Trace Adkins and West Point Glee Club Deliver at the ACM Awards
I can't say there was much of anything Sunday night (April 5) that really piqued my interest during the Academy of Country Music Awards show telecast. I saw mostly the same artists, heard many of the same songs and was rather disappointed in many of the performances, save maybe Jamey Johnson or Lee Ann Womack. However, there was one moment and one performance in particular that made this show award-winning in my book. This would be when Lt. Andrew Kinard, a soldier whom had been injured in Iraq, so eloquently presented Trace Adkins and the West Point Glee Club performing "Til the Last Shot's Fired." He told the audience, "As you listen to this song, please consider: It's not about the war, it's about the warrior."
Without doubt, Adkins and the glee club delivered a most compelling and haunting performance. I spoke with Adkins about this particular song right before his release of his latest album, X, and besides sharing that he had to go all the way to the Pentagon for permission to use this particular glee club, he also discussed his feelings on the song's grave topic. "This song asks the question, ‘What if?' What if soldiers are in this kind of ... I don't want to say purgatory, but that's kind of what it is. What if these soldiers are in a place where they can't rest until the last shot's fired, until war doesn't exist? What if only then they can find peace? I think if we knew that, and if that were true, there probably wouldn't be wars anymore. So I thought that was a real unique way of looking at it. And it pays tribute to soldiers but at the same time asks that question."
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
Jim C. says:
As a retired Marine and a veteran of both Iraq wars…I couldn’t agree more Whitney! This part of the show caught me off guard and I was overcome with emotion and pride in Country Music! A big Semper Fi to the Academy of Country Music!!
missy says:
First of all, a big Semper Fi and a huge THANK YOU to you Jim C.. For it is the men and woman such as yourself and Lt. Andrew Kinard who allow us our freedoms. I to was floored by the introduction to the song as well as the performance by Mr. Trace Adkins and the West Point Glee Club. I especially loved the parts of the song that highlighted each period of time. Being the daughter of a Marine (peace time) and the daughter in law of a decorated World War II Veteran, I have been blessed to know firsthand the heart and soul of warriors. Men and women who show us the courage and strength to face our worst fears for us. May the Good Lord Bless and be with them all.
Leisa says:
This was far and away the best performance of the entire show. I got cold chills the first time I heard this song on Trace’s CD, and seeing it performed live brought tears to my eyes and a lump to my throat.
Kristy says:
I really enjoyed the article. As a wife of a Marine I have to say this part of the country music awards was the BEST I have seen in years. The only thing in your article, Whitney, is Lt. Kinard is a Marine not a soldier. And he will be a Marine his whole life until he dies. Thank you for your appreciation for service members and their dedication to duty. God Bless Trace and all service members.
Pam says:
I would have liked it even better if he had sang the entire song. On the CD its an almost 5 minute song, last night it was much, much shorter. I love the song and would have appreciated hearing the whole thing.
Diane Sneed says:
Dear Mr. Adkins, I just watched the video with you and the west point glee club but i was unabel to see my nephew in the video. He is a member and had the great opertuneity to sing with you. If you have any better video or pictures where we can see all of the members that were on stage with you we would realy like to see them. Thank You, your fan Diane
Michelle says:
Who was the young man that introduced Trace Atkins? What a moving and memorable preformance. Never forget those that have served.
Dianne says:
My husband is a retired service member and I have two sisters that are currently active duty. The show was okay until that moment when the Marine introduced Trace Atkins and the other performers. What a great song!! We live overseas, so getting new songs are a little slow. I will now order this CD to place in my car permanently. Great performace. It brought chills and tears to both my husband’s and my eyes. Thanks, CMA!!!
Abby Johnston says:
Trace and George Strait were the only “grown-ups” on the whole show!! Wasn’t the kids awards show and week or so ago? Sorry…but I’m 45 y/o and I’ve watched this show all my life and it used to be real people and real C O U N T R Y music…I’m real disappointed. It would be different if they could sing. Zac Brown band should have won. They’re GOOD! Carrie American Idol whatever beat George Strait for Entertainer of the year!?! I don’t think so! She ain’t even in his league! Someone dropped the damn ball this year. I get that your trying to bring up a new generation into Country Music…but don’t subject us old die hard country music fans to all this stupid teeny bopper stuff.
I don’t mean to be mean…I just really feel strongly about this. This is a long way from Waylon,Willie, and Merle!
Delores says:
I agree Abby. It was all a farce. Carrie entainer of the year???? Thats a joke. This will be my last show to watch. Ive watched for 40 years. This took the cake,
bkb says:
we are giving awards to people that do not deserve them.lets get back to talent instead of how many cd’s are sold.
bkb says:
we are giving awards to people that do not deserve them. what happened to talent instead of how many cd’s are sold?
RedMaZ says:
These are Pop Music awards. If more people knew what Pop Music was they would understand why these people are winning. It’s all about numbers. By definition these are the people who are supposed to be winning. Educate yourselves.
To Abby…Waylon, Willie and Merle are Americana artists not today’s Pop acts..
Holly says:
To me, the best performance of the ACM awards on Sunday night was the one that Trace and the choir gave. (smiles)
God bless you and Trace and the choir always!!!
Holly in East Tennessee (a day one fan of Trace)
Shannon says:
These are all extremely talented artists, that is why they received awards or not. Even to be nominated in each category requires the blessing of a great voice. You can’t seriously sit there and say that just because Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood received awards over George Strait that they are not deserving of the regognition. Do you sing? Probably not. Are you sure you’re not 90 instead of 45, cause you sure complain like one. Anyhow….all of these artists combined are the reasons that I love country music. They all speak from their hearts and souls and they give praise to the good Lord that gave them their talents. God Bless Trace Adkins and the Westpoint Glee Club. They did a beautiful job and brought tears to my eyes throughout the whole song.
trisha says:
I absolutely agree that this was the best performance of the night by far. I get so tired of seeing mostly the same artists on every single awards show, performing songs that are big balls of sugary fluff.
This song was beautiful and it really made you think, and also made you remember all of the sacrifices made by the military and their families throughout the years.
Such beautiful voices and such meaningful words.
Frank says:
Trace Adkins song with the Military Glee Club was by far the highlight of the CMA’s in my mind. As a retired service member it made me proud of the way LT Kinard carried himself during the introduction. Such a PROUD AMERICAN>
Melissa says:
Anyone know where I can find a replay of this? I missed the show and can’t wait to see it.
kaye says:
Thanks for the TRACE SPACE on CMT Blogs! I really enjoyed this performance!
Emma says:
This song is definitly an award winner in my book. There are many songs about “The War” going on and others in the past, but this one shows sort of a soliders side of it and the thoughts that could be running through their head until the flag is lowered and the last shot it fired. I’ve recently listened to this song and he describes everything in great detail that I can vividly imagine it. Just watching Trace performing this wonderful song at the Academy Country Awards, and Lt. Andrew Kinard introducing them brought tears to my eyes. I truly believe when he says, “It’s not about the war, it’s about the warrior.” God bless the soliders in Iraq, and God bless America.
IraqVet2005 says:
I wrote thanking Trace the other day. It was not posted yet. Since then I got the news that 5 Soldiers from Ft. Carson were taken away from us. Sorry hate using Killed. I was medically discharged from the unit they were in. I knew 3 of the 5 personally. They will be greatly missed. This song hits me harder than others now more than ever. Thanks again Trace… Hope to see you in Denver
John-WestPointGrad says:
One of the most moving songs in a long time. I was very proud of the men and women from my alma mater. The West Point Glee Club was tremendous.
As Americans, we have an obligation to be very sure that when we send our young men and women to war, that the primary purpose should always be to ‘to defend our constitution’. That’s every soldier’s oath. Anything else, they did not sign up for. That’s the ‘conflict’ in this song: whether or not our soldiers’ died in vain or not. It’s why I liked the lines “Mother Mary we’re so tired” and “let us lay down our guns”. I would hope it provoked some thought in those who were witness to this great event.
Amy says:
TO MELISSA: You can download the actual performance from that night on iTunes. It comes with the video of the performance as well. I imagine it has made it’s way to YouTube by now too.
I am an AF wife, and would just like to give a shout out to Trace and the Glee Club! What a classy performance, it really moved me.
Ken Carlson, USMA 1966 says:
Trace Adkins is a class act. When he took off his hat at the song’s close and placed it over his heart while turning to the Cadets, he fully realized that those young men and women entered West Point with the knowledge that they would graduate into combat to bear the responsibility for America’s sons and daughters.
Adkins said that he was awe struck while visiting West Point for rehearsals, knowing that the Cadets, perhaps more than most, pray for peace. But they also know full well that, “they can’t come home ’til the last shot’s fired…”
Thank you, Mr. Adkins and may God bless the Cadets for their patriotism and courage.