Tracey Adkins burst onto the country music scene in the '90s and has since released 10 studio albums and dozens of hit singles.
The multi-talented superstar, who also boasts acting and writing talent, admitted he is proud of his 26-year-old daughter Mackenzie, who remained neutral during the rigorous casting process for reality TV show “Claim to Fame.”
Mackenzie told her father that she was first contacted by a casting agency via direct message on social media and after so much back and forth, she couldn't believe she was actually going to be on a TV show.
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Tracey Adkins told her daughter Mackenzie that Hollywood doesn't always keep its promises. (Fox/ABC)
“I'm glad I learned something, because that's how you always have to deal with the whole Hollywood thing,” Adkins told MacKenzie in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital. “Yeah, I've been through so much, and I've forgotten most of it, but there were so many things in my career that were Hollywood-related, and they didn't happen.”
Adkins is best known for his successful 30-year career as a country singer, but he's also had a long history in film and television. Most recently, the “You're Gonna Miss This” singer starred opposite Susan Sarandon in the Fox family drama “Monarch,” while Trace has also appeared in a number of film projects, including “The Lincoln Lawyer,” “The Outsider” and “Wyatt Earp's Revenge.”
Tracey Adkins has given her daughter Mackenzie some words of wisdom about working in Hollywood. (Mickey Bernal)
“They say, 'Oh, yeah, we're going to do this, we're going to do that, and this is going great,'” Adkins said. “Then all of a sudden one day you realize you haven't heard from those people in six months, and it's gone.”
Mackenzie agreed, saying she felt the same way when she spoke with the casting agency before leaving to film the show.
“I've been through so much, and I've forgotten most of it. But there were so many Hollywood-related things that happened in my career, and they just didn't happen.”
“I did my research, I watched both seasons, made sure it was a real show,” she said, “but I did a bunch of interviews and met a bunch of casting directors, and then … producers kept calling me and saying, 'You made the top 25, you made the top 15, you made the top couple, we don't know yet,' so I was like, I don't want to get so excited and then it doesn't happen.”
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She gave her family only a day to tell them what she planned to do before moving, and provided little information to back up her story.
“I was a little worried, but I figured if she was with those people over there, she'd probably be OK,” Adkins said.
Mackenzie placed third on the ABC reality show “Claim to Fame.” (Disney/Erika Hernandez)
“I said about half way through,” Mackenzie added.
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“I thought she got kicked off the show because she didn't have a cell phone,” Adkins said, “and then about halfway through the show she called me and I was like, 'Oh no.'”
In “Claim to Fame,” contestants with famous relatives live together in a private home and must figure out who they are related to while keeping their celebrity backstories a secret.
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During the show, contestants compete in tasks that involve clues about celebrity connections, and the winning team then votes for lower-ranked contestants to guess which celebrity each contestant is connected to – anyone who guesses incorrectly is eliminated from the show.
“I was a little worried, but I figured if she was with those people over there, she'd probably be OK.”
Mackenzie advanced to the finals against two other challengers, Adam Kristofferson (nephew of Michael Bolton) and Hud Mellencamp (son of John Mellencamp).
Mackenzie formed a strong bond with John Mellencamp's son Hud that continues to this day. (Disney/Chris Willard)
Hudd and Mackenzie became close friends on the show, and their budding friendship carried over into real life: The two famous dads even met at the finale viewing party.
“He came to the viewing party with his dad and his dad was there and we were all there together and it was amazing,” MacKenzie said.
Growing up as the daughter of a country music legend wasn't a problem for Mackenzie, who is the eldest of three daughters he has with ex-wife Rhonda Foraw Adkins, as well as Tara and Sara, with ex-wife Barbara Lewis.
The country singer got a chance to meet Hudd and his father, John Mellencamp, at the “Claim to Fame” finale party. (Mickey Bernal)
“My dad was always my dad,” Mackenzie says, “when we were little, he was always on tour. I mean, I've been on tour with my dad since I was born. We went away every summer. When I was in school, I was on tour with my dad every summer.” I guess I just got used to it.”
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Trace added, “I can't imagine how strange it must be to have grown up backstage at the Grand Ole Opry. I mean, ever since she was old enough to walk, and all her sisters…that's just how she grew up. You don't know anything else.”
“They're not impressed. They're not impressed with me now. Maybe if I could kick a soccer ball across the house they'd be impressed, but they're not impressed with anything else.”
