Julie Lauren Curtis was born on December 19, 1961, in Springhill, Louisiana. She grew up in a small town in northwest Louisiana, and little is known about her early life, childhood, or education. Before meeting Adkins, Julie had been in a previous relationship and worked as an insurance salesperson in the late 1980s. Her life took a significant turn when she met Trace Adkins in 1989.
Julie and Trace Adkins met in Springhill, Louisiana, where he was working on an oil rig. Both were coming out of separate previous marriages at the time. Their relationship developed quickly, and they decided to marry, relocating to Nashville, Tennessee, to support Adkins' ambitions as a country music artist. The couple married on February 3, 1991, and were together for approximately five years.
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. On February 21, 1994, the relationship took a dramatic turn when Julie accidentally shot Adkins during a domestic dispute. Adkins had spent the day doing yard work and returned home intoxicated, breaking a promise he had made to stop drinking.
The argument turned physical, and 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, striking Trace in the chest with devastating force. The bullet passed through both his lungs and his heart, and Adkins was airlifted to the hospital for emergency open-heart surgery.
Police ruled the shooting accidental, and Adkins has never blamed Julie Lauren Curtis for what happened. In his 2007 memoir, Adkins wrote that he forgave his second wife for shooting him, believing she thought the gun was less dangerous than it was. The couple divorced later that year, in 1994. After the divorce, Julie returned to private life in Louisiana, working as a manager at Ivan Smith Furniture in Jonesboro.
Julie Lauren Curtis passed away on March 18, 2021, in Shreveport, Louisiana, aged 59. Funeral services were held on March 20, 2021, at Bailey Funeral Home in Springhill, with interment in Springhill Cemetery. According to her 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.
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 has spoken publicly about the incident, sharing his story and expressing his forgiveness towards Julie.
Key points
- Julie Lauren Curtis was born on December 19, 1961, in Springhill, Louisiana.
- Julie and Trace Adkins were married for three years, from 1991 to 1994.
- Julie Lauren Curtis passed away on March 18, 2021, in Shreveport, Louisiana, aged 59.
