Why Trace Adkins Forgives His Ex-Wife for Shooting and Nearly Killing Him

Country music stalwart Trace Adkins harbors no resentment toward his second wife, Julie Curtis, nearly three decades after a harrowing 1994 domestic dispute that nearly cost him his life.

During an appearance on Theo Von’s This Past Weekend podcast, the genre veteran reflected on the violent confrontation that culminated in Curtis shooting him at point-blank range. “Looking back, that certainly felt a bit extreme,” he remarked with a touch of humor. “Completely unnecessary. We could have just parted ways without taking it that far.”

When questioned about whether his ex-wife genuinely intended to cause fatal harm when she pulled the trigger, Adkins offered a forgiving perspective: “I honestly don’t think so. I had never seen her handle or fire a weapon before. I knew she owned one, but it was entirely unfamiliar territory for me.”

“She certainly didn’t anticipate the consequences of that moment,” he continued, noting that firearms were commonplace in his life then and remain so today. “She assumed it was nothing more than a toy. She was frustrated and wanted me to leave, and when I stood my ground, she placed the barrel under my left arm. The round passed straight through, exiting my right arm.”

Trauma surgeons later informed Adkins that his survival was entirely due to the extreme close range at which the shot was fired, which prevented the bullet from gaining enough velocity to expand upon impact. Even so, the ordeal demanded immediate, life-saving emergency surgery, followed six months later by open-heart surgery to properly repair his septum, which had failed to heal correctly.

Despite the physical toll, Adkins bears no lasting animosity and notably chose not to press charges. When Von asked if he had truly forgiven his ex-wife, Adkins answered without hesitation: “Absolutely. I always believed she never meant to do it. Deep down, I think she just viewed me as invincible.”

Now happily married to Canadian actress Victoria Pratt since 2019, Adkins has experienced marriage four times throughout his life. His first union was to Barbara Lewis, with whom he shares daughters Tarah and Sarah. Following his marriage to Curtis from 1991 to 1994, he wed music industry consultant Rhonda Forlaw in 1997, welcoming three daughters—Mackenzie, Brianna, and Trinity—before their separation in 2014, according to People.

Throughout his illustrious career, Adkins has cemented his legacy with 20 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 and an impressive 37 tracks on the Hot Country Songs chart, boasting four number-one hits.

Watch Trace Adkins’ complete, candid interview above.

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