# Hit Songs, Phil Valentine Memories, Trump Stories & “Arlington” w/Trace Adkins Pt. 2 :: Ep 44 Circling the Drain Podcast

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/circling-the-drain-7467223/hit-songs-phil-valentine-memories-trump-stories-arlington-w-trace-adkins-pt-2-ep-44-circling-the-drain-podcast
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/circling-the-drain-7467223/hit-songs-phil-valentine-memories-trump-stories-arlington-w-trace-adkins-pt-2-ep-44-circling-the-drain-podcast.md
Podcast: [Circling The Drain](https://stenobird.com/podcast/circling-the-drain-7467223)
Published: 2026-06-24T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://share.transistor.fm/s/a8152cbe
Audio file: https://media.transistor.fm/a8152cbe/3b2cd05b.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/circling-the-drain-7467223/episodes/hit-songs-phil-valentine-memories-trump-stories-arlington-w-trace-adkins-pt-2-ep-44-circling-the-drain-podcast
Duration seconds: 3403

## Resource

In Part 2 of our deep-dive with country icon Trace Adkins, we get the stories behind his most emotional and controversial songs, from “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” to “You’re Gonna Miss This” and “Arlington.” Trace shares powerful memories from Arlington National Cemetery, his candid take on Donald Trump, and the radio days with Phil Valentine that almost got people fired. We also dig into his acting career, how he met his wife on a movie set, the wild origin of his dog “Gary Busey,” and why he believes live shows are now the only truly “real” part of the music business. 0:43 – If Trace had to be in a tribute band forever, who would he choose? 1:36 – Waylon Jennings’ “Honky Tonk Heroes” and how it inspired Trace’s “Dangerous Man” album cover 3:25 – The grind of album photo shoots and making a real, gritty cover shot 4:12 – The Phil Valentine show, stepdad life, and getting sick of “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” 5:44 – Why “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” is cleverly written, not just a novelty hit 6:42 – How the song became the most-played country song in strip club history 7:44 – The backroom label deals behind certain cuts and how “You’re Gonna Miss This” started as a wedding song 9:00 – “I thought it was too sappy” – Trace misjudges a song that becomes a massive number one 10:26 – Ashley Gorley’s hit-making juggernaut and why everyone wants one of his songs 11:04 – Writing “American Made” for the country’s 250th anniversary 11:38 – “Arlington” and “An Empty Chair” – songs that choke him up on stage 12:04 – Performing “Arlington” at Arlington National Cemetery and barely getting through it 12:43 – Why Trace only does “Arlington” for the right audiences (and never for drunks or festivals) 14:04 – The true story behind “Arlington” and Lance Corporal Patrick Nixon 16:26 – Playing “Arlingt…

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## Transcript

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