From the Oil Rigs to the Opry: Trace Adkins Stands Tall in “My Life – My Way”

In Nashville, a town built on rhinestones and polished veneers, Trace Adkins has always loomed like a mountain of granite. Standing six-foot-six, wearing a black cowboy hat that seems permanently fused to his brow, and possessing a voice that rumbles like thunder rolling across a Louisiana bayou, Adkins is the physical embodiment of country music masculinity. He is the tough guy, the roughneck, the man who has survived bullets, tractors, and the fickle tides of fame.

But even mountains have fault lines.

With the release of the revealing new documentary “My Life – My Way,” the towering cowboy with the unmistakable baritone is finally taking off the armor. As the promotional tagline starkly puts it: It’s not a concert film. It’s a confession. For the first time in his three-decade career, Adkins is sitting down to tell the story of how a man works on an oil rig, stares death in the face multiple times, and lives to sing about it on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. 

The Roughneck Roots

The documentary finds its grounding not in the recording studio, but in the grime of Adkins’ past. “My Life – My Way” takes viewers back to the “oil rigs of Louisiana,” a setting that defined Adkins long before he ever picked up a guitar for a living.

The archival footage and Adkins’ own narration paint a vivid picture of a life that was hard, dangerous, and devoid of glamour. He speaks of the physicality of the work, the danger of the drill, and the camaraderie of the crew. This section is crucial because it establishes the lens through which Adkins views the world. He didn’t enter the music industry as a pampered star; he entered it with the calloused hands of a laborer. The film suggests that his “humble” nature isn’t an act—it’s a byproduct of knowing exactly how hard it is to make a dollar when you aren’t singing for it.

Rowdy Anthems and Tear-Jerking Ballads

One of the central themes of the documentary is the fascinating duality of Adkins’ discography. He is a man of extremes. On one hand, he is the purveyor of “rowdy anthems”—songs like “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” that are designed for Saturday night parties and arena-shaking fun. On the other hand, he is the soulful crooner behind “You’re Gonna Miss This,” a “tear-jerking ballad” that has reduced millions of grown men to tears.

“My Life – My Way” explores how these two sides coexist within the same man. Adkins discusses the criticism he faced for his novelty hits and the emotional toll of his more serious work. He reveals that the humor in his music is a necessary release valve for the pain in his life. The documentary argues that to understand the man, you have to accept both the joker and the poet. He is “fiercely human,” refusing to be boxed into just being the serious artist or just the party guy. 

Surviving Life’s Hardest Hits

The most gripping segment of the film addresses the “quiet battles fought away from the spotlight.” Trace Adkins’ life reads like a fictional script of calamities: he has been shot by an ex-wife, crushed by a tractor, faced a house fire, and battled with alcohol rehabilitation.

This is the “confession” the trailer promises. Adkins does not gloss over these events with a PR-friendly sheen. He talks about the physical scars and the emotional wreckage. He discusses the concept of “surviving life’s hardest hits” not as a badge of honor, but as a series of miracles he still doesn’t quite understand. Seeing a man of his stature display such vulnerability is disarming. He admits to his flaws, his mistakes as a husband and father, and the long road to redemption. It is a raw look at what it costs to keep going when the world keeps trying to knock you down. 

The Man Behind the Hat

Despite the heavy themes, “My Life – My Way” is filled with the dry, deadpan humor that Adkins is famous for. We see him on his farm, interacting with his family, and offering unfiltered commentary on the state of modern country music.

This is the “Trace Adkins like the world has never seen before.” We see the patriot who has dedicated endless hours to the Wounded Warrior Project, connecting with soldiers not as a celebrity, but as a man who understands trauma. We see the father trying to guide his daughters. We see the “funny, flawed” human being who just happens to have a golden voice.

Coming Home

As the documentary draws to a close, the narrative arc resolves into a sense of peace. The title, “My Life – My Way,” stops sounding like a boast and starts sounding like a hard-earned fact. Adkins hasn’t followed the typical Nashville playbook. He has offended some, charmed others, and outlasted almost everyone.

“It’s not about glory or nostalgia — it’s about truth,” the film claims. And the truth is, Trace Adkins is a survivor. He is the towering cowboy who walked through the fire and came out the other side with a song. This documentary is his homecoming—a declaration that while the oil rigs are far behind him, the grit remains. For fans who have followed him for thirty years, and for those just discovering the man behind the baritone, this film is an essential, electrifying portrait of an American original.

*** “My Life – My Way” is available for streaming now.