Did you know that country singer Trace Adkins was once shot by his own wife — and survived?
Yes, it really happened. And the woman who pulled the trigger was his second wife, Julie Lauren Curtis. This shocking moment from 1994 still surprises people today. Their short marriage started with love and hope, but ended in drama and danger.
In this article, we’ll explore who Julie Lauren Curtis was, how she met Trace Adkins, what life was like in their marriage, and how one fight nearly ended in tragedy. Let’s take a closer look at the untold life of Trace Adkins’ ex-wife who vanished from the spotlight after one unforgettable night.
Julie Lauren Curtis Quick Bio
| Full Name | Julie Lauren Curtis |
| Known For | Trace Adkins’ ex-wife who shot him |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Gender | Female |
| Profession | Insurance salesperson (1990s) |
| Marriage | Trace Adkins (1991–1994) |
| Children | None |
| Stepchildren | Tarah and Sarah Adkins |
| Famous Incident | Shot Trace Adkins in 1994 |
| Legal Outcome | No charges, ruled an accident |
| Life After | Lived privately, stayed out of public eye |
| Remarried | Yes (reportedly) |
| Death | Died in 2021 at age 59 |
| Net Worth | Around $1 million (at time of death) |
Who Is Julie Lauren Curtis?
Julie Lauren Curtis is best known as Trace Adkins’ ex-wife. But that’s not all. She’s also the woman who once shot the country singer during a heated fight in 1994.
Before that day, Julie wasn’t famous. She worked in insurance and lived a quiet life. She wasn’t on TV, and she wasn’t trying to be a star. People who knew her described her as strong but private. After the shooting, her name was all over the news — and then just as quickly, she disappeared from public life.
Today, most people only know her name from one moment. But there’s much more to her story.
Julie Lauren Curtis Before Fame
Before meeting Trace Adkins, Julie had a simple and stable life. She worked as an insurance salesperson in the early 1990s. She had already been through a past relationship and seemed to be someone who valued normal, quiet living.
There are no records of her seeking attention or fame. She wasn’t in the spotlight at all. She didn’t appear in magazines, movies, or interviews. Her life was far away from the world of country music or Hollywood. That’s part of what makes her story so surprising.
Even now, some people confuse her with others who share the same name — including an actress. But the Julie Lauren Curtis we’re talking about never tried to stay in the public eye.
How Julie Lauren Curtis Met Trace Adkins
Julie met Trace Adkins in 1989 in a small town called Springhill, Louisiana. At that time, Trace wasn’t famous yet. He was working hard on an oil rig, just trying to support his two daughters from his first marriage — Tarah and Sarah — while dreaming of a music career.
Julie was also recovering from a previous relationship. Maybe that’s why the two connected. They both knew what it felt like to start over. Their friendship turned into romance, and soon they were spending more time together.
Have you ever met someone during a tough time and felt like they just “got you”? That’s how their story began. It felt real and hopeful at first.
Julie Lauren Curtis as Trace Adkins’ Ex-Wife
After dating for about two years, Julie and Trace decided to get married. They tied the knot on February 3, 1991, during a quiet weekend trip to Lake Tahoe. It wasn’t a big, fancy wedding — just a peaceful ceremony that felt right for them.
Julie became Trace’s second wife, and also stepmother to his daughters. Soon after the wedding, Trace said he wanted to give music one last try. He was still dreaming of singing on big stages. Julie agreed to support him, and they moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to start fresh.
She was there during his early struggles — when the world didn’t know his name, and they were just trying to make ends meet. She believed in him, and for a while, their life felt like a true partnership.
Life in Nashville With Trace Adkins
Life in Nashville wasn’t easy for Julie Lauren Curtis or Trace. Trace worked in construction during the day and went to small music gigs at night. Julie helped care for the kids and worked hard to keep the family running.
They didn’t have much money, but they had hope. Julie was often the one holding things together. She took on a lot of the daily stress so Trace could focus on his dream. She wasn’t chasing fame — she was helping him chase his.
But even with love and effort, the pressure of daily life started to wear them down.
Problems in Julie Lauren Curtis’ Marriage
As time passed, things got harder. Trace was drinking again — even though he had promised to stop. This became a big issue in their marriage. Julie wanted peace and stability. Trace was focused on chasing a dream, but also struggling with old habits.
Their arguments became more frequent and more intense. Small problems turned into shouting matches. Both of them were tired, stressed, and overwhelmed. The love they had in the beginning started to feel far away.
Have you ever been in a situation where someone keeps making the same mistake, even after promising to change? That’s how Julie felt. And one night, it all reached a breaking point.
The Night Julie Lauren Curtis Shot Trace Adkins
It happened in February 1994. Trace had been drinking beer while working outside. When Julie came home, she noticed right away — and she was furious. He had broken his promise again.
They started arguing. The fight got loud and emotional. Julie tried to call her mother, but Trace slapped the phone off the wall. That moment scared her. Feeling trapped and angry, she opened the fridge and grabbed a .38 pistol they kept for protection.
Trace later admitted that he threatened her to give him the gun. He thought he could scare her into handing it over. But during the struggle, the gun went off.
The bullet went through both his lungs and his heart.
Trace Adkins’ Injuries and Survival
The gunshot wound was life-threatening. The bullet went through both lungs and both sides of his heart. Many people wouldn’t survive something like that.
But Trace Adkins did.
He was rushed to the hospital by helicopter and taken straight into surgery. Doctors worked hard to save him. He spent time in the ICU and needed more treatments to fix the damage. It was a scary time for his family.
Later, Trace said that the physical pain wasn’t the worst part. The real pain came from the emotional wounds — the fear, the broken trust, and the deep sadness from what had happened.
Why Julie Lauren Curtis Was Not Arrested
After the shooting, people were shocked. Many thought Julie would be sent to jail. But that didn’t happen.
The reason? Trace Adkins didn’t press charges.
In fact, he told police that he threatened Julie during the argument. He said he never meant to hurt her, but he was angry and wanted to scare her into handing over the gun. Because of that, the police saw it as a fight that got out of control — not a crime.
The shooting was ruled an accident, and Julie Lauren Curtis was never arrested.
Julie Lauren Curtis and the Divorce
After the shooting, their marriage couldn’t be saved.
Julie and Trace quietly got divorced in 1994, the same year as the incident. There was no court drama. No public fight. Just two people going their separate ways after something terrible happened.
Trace later said in his book that he had no hate in his heart for Julie. He said he hoped she was happy and doing well. That shows he had moved on — and maybe, in some way, had found peace with what happened.
Julie Lauren Curtis After the Shooting
After the divorce, Julie Lauren Curtis disappeared from the public.
She didn’t give interviews. She didn’t go on TV. And she never told her side of the story. She chose to stay quiet and live a normal, private life.
Trace later wrote that Julie had remarried. But no one knows who her new husband was. There are no photos, no public records, and no social media accounts linked to her. She truly stepped away from the spotlight — and stayed away.
Some online sites confused her with an actress who has the same name, but that’s not the same person.
Julie Lauren Curtis’ Final Years and Death
According to some reports, Julie Lauren Curtis passed away in 2021 at the age of 59.
There was no big news story about it. No public tribute. Her death, like her life after the divorce, stayed quiet and private. That’s probably how she wanted it — no more headlines, no more attention.
At the time of her passing, her net worth was believed to be around $1 million. This likely came from her work in insurance, and possibly from other private business activities. But even that is mostly guesswork, because she kept everything personal.
Her final years are a mystery — and that mystery keeps people curious even today.
What Trace Adkins Said About Julie Later
In 2007, Trace Adkins wrote a book called A Personal Stand. In it, he spoke openly about what happened with Julie.
He said he made mistakes that night too. He admitted that he threatened her — something he truly regretted. And even though she shot him, he didn’t want her to suffer more because of it.
Trace also shared that he was happy when he heard she had remarried. He didn’t carry anger. Instead, he showed understanding and forgiveness.
That’s something not many people would expect, but it shows how much Trace had grown since that night in 1994.
Julie Lauren Curtis, More Than Just a Headline
Most people only remember Julie Lauren Curtis as Trace Adkins’ ex-wife who shot him.
But her life wasn’t just about that one moment. She was a woman who worked hard, helped raise two young girls, and supported her husband during his toughest years. She made a terrible mistake, yes. But she also chose peace after it.
Julie didn’t chase the spotlight. She didn’t try to explain herself in the media. She simply walked away from fame and focused on building a private life.
That takes strength too — the quiet kind.
Final Thoughts
The story of Julie Lauren Curtis is full of emotion, mystery, and lessons.
She was part of one of the most shocking moments in country music history. But behind the headlines was a real person — someone with love, pain, regret, and a desire to move on.
Even now, fans still ask: Who was she? What happened to her? Why did she vanish?
Maybe we’ll never know everything. But her story reminds us that not all people want to be known. Some just want to heal quietly and live in peace.
And that’s okay.
(FAQs)
How old was Julie Lauren Curtis when she died?
Julie Lauren Curtis was 59 years old when she died in 2021. Her exact birthday is not known.
Did Julie Lauren Curtis really shoot Trace Adkins?
In 1994, Julie shot Trace Adkins in the chest during a fight. He almost died but survived after surgery.
Did Julie Lauren Curtis have any kids?
She had no children with Trace Adkins, and there is no public info that she had kids later.
Where did Julie Lauren Curtis go after the shooting?
After the shooting and divorce, she disappeared from public life. She lived very quietly and privately. No one knows where she lived.
Is Julie Lauren Curtis still alive?
She is believed to have passed away in 2021. Her death was private, with no big news story.
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