Country music star Trace Adkins is opening up about one of the most frightening moments of his life—an incident that nearly turned fatal.
During a recent appearance on Theo Von’s podcast, the country singer reflected on the night in 1994 when his then-wife, Julie Lauren Curtis, shot him during a heated argument. More than three decades later, Adkins says forgiveness, not resentment, has defined how he remembers that life-changing moment.
A Heated Argument Took A Dangerous Turn
According to Adkins, the confrontation escalated after both had been drinking.
During the argument, Curtis grabbed a handgun. Adkins said he believed she wasn’t going to use it and tried to take it away from her. Instead, the gun discharged, and the bullet passed through his chest, narrowly missing his heart and both lungs.
The injury was life-threatening, and he was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.
Why He Chose To Forgive
Looking back on the incident, Adkins said he never believed his ex-wife intended to kill him.
Instead of holding on to anger, he chose to forgive her and move forward with his life. He explained that carrying bitterness would have only caused more pain, while forgiveness allowed him to heal emotionally after recovering physically.
A Story Of Survival
The shooting remains one of the most dramatic chapters of Adkins’ life, but it also became a reminder of how quickly everything can change.
Despite the trauma, he went on to build one of country music’s most successful careers, releasing numerous hit songs and becoming one of the genre’s most recognizable voices.
Looking Back With Perspective
Today, Adkins speaks about the incident with honesty rather than bitterness.
His willingness to share the story—and the forgiveness that followed—offers a powerful reminder that even life’s darkest moments don’t have to define a person’s future.
View this post on Instagram
