The untold story of Julie Lauren Curtis and her life with country singer Trace Adkins
Julie Lauren Curtis was the second wife of country music star Trace Adkins. Born in Springhill, Louisiana, she married Adkins in 1991 and was drawn into one of country music's most dramatic incidents. On 21 February 1994, she accidentally shot Adkins during a domestic dispute, a near-fatal event that has defined her public story ever since. Julie passed away on 18 March 2021, aged 59. Trace wrote in his memoir:
I forgave my second wife for shooting me
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Julie Lauren Curtis was born on 19 December 1961 in Springhill, Louisiana, USA.
- She married Trace Adkins on 3 February 1991, and the couple divorced in 1994 following a shooting incident.
- On 21 February 1994, Julie accidentally shot Adkins with a .38 pistol; the bullet passed through both his lungs and his heart.
- Adkins did not press charges, and the shooting was ruled accidental by police.
- Julie Lauren Curtis passed away on 18 March 2021, aged 59, in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Julie Lauren Curtis' profile summary
Full name | Julie Lauren Curtis |
Date of birth | 19 December 1961 |
Zodiac sign | Sagittarius |
Date of death | 18 March 2021 |
Age at death | 59 years old |
Place of birth | Springhill, Louisiana, USA |
Nationality | American |
Profession | Insurance salesperson, furniture store manager |
Relationship Status | Divorced |
Ex-husband | Trace Adkins (1991–1994) |
Who is Julie Lauren Curtis?
Julie Lauren Curtis is best known as the second ex-wife of country music star Trace Adkins. She grew up in Springhill, a small town in northwest Louisiana.
Julie's early life and background
Little is known about Julie's early life, childhood, or education. She was a private person long before she became known to the public.
Before meeting Adkins, Julie Curtis had been in a previous relationship. She was working as an insurance salesperson in the late 1980s when their paths crossed.
Source: Original
How Julie met Trace Adkins
Julie and Trace Adkins first met in 1989 in Springhill, Louisiana, where he was working on an oil rig. The country music star wrote in his 2007 memoir, A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions from a Freethinking Roughneck, that they were both coming out of separate previous marriages at the time.
Adkins and Julie's relationship developed quickly. When they decided to marry, the couple relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, to support Adkins' ambitions as a country music artist. He worked construction jobs to fund the move while pursuing gigs and record deals.
How long were Julie Lauren Curtis and Trace Adkins together?
Julie Lauren Curtis and Trace Adkins were married for three years, from 1991 to 1994. They met in 1989 and married on 3 February 1991, meaning they were together as a couple for approximately five years in total.
The marriage was tested almost from the start by Adkins' struggles with alcohol. The couple's time in Nashville put pressure on them both, and the relationship became increasingly volatile.
Julie Lauren Curtis and Trace Adkins shooting incident
The event that defined Julie Lauren Curtis' public story took place on 21 February 1994. Adkins had spent the day doing yard work and returned home intoxicated, breaking a promise he had made to stop drinking.
What happened on the night of the shooting
Julie Curtis and Trace Adkins argued. When the confrontation turned physical, Adkins slapped a phone from Curtis' hands. Julie retrieved a .38 pistol, reportedly to frighten him rather than harm him. As he moved to take the weapon, the gun discharged at close range.
The bullet struck Trace in the chest with devastating force. While remembering the incident, Adkins said during his July 2026 appearance on the 'This Past Weekend with Theo Von' podcast:
She put it under my left arm, and the bullet came out under my right arm... It went straight through my heart and both my lungs. It was a kill shot.
Trace Adkins was airlifted to the hospital and underwent emergency open-heart surgery. The country music star revealed in his 2007 memoir that attending doctors asked family members to say their goodbyes.
The only reason Adkins survived, he later said, was that the bullet travelled at full muzzle velocity and did not mushroom inside his chest. Six months later, he required a second surgery to repair his heart's septum.
Why Adkins did not press charges
Police ruled the shooting accidental. Adkins, for his part, has never blamed Julie Lauren Curtis for what happened. The country music star wrote in his 2007 memoir:
I forgave my second wife for shooting me because I refuse to believe she was actually trying to kill me. She was probably trying to scare me off, out of the house. Who's to bless and who's to blame? It would be crazy to pretend that we weren’t both to blame for what happened.
Trace Adkins has said on multiple occasions that he forgave Julie Curtis completely, believing she thought the gun was less dangerous than it was. The couple divorced later that year, in 1994.
Where is Julie Lauren Curtis now?
Julie Lauren Curtis passed away on 18 March 2021 in Shreveport, Louisiana, aged 59. Funeral services were held on 20 March 2021 at Bailey Funeral Home in Springhill, with interment in Springhill Cemetery.
After her divorce from Adkins, Julie returned to private life in Louisiana. She spent many years working as a manager at Ivan Smith Furniture in Jonesboro, Louisiana, a role she held for approximately 16 years. Curtis gave no interviews, made no public appearances, and never commented publicly on the shooting or her marriage.
Julie Curtis' death went largely unreported at the time. According to Julie's obituary, she is survived by her mother, Wanda Christine (Danny Ray) Early of Springhill; a sister, Angie Curtis of Homer, Louisiana; and a brother, Marty (Kim) Curtis of Taylor, Arkansas.
Latest news
In early 2026, Trace Adkins gave several high-profile interviews recounting the 1994 shooting with renewed candour. It has been 32 years since the near-death experience.
Adkins, who has said he holds no resentment towards his former wife, is currently married to Canadian celebrity Victoria Pratt, whom he wed on 12 October 2019 in New Orleans. The ceremony was officiated by fellow country music star Blake Shelton.
Julie Lauren Curtis' net worth
At the time of her death in 2021, Julie Lauren Curtis was estimated by several celebrity biography websites to have a net worth of several hundred thousand dollars. These figures are unverified. Julie's income came primarily from a long career in furniture retail management in Louisiana.
FAQs
- Who is Julie Lauren Curtis? Julie Lauren Curtis was the second ex-wife of country music star Trace Adkins. She married him on 3 February 1991 and divorced in 1994 following a near-fatal shooting incident. She passed away on 18 March 2021, aged 59.
- What happened to Julie Lauren Curtis? Julie Lauren Curtis passed away on 18 March 2021, aged 59, in Shreveport, Louisiana. After her divorce from Trace Adkins in 1994, she lived privately in Louisiana, working in furniture management.
- Did Julie Lauren Curtis shoot Trace Adkins? Yes. On 21 February 1994, during a domestic argument, a gun Julie was holding discharged and struck Adkins in the chest. The bullet passed through both his lungs and his heart.
- Did Trace Adkins press charges against Julie Lauren Curtis? No. Adkins chose not to press charges. Police ruled the incident accidental. He has said he believes she did not understand how dangerous the firearm was.
- Is Julie Lauren Curtis still alive today? No. Julie Lauren Curtis died on 18 March 2021, aged 59. She is survived by her mother, a sister, and a brother.
- Did Trace Adkins stay with his wife after she shot him? No. Trace Adkins and Julie Lauren Curtis divorced in 1994, the same year as the shooting. He later married Rhonda Forlaw (1997–2015) and is now married to actress Victoria Pratt (2019–present).
- How old was Julie Lauren Curtis when she died? Julie Lauren Curtis was 59 years old when she died on 18 March 2021. She was born on 19 December 1961 in Springhill, Louisiana.
- Where is Trace Adkins' ex-wife now? Julie Lauren Curtis is no longer alive. She passed away in March 2021. Before her death, she lived quietly in Louisiana, working in furniture retail and avoiding all media attention.
Conclusion
Julie Lauren Curtis marked a tumultuous chapter in Trace Adkins' life after their three-year marriage culminated in a shooting that nearly killed the country music star. She maintained a private life in the years that followed until her unfortunate death in 2021. Trace has since remarried.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
