Country singer Trace Adkins has said he holds no grudge against his second wife, Julie Curtis, who shot him at point-blank range during an argument in 1994, nearly killing him. Speaking on Theo Von's This Past Weekend podcast, released on Tuesday, Adkins explained he believes Curtis never intended to seriously hurt him and did not realise the danger of the weapon, adding that he chose not to press charges against her afterwards.

Adkins recalled that the bullet passed straight through his body after being fired from close range, and that doctors said his proximity to Curtis when she fired was the only reason he survived, as it stopped the bullet gaining enough velocity to cause fatal damage. He needed emergency trauma surgery immediately after the shooting, followed by open-heart surgery six months later to repair damage to his heart. Adkins, who was married to Curtis from 1991 to 1994, has since had two further marriages, including to actress Victoria Pratt since 2019, and has built a career with 20 Billboard Hot 100 entries and four number-one country hits.