When Trace Adkins gives you a call, his voice is instantly recognizable.
The man’s Darth Vaderish deep tones fuel songs such as “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” and his latest anthem, “Ala-Freakin-Bama.” His speaking voice is just as deep, with a country twang to it.
The popular country singer called The World-Herald to talk about the new song, the tour with Martina McBride and Alabama’s national championship (as an “SEC guy,” he was excited, although he thought it was tainted by Colt McCoy’s injury).
Adkins’ most popular song right now is “Ala-Freakin-Bama.”
“I learned it last year because we were doing a show in Alabama. When we did the song ... they started singing back the ‘roll tide roll’ thing on the chorus unprompted. That was cool.”
The song probably won’t end up on his new album, though.
Eight songs for the album are finished, and Adkins plans to get back into the studio at the end of the month to finish recording. He hasn’t decided on a release date or title yet.
Throughout Adkins’ country career, his releases have had a mixture of silly and fun songs (“Honky Tonk Badonkadonk”) and serious tunes (“You’re Gonna Miss This” or “All I Ask For Anymore”).
He said his new album is no different.
“I think that the process of making an album should reflect life, and it’s not always up and it’s not always happy and it’s not always fun, but hopefully you can strike a balance. Sometimes the fun, up-tempo will outweigh the more sad times,” Adkins said. “This album, I think, is kind of a reflection of where I’m at right now. I’m feeling good, I’m healthy, I’m happy, and my career is going fine.”
Adkins has enjoyed hitting the road with McBride. Getting the tour together was a simple matter of their managers getting together, but Adkins said he couldn’t be more excited.
“I have to say that I’ve been a Martina McBride fan for so long. In addition to what a quality human being and good lady that she is, her vocal ability is always just amazing,” he said. “I’m such a fan of the woman’s voice. It’s almost freakish the decibel level that can come out of that tiny little woman.”
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