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Trace Adkins is revisiting the night he nearly died after being shot by his then-wife, Julie Curtis, during an argument in 1994. More than three decades later, the country star has managed to find humor in the terrifying incident, joking that Curtis took their disagreement considerably further than necessary. Adkins also explained why he chose not to press charges, insisting that he does not believe his former wife understood what would happen when she pulled the trigger.

Trace Adkins Uses Dark Humor To Recall The Shooting

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Adkins discussed the shooting during a Tuesday appearance on Theo Von’s “This Past Weekend” podcast. “That took it a little far, I thought, ‘that was uncalled for, that was totally uncalled for,’” the 64-year-old singer said in a joking tone.

He then suggested the couple could have resolved their conflict without resorting to violence. “Just leave; let’s just call it quits and we don’t have to go that far,” Adkins added.

The shooting occurred during an argument about Adkins’ drinking. According to the musician, Curtis had become angry because he did not want to leave their home. Although the confrontation nearly killed him, Adkins said he never believed that Curtis had deliberately intended to cause such catastrophic injuries.

The Country Star Says His Ex-Wife ‘Thought It Was A Toy’

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Adkins told Von he had never previously seen Curtis handle or fire a gun, although he knew she owned one. “I don’t think she even had any idea what that gun was gonna do,” he said. “I’d never seen her hold a gun, I’d never seen her shoot a gun. I knew she had one, but I’d never seen her use it. I don’t think she knew what was about to happen when she pulled that trigger, she thought it was a toy.”

Adkins’ comments reflect his personal interpretation of Curtis’ intentions. He has consistently maintained that he does not believe she was attempting to kill him. However, the consequences were nearly fatal. Adkins said the bullet “went straight through my heart and both my lungs” before exiting through his right arm. The extent of the damage meant that he required emergency medical treatment and open-heart surgery.

Trace Adkins Has Few Memories Of The Violent Incident

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Adkins admitted that his memories of the moments immediately following the gunshot remain limited. “I just remember getting off the floor, taking a few steps and then going back down, that’s all I remember,” he shared.

The singer was subsequently airlifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, where doctors worked to save his life. According to Adkins, medical professionals told him that the close range of the gunfire paradoxically played a role in his survival. Because the weapon was fired “at point blank” range, he said the bullet “didn’t have time to mushroom” and create even more extensive damage as it moved through his body.

Adkins survived the initial wound, but the surgery and recovery created another grueling ordeal. “The recovery from something like that, that hurts, they don’t care, they just stretch everything and break stuff,” he explained. “They’re just trying to get to your heart to save your life.”

The Singer Refused To Press Charges Against Julie Curtis

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Adkins and Curtis divorced later in 1994, but the musician decided not to pursue criminal charges against her. He also said he did not hold onto resentment over what happened. “I’ve just always felt like I don’t think she meant to do it – I just don’t think she thought it was gonna hurt me,” Adkins explained. “She thought I was indestructible.”

The singer previously reflected on his unlikely survival during a 2022 interview with PEOPLE. “It wasn’t my time to go,” he said.

Adkins has continued visiting a cardiologist routinely throughout the more than three decades since the shooting. Despite the severity of his injuries, he said the physical pain did not leave as lasting an impression as the emotional hardships he has experienced.

“It was painful, but it didn’t sear my memory,” he shared. “The physical pain, broken bones and surgeries and bullets and getting beat up and cut, has never really bothered me. I have a high tolerance for it. It’s the broken hearts that left the deepest scars.”

Trace Adkins Has Been Married Four Times

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Curtis was the second of Adkins’ four wives. The “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” singer was first married to Barbara Lewis, with whom he shares two daughters. Following his divorce from Curtis, Adkins married Rhonda Forlaw in 1997. The former couple welcomed three daughters during their marriage before separating in 2014.

Adkins married his current wife, actress Victoria Pratt, in 2019. His longtime friend and fellow country star Blake Shelton reportedly officiated their New Orleans wedding.

The Popular Country Music Star Opens Up About The Night His Ex-Wife Shot Him Through His Heart first appeared on The Blast