Rodney Atkins is a country musician based in Knoxville, Tennessee. He has been active as a professional since the 90s, but did not gain commercial recognition until the 2000s. His sound fits in with radio blazing country stars like Brad Paisley, but also holds an affinity with legends like Haggard.
Atkins was born in Knoxville,Tennessee on 28 March, 1969 and was put up for adoption by his then 19 year old mother. As an infant Atkins was afflicted with both respiratory infection and colic, which sabotaged the finalization of his adoption from a few of his potential parents. He was eventually taken in by Allan and Margaret Atkins and moved with them to Speedwell, Tennessee. He went to high school at Powell Valley High and after receiving a guitar for Christmas devoted the majority of his free time learning the instrument and competing in local festivals. Atkins went to college at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville,Tennessee. Whenever he was not studying he shot straight to Nashville to absorb the town’s rich music scene and showcase songs he had been developing.
After graduation Atkins moved to Nashville and signed to Curb Records in 1996. A year later he debuted his 1st single “In a Heartbeat” which entered the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks at No. 74. Atkins’ studio debut album was also expected to be released this year, but unsatisfied with the final result Atkins scratched the whole release and started working on a new project with various musicians and producers. This project also failed to be released and it was not until 2003 that Atkins resurfaced back into the Country music scene.
Atkins 1st studio album “Honesty” finally came out on 14 October 2003 through Curb Records. The record gradually caught on with the public and rose to no. 50 on the US Billboard Top Country Albums and no. 47 on the US Billboard Top Heatseekers. This release produced a total of five singles, four of which entered the US Country Charts and 1 “Honesty (Write Me a List)”, which peaked at no. 4.
In 2006 Atkins put out his 2nd album “If You’re Going Through Hell”. The title track launched his career into the mainstream and spent four weeks at no.1 on the Hot Country Songs Chart. Three more no.1 hit singles followed “Watching You”, “These Are My People”, and “Cleaning This Gun (Come On In Boy)”. This album certified Atkins as the 1st country star since Tim McGraw to have an album feature four no.1 singles. “If You’re Going Through Hell” also reached platinum status and won Atkins an Academy of Country Music Award” for “Top New Male Vocalist”.
Though Atkins next album “It’s America” received mixed reviews it was another commercial victory for the artist, debuting at no. 3 on the US Billboard Top Country Albums and no.15 on the US Billboard 200. Atkins 4th studio album “Take a Back Road” did even better hitting no. 3 on the US Billboard Top Country Albums and no. 8 on the US Billboard 200. The album’s title track topped the US Country charts and was recognized as the fastest rising single Atkins’ put out to date. “Take a Back Road” also generated a significant amount of critical praise with the publication Country Standard Time crediting it as "the type of wholesome country musician that you would enjoy hanging out with on a Sunday afternoon with your wife and kids." These words served as a haunting irony as it was revealed that later that year Atkins was arrested for attempting to smother his wife with a pillow in front of his 10 year old son. Atkins claimed that the altercation was purely verbal and was cleared of charges in 2012.
In 2013 Atkins was back in the game, releasing the popular single “Doin’ It Right”. The following year he issued the single “Eat Sleep Love You Repeat” and in 2015 he put out his “Greatest Hits” compilation.
Wyatt Flores
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