Trace Adkins: Last News

Bill Maher thinks Joe Biden is currently doing a good job. But he also warned against fan fiction as history, perhaps offering a contradiction that only he understands.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Fox’s Susan Sarandon and Trace Adkins-led country music drama “Monarch” didn’t the highest of Nielsen notes Sunday night, but it did manage to keep enough of its NFL lead-in audience to land the network’s most-watched fall scripted premiere in three years. Immediately following an NFL doubleheader, “Monarch” debuted at 7:45 p.m. ET/4:45 p.m. PT to a 0.8 rating among adults in the 18-49 age demographic and 3.8 million total viewers, according to initial Nielsen data. Due to the nature of live sports, these results will likely adjust (likely down) when finalized numbers come in later Monday.

Be it through love, heartache, passion, sorrow or pure lust for life, music has always fulfilled a common purpose: bringing people together. Country music is known for evoking a wide range of complicated emotions, and viewers of the upcoming "Monarch" FOX television show are in for a wild ride with equally energetic acoustics from Trace Adkins as he stands at the helm of the Roman family.  Fox News Digital exclusively spoke with several of the featured musicians on the soulful TV series, starring Susan Sarandon, Anna Friel and Beth Ditto, which highlights the lives of a dynasty of country musicians and the excitement that ensues as a family needs a little help remembering their roots.

Country singer Trace Adkins opened up about starring on the upcoming country music drama television show "Monarch," which revolves around a dynasty of singers. Trace Adkins' new show, "Monarch," premieres Sept. 11.

Daniel D'Addario Chief TV Critic The prospect of Susan Sarandon leading an “Empire”-style music drama set in the world of country music is an instantly alluring one. Not merely is Sarandon a compelling screen presence (one who FX’s “Feud” proved works well on TV), but the particular contours of her public image as a stalwart leftist activist would seem to rub up intriguingly against her character, a survivor in the culturally conservative world of Nashville. Bad luck for viewers, then, that Sarandon, largely at a remove from the story for plot reasons, is such a minimally used part of Fox’s new drama “Monarch,” and that the elements that supersede her hold such little interest. Dottie Cantrell Roman and Albie Roman, played by Sarandon and Trace Adkins, are the parents to three children, two of them rival vocalists (Anna Friel and Beth Ditto); Dottie and Albie’s son (Joshua Sasse) must try to hold the clan together despite his sisters’ egos and need for validation.

Fox has waited a long time for its Monarch.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer The Fall TV season is upon us and Fox is kicking things off with the returns of “9-1-1,” “The Resident” “The Cleaning Lady” and its iconic Sunday animation block, as well as the debut of Susan Sarandon and Trace Adkins country music drama “Monarch” and an eye toward more fresh scripted content to come. Though Fox won’t be the home of the “Ally McBeal” reboot or the “Married… With Children” animated series, both in-the-works projects based on titles that originated at Fox, and is still remaining tight-lipped on more seasons of the Disney-owned “The Simpsons,” Variety found plenty to discuss with Fox Entertainment president of entertainment Michael Thorn pegged to the broadcaster’s day of panels at the virtual Television Critics Association press tour Wednesday.

Emily Longeretta Grab your cowboy boots. Fox is making a major push for the upcoming premiere of “Monarch,” Variety can exclusively share. On Thursday, Sept. 8, the “Monarch” retail pop-up shop will open in New York City on 27 Mercer Street. It will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Sunday, Sept. 11, the premiere date. The fully customized space will include items from many of the show’s partners including Allen’s Boots, Fret Zealot Music, Nyrelle Jewelry and Union Western Apparel. There will be a photo opportunity for fans to sit in the “Queens of Country” throne and attendees can take home a customized bandana or snapback hat.

Susan Sarandon admits that that she knew nothing about country music before beginning work on Monarch, Fox’s upcoming sudser that the producers describe as “Empire meets Succession.”

Trace Adkins is right there with the next generation.

Country music's biggest stars hit the red carpet Wednesday evening at the 15th Annual Academy of Country Music Honors in Nashville. Shania Twain set the scene, pairing a leopard print cowboy hat with a plunging black velvet gown.

Miranda Lambert cozies up to husband Brendan Mcloughlin at the 2022 Academy Of Country Music Honors at Ryman Auditorium on Wednesday night (August 24) in Nashville, Tenn.

Academy Award-winning actress, he simply replied: “It was an honor.”Adkins also said he didn’t “really lean on anybody” for advice when it came to prepping for the role, even though his friends Blake Shelton and Tim McGraw have years of TV experience. Blake has been on “The Voice” for years, and Tim recently starred in the “Yellowstone” prequel, “1883.”“Blake’s thing is a completely different animal,” he said.

There's no doubt Trace Adkins is dedicated to country music. The 60-year-old musician, who is set to portray Albie Roman in his first starring television role on the new FOX drama "Monarch," recalled telling doctors exactly how to reattach his finger after he cut off his pinky during a drilling accident.

Trace Adkins "enjoyed every minute" of his time working with the late Anne Heche. Adkins spoke about having the opportunity to work alongside Heche for the film "13 Minutes." According to her IMDb, it was one of Heche's final projects released before her death. "My time with Anne was way too short," Adkins told Fox News Digital.

Trace Adkins has dozens of Top 40 singles under his belt, and a collection of greatest hits and studio albums that have been certified by the Recording Industry Association of America. He also has a host of Academy of Country Music Awards, in addition to Grammy Award nominations.  But the "You're Gonna Miss This" singer admitted he was a little intimidated to work with legendary actress Susan Sarandon in their upcoming country music drama about a dynasty of singers in "Monarch." Adkins portrays Albie Roman alongside Sarandon, who plays Dottie Cantrell Roman, in the series, which is set to debut in September on FOX, and marks his first starring role.  He told Fox News Digital that working with Sarandon was "terrifying," but he knew he was learning the ropes from a true icon.

Hoda Kotb has been a staple on Today since she joined the NBC show in 2007 – but throughout her time, she has had to say goodbye to some of her beloved co-stars.MORE: Hoda Kotb overcome with emotion after heartwarming reunion on TodayIn fact, Saturday will mark the first anniversary of the departure of her executive producer, Joanne LaMarca, who left the show on 20 August last year, and it was a very bittersweet day for Hoda and her co-host Jenna Bush Hager.WATCH: Hoda Kotb left tearful after on-air surprise Joanne worked on Today with Hoda & Jenna for years, so it wasn't surprising that the duo gave her a worthy send-off on her final day – which included a surprise performance from country star Trace Adkins.They even shared a special post created in Joanne's honor, which read: "It's a bittersweet day as we say farewell to our beloved executive producer Joanne LaMarca, who is leaving to spend more time with her family."MORE: Hoda Kotb jokes about her fears of getting fired MORE: Why Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie keep taking time off TodayIt added: "But before she goes, country star @traceadkins has a special surprise performance just for her. Watch the emotional moment at the link in our bio.⁠"At the time, the tribute left many viewers in tears, and fans took to Instagram to say their farewells.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticThe Academy of Country Music’s annual “ACM Honors” special will air on the Fox network in September, putting the show back on a major broadcast network for the first time in four years. The return to a major network comes as, ironically, its parent show, the ACM Awards, made the switch from broadcast TV to being an exclusive Amazon Prime Video webcast this past spring.“ACM Honors” will have its first airing on Fox Sept. 13 from 8-10 p.m.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFox has given a straight-to-series order to the comedy “Animal Control,” Variety has confirmed.As the title suggests, the show is a single-camera workplace comedy about a group of animal control workers. It hails from writers and executive producers Bob Fisher, Rob Greenberg, and Dan Sterling. Fisher and Greenberg previously were two of the co-creators of the Fox comedy series “The Moodys,” while Sterling has worked on Fox shows like “King of the Hill” and “The Last Man on Earth.” Fox Entertainment Studios will produce.Greenberg is repped by UTA and Greenberg Glusker LLP.

Global has unveiled its programming lineup for the 2022/23 TV season, announcing the news at Wednesday’s Corus upfront presentations.

UPDATE, 3:30 PM: We finally have a complete Fall 2022 TV schedule, now that Fox has graced us with their presence.