Country musicians often pride themselves on the naked honesty and truthfulness of their lyrics. It's a mold that fits Rodney Atkins very well, both as a musician and as a person. Although he's built his name on a track that says as much, this up and comer in country music has kept his aim high but his profile low. With his track record in the past decade, though, it's no surprise if Atkins ends up going places.

Rodney Atkins: Honesty In Country

"I try to sing songs with an honest view of ourselves, of myself, of the struggle, of the laughter."

Country musicians often pride themselves on the naked honesty and truthfulness of their lyrics. It's a mold that fits Rodney Atkins very well, both as a musician and as a person. Although he's built his name on a track that says as much, this up and comer in country music has kept his aim high but his profile low. With his track record in the past decade, though, it's no surprise if Atkins ends up going places.

Rodney Atkins: Orphan No More

Born in Tennessee on March 28, 1969, Atkins was an orphan who was adopted from a Greeneville, Tennessee home for children. A couple, residents of Cumberland Gap, took in the sickly child, and helped him get past his sickliness. They gave Atkins the classic upbringing, the kind which he usually channels into his lyrics.

In high school, Atkins got into playing guitar and found himself all sorts of gigs. From a soloist to a band member and from shopping malls to county fairs, he performed at every possible opportunity. This only continued into his college years at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville as a psychology major. It was then that he began writing his own material, as well as regularly visiting Nashville for more prominent performances.

With his newfound exposure in Nashville, word quickly spread about Atkins and his sound. Curb Records came knocking, and their artist roster quickly had Rodney Atkins as its newest member in 1997. That same year, he was able to release In a Heartbeat, a single that charted a #74 spot on Billboard's country countdown.

Rodney Atkins: Albums and Honesty

Atkins' debut album, however, wouldn't come out until 2003 with Honesty, still under Curb Records. Sales were largely driven by My Old Man and Honesty (Write Me a List), both of which did fairly well on the charts. His true commercial breakout would arrive later still with 2006's If You're Going Through Hell.

Going Through Hell burned up the charts, with the title track taking the top spot in the country charts for 2006. Billboard went as far as proclaiming If You're Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows) the #1 country track for that year. This was followed up by Watching You, which was given the same distinction by the magazine. With the album's spectacular chart performance, it quickly earned its platinum RIAA certification.

His latest release was the single Chasin' Girls in September 2009, from his 2008 album It's America. It's America did fairly well in both the United States and Canada - the title track topped the Billboard country charts as well - although it did not fare as well on the charts and in the record stores as Going Through Hell.

Did You Know That...

• ...baby Rodney was extremely sickly? He was adopted - and returned - by two pairs of parents before the Cumberland Gap couple finally took him in.
• ...performance is a family affair? His son Elijah (with wife Tammy Jo) makes an appearance in the Watching You music video.

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