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A Sammy Kershaw and Lorrie Morgan Duet Led to This Hit for Trace Adkins in 2001
Trace Adkins’ 2001 song “I’m Tryin’” became a Top 10 hit, though its beginnings came during a writing session for a duet album by Sammy Kershaw and Lorrie Morgan. Songwriter Jeffrey Steele said he had been carrying the song’s opening phrase in his head, but the session was meant to produce a track for the singers.
Steele, Anthony Smith and Chris Wallin wrote “3 Seconds” for the duet album, then stayed behind to develop Steele’s separate idea. Lines about working long hours and struggling to adjust to life after divorce quickly inspired the other writers. Adkins later recorded “I’m Tryin’” for his album *Chrome*; Kershaw and Morgan, who married in 2001 and divorced in 2007, released their duet album *I Finally Found Someone* that year.
In short
- “I’m Tryin’” became a Top 10 hit for Trace Adkins.
- Its writers first met to create a duet for Sammy Kershaw and Lorrie Morgan.
- Jeffrey Steele’s separate idea became the song.
Explained simply
Trace Adkins is an American country singer, and “I’m Tryin’” appeared on his 2001 album Chrome. The song was written by Jeffrey Steele, Anthony Smith and Chris Wallin, who also wrote songs for other country performers.
The writing session began with a song for country singers Sammy Kershaw and Lorrie Morgan, who were recording a duet album. After completing that track, the writers worked on Steele’s separate idea about long hours and the difficulties of adjusting to life after divorce; Adkins later recorded the resulting song.