‘Big Time’ Rooted In Gospel

Big Trace Adkins’ second album, “Big Time,” will feature the tall Texan’s version and arrangement of the folk/gospel standard, “Wayfaring Stranger.”

Adkins has had No. 1 country hits with “Every Light In the House,” “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing” and “I Left Something Turned on At Home,” but some of his early training was in gospel, and he says what it taught him carries over into every song he does now.

“If you’re not singing it from the heart and meaning what you’re saying, the people out there are going to know it; they’re going to see through you like a glass pane. I’ve always tried to stick to songs that I could sing with conviction. It’s a lot easier that way.”

“Big Time” is scheduled for release in October.

Keith looks to young fans

Another large fellow, under-rated hit man Toby Keith says that with his new album, “Dream Walkin’,” he hopes to re-attract some of the crowd that elevated country music to unprecedented heights in the early ‘90s and then moved on.

“I’m a little bit concerned with the fact that we’ve lost some of the young audience who’ve gone over to the great music that’s going on in the pop and alternative fields,” Keith says.

“My approach to this whole album was to try to draw some fans who are not listening to country right now. We need them to come back over.”

No stress for Chesney

Twenty-nine-year-old Kenny Chesney, whose third BNA Records album is titled “I Will Stand,” says he hopes to be around a long time but doesn’t plan to get too obsessive about it.

“I made a resolution last New Year’s Eve to have as much fun as I can with all this,” he explains. “Well, I don’t know how long the good Lord’s going to let me be in this music business or even be this successful at it, so while I’m here I want to enjoy every minute.”