if you’re not the flavor of the month. I just do what I want to do and don’t worry too much about what the trend may be or whatever. I was told by a guy when I first started out, he said, “Look, here’s the thing, it is probably going to hurt your feelings from time to time, but there’s nothing you can do about it. Music appreciation is an opinion and everybody’s is different.”

ROB: IF THERE IS SOMEONE THAT HASN’T HEARD OF TRACE ADKINS, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT THEM TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?

Trace: I’ve tried to always challenge myself by getting out of my comfort zone and doing things that challenge me. I’m not an actor, but I keep putting myself in those situations, and it forces me to grow. If you don’t get out of your comfort zone, you just don’t grow. I didn’t know how to host a show like this, but I kept challenging myself to try to learn how to get better at it. It’s a beautiful place to be when an opportunity comes along, and you get to make the decision whether or not you do it by asking yourself one simple question. “Would that be fun to do?” And if the answer to that question is, yes, go do it. Don’t worry about how much it pays or anything like that and that’s where I’m at. ROB: WHEN YOU EVENTUALLY GET A CHANCE TO TAKE THAT BREAK AND NOT DO SO MUCH, WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH YOUR TIME?

Trace: I’ve got a lot of equipment that’s just being neglected. I come from a blue-collar background and I worked in the oil field for 10 years before I got a break doing this stuff. I have a lot of property and I like to work because I still need tangible results sometimes at the end of the day. In this business, music, television, and movies, you get to the end of the day, and there’s nothing to look back on and say, “I did a good job today.” and there’s the evidence right there. I need that immediate gratification and so when I’m working on the land, building something, or cleaning something up I need that when I get to the end of the day, I’m sweating and tired so I can see what I did.

About Trace Adkins

IN HIS STORIED CAREER IN COUNTRY MUSIC, TRACE ADKINS HAS SOLD OVER 11 MILLION ALBUMS, CHARTED 40 SINGLES ON Billboard’s Country Airplay Chart, earned numerous awards, multiple Grammy nominations, and garnered over two billion streams. He has been a Grand Ole Opry member for nearly two decades, the Louisiana native is known for his dynamic baritone, fiery live performance, and notable roles as an actor in film and TV. Since his 1996 breakout debut DREAMIN’ OUT LOUD delivered numbers like “Every Light In The House,” which hit the Top 5 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, and #1 “This Ain’t (No Thinkin’ Thing),”. Adkins has pioneered a mix of classic Country minded traditionalism and adventurous, good-natured showmanship, breaking open new avenues in modern Country through fun-filled hits like “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” and “Hillbilly Bone” with Blake Shelton. Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his debut with 2021’s release THE WAY I WANNA GO (Verge Records), the 25-song album has been applauded by Billboard as “a creative tour de force that serves up the lyrical and stylistic diversity that would make his hero [Ronnie] Milsap proud,” From profound traditional balladry to clever-Country party anthems, the Mickey Jack Cones and Derek George produced project features special guests Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Melissa Etheridge, Pitbull, Snoop Dogg, Stevie Wonder on harmonica, and more. Adkins’ headline SOMEWHERE IN AMERICA 2023 TOUR is underway and spans coast to coast throughout the year. To learn more about Trace Adkins, visit him at traceadkins.com.