Trace Adkins: Battling the Demons of Alcohol

Country singer Trace Adkins is probably best known for singing the popular country songs “Honkey Tonk Badonkadonk,” “Brown Chicken Brown Cow,” as well as for being a contestant on “Celebrity Apprentice”.  While sober for many years, Adkins has recently fallen off the wagon again.  In January of 2014, while on a Jamaican cruise ship, Adkins got into a face-to-face altercation with his look-alike Michael Larsen and it was a signal of something being very wrong in the singers life.

Adkins was aboard a ship on a cruise in the Caribbean in which he was to entertain guests and as the ship sailed out of Miami to Mexico, the singer tweeted “Up here in my suite, overlooking the pools. Behave yourselves.”  According to people who witnessed the altercation with Larsen, the singer had been at the ships bar and was drinking heavily and he became angered when he saw his impersonator.

The singer had felt for a long time that the impersonator had been almost like a stalker who followed him around the country. When he saw Larsen on the ship, it took the animosity the singer felt to a whole new level.  Adkins began screaming at the impersonator,” This has gone on long enough…take the ****** hat off!” The impersonator acquiesced to the request and stood there while Adkins screamed in his face, the attack was entirely verbal in nature and no blows were exchanged between the two.

Some fans that were on the cruise to see the singer entertain are angry about the outburst and feel put out by the situation.  The passengers feel they were deceived by the cruise ship officials who had said Adkins left on a family emergency.  Mr. Adkin’s camp is now trying to make amends to the passengers by offering free concert tickets to a future event and a meet-and-greet with the singer.  Some are placated by the gesture, but others feel it is too little too late, because they had traveled considerably to attend the event.

The 52-year old singer has canceled the remainder of his performances for the cruise which was to last for a week.  In his autobiography, “A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions of a Freethinking Roughneck,” Adkins detailed numerous incidents which were close calls with death and he speaks out honestly about his battles with personal demons.

Shortly after the altercation with Michael Larsen, Adkin’s publicist released the following statement, “Trace has entered a treatment facility after a setback in his battle with alcoholism. As he faces these issues head on, we ask that his family’s privacy will be respected.”

Each day, average people and celebrity’s alike face a standoff with alcohol and it is a conscience decision as to whether or not to pick up the bottle.  Adkins has decided to seek treatment, which is the absolute best thing he can do in the situation, because he is a man who is aware of his problem and has decided to be proactive about it.  Thankfully, with time and treatment Mr. Adkins can overcome his alcoholism struggles and get back to entertaining his fans and enjoying his life to the fullest again.

Related Coverage

CNN- Trace Adkins goes to rehab

TMZ- Trace Adkins impersonator fight

Yahoo News- Alcohol rehab for Trace

Trace Adkins Photographs taken