NASHVILLE: Trace Adkins has shared new details about one of the most traumatic chapters of his life, revealing how he survived a point-blank shooting by his then-wife, Julie Curtis, during the collapse of their marriage in 1994.

Speaking on the This Past Weekend with Theo Von podcast, the 64-year-old country music star reflected on his four marriages and the violent incident that nearly claimed his life more than three decades ago.

Adkins said the confrontation escalated when Curtis asked him to leave their home, but he refused. As he attempted to take a firearm from her, she pulled the trigger at close range.

More than 100 words into his emotional account, Trace Adkins described the gunshot as a “kill shot,” explaining that the bullet entered beneath his left arm and exited below his right arm after passing through his heart and both lungs. Doctors later told him he survived because the bullet traveled straight through his body before it could expand, significantly increasing his chances of survival.

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The singer said he remembers very little immediately after the shooting, recalling that he briefly stood up before collapsing again. He described the recovery process following surgery on his heart and lungs as the most painful part of the ordeal.

Despite the seriousness of the incident, Adkins said he never believed Curtis intended to kill him. He explained that she had no experience handling firearms and likely did not understand the weapon’s destructive power.

Instead of pursuing legal action, Adkins decided not to press charges. The couple divorced later in 1994, bringing their troubled marriage to an end.

Years later, Adkins rebuilt both his personal and professional life. He married Canadian actress Victoria Pratt in 2019 and recently spoke about his patriotic single, American Made, while praising his wife for becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen.

The country music veteran said the experience remains one of the defining moments of his life, offering a rare glimpse into a deeply personal event that shaped his journey both on and off the stage.