Country Singer Trace Adkins Reflects on 1994 Shooting by Ex-Wife

Trace Adkins Julie Curtis 1994 shooting Vanderbilt University Medical Center forgiveness

On February 21, 1994, Trace Adkins' second wife, Julie Curtis, shot him at point‑blank range during a heated argument about his drinking. The bullet passed straight through his heart and both lungs and exited his right arm.

Adkins was airlifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he underwent emergency open‑heart surgery. Doctors said he survived because the bullet's high velocity prevented it from expanding. He never pressed charges against Curtis.

Years later, on Theo Von's "This Past Weekend" podcast, Adkins said he has forgiven Curtis, believing she did not intend to hurt him and thought the gun was a toy. He described the incident calmly, noting it happened long ago and that he now feels peace about the episode.

Entities

Julie Curtis · Theo Von · Trace Adkins · Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 5 SOURCES] Doctors said Adkins survived because the bullet's point‑blank velocity prevented it from mushrooming. kxrb.com · pagesix.com · y95country.com · kicks105.com · theboot.com
[● 5 SOURCES] Adkins discussed the shooting on Theo Von's podcast 'This Past Weekend'. kxrb.com · pagesix.com · y95country.com · kicks105.com · theboot.com
[● 5 SOURCES] Adkins later forgave Curtis, saying she didn't intend to harm him and thought the gun was a toy. kxrb.com · pagesix.com · y95country.com · kicks105.com · theboot.com
[● 5 SOURCES] Julie Curtis shot Trace Adkins on February 21, 1994 at point‑blank range during a domestic argument. kxrb.com · pagesix.com · y95country.com · kicks105.com · theboot.com
[● 5 SOURCES] The argument that led to the shooting stemmed from Adkins' drinking and his refusal to leave the house. kxrb.com · pagesix.com · y95country.com · kicks105.com · theboot.com
[● 5 SOURCES] The bullet went straight through Adkins' heart and both lungs and exited through his right arm. kxrb.com · pagesix.com · y95country.com · kicks105.com · theboot.com
[● 5 SOURCES] Adkins never pressed charges against Julie Curtis. kxrb.com · pagesix.com · y95country.com · kicks105.com · theboot.com
[● 5 SOURCES] Adkins was air‑lifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and underwent emergency open‑heart surgery. kxrb.com · pagesix.com · y95country.com · kicks105.com · theboot.com