So much has changed with the songs coming out of Nashville in the past few years. Traditional country sounds have been replaced by pop country, country rap and “hick hop.” But, for Rodney Atkins it has always been about the song and lyrics striking a chord with the listeners and staying the same ball cap wearing country boy that fans have grown to love.
Atkins was first signed to Curb Records in 1996, and charted his first single in 1997 weeks before his debut album was to hit stores. The album was never released because Atkins didn’t like the way it turned out. Owner of Curb Records, Mike Curb let him go back into the studio with producer, Ted Hewitt to record the debut again with a different approach. That album never saw the light of day, either.
Atkins didn’t release an album until 2003’s Honesty, which included the number 4 hit, “Honesty (Write Me a List).” He again disappeared from the charts for a couple years, but returned in 2006 with ”If You’re Going Through Hell (Before The Devil Even Knows),” which was the first single off of his second album by the same name. “If You’re Going Through Hell” became his first number 1 and was also the top country hit of 2006 according to Billboard and set the tone for his career.
He followed that hit song with another, “Watching You,” which Atkins wrote with Steve Dean and Brian Gene White and it became his second number 1. “These Are My People” and “Cleaning This Gun (Come On In Boy)” also became number 1 hits making four from the If You’re Going Through album. A first for a country artist since Tim McGraw did it in 2001 with Set This Circus Down. Atkins also received the 2006 ACM Award for Top New Male Vocalist, and “If You’re Going Through Hell” was nominated for Song of the Year. “Cleaning This Gun” was also featured in the hit movie, The Bourne Legacy.
Atkins released his next album, It’s America in 2008 and the title track became his fifth number 1. The album also contained the top five song, “Farmer’s Daughter.” “Take a Back Road” the lead-off single and title track to his fourth album was released in 2011. It became his sixth number 1. The album also produced the top 25 song, “He’s Mine.”
He released his Greatest Hits collection in 2015 and it included the top eleven hits, including his six number ones, as well as a new song “Eat Sleep Love You Repeat.” Atkins returned to the studio earlier this year to start work on what will be his sixth studio album for Curb Records.
The singer has become known for his country image off stage, too. He spends a lot of his free time fishing and has teamed up with Fishidy, which will award an all expenses paid trip and day of fishing with the country music star later this year.
Atkins and his second wife, singer/songwriter Rose Falcon, have also worked out a deal with Cracker Barrel for their own handmade jewelry. The stores recently started carrying the line that was created after the country music couple partnered with Johnny Loves June to create the, “Rod & Rose” collection. You can view the collection at Cracker Barrel.com or on the “Rod & Rose” Instagram. Atkins is an avid supporter of the U.S. military and got involved with the USO in 2011. He has visited military bases all over including trips to Alaska and one of the last USO tours to Afghanistan.
In addition to performing his headlining dates, Atkins hosted the sixth annual “Music City Gives Back” concert on Tuesday, June 7th in downtown Nashville. The event benefits W.O. Smith Music School. He was also the spokesman from 2008 – 2010 for the National Council on Adoption and he regularly returns to visit the Holston Methodist Home for Children in Greeneville, Tennessee, where he was adopted as a child.
The East Tennessee native definitely stays true to himself and his fans with his country sensibility and demeanor. His ability to drive a sentiment home in a song is evident in each record and his fans definitely relate to the lyrics of his songs. Atkins puts so much into recording as his stage show, yet his authenticity is what sets him apart from all of the new wave of country music. Because, simply put, Atkins is that country boy that he sings about in his songs.
Rodney Atkins will be performing at the Scene Magazine Rock the Lot on Sunday, July 3rd at 6:00pm. The Rock The Lot Summer Street festival will be held at the West 6th Street Parking lot at St. Clair Avenue in the Warehouse District of Downtown Cleveland. Local country acts Ginger Pangas (1:30pm) and Post Road (3:30pm) will open the show. Admission is FREE! For more information go to Scene Rock The Lot.com
