NASHVILLE, Tenn. (November 26, 2007)--Great American Country (GAC) will bring the music of multi-platinum recording artist Trace Adkins to fans across the nation as the official media sponsor of the 2008 Trace Adkins American Man Tour. Fellow Capitol Records recording artist Luke Bryan, rising country sensations Jason Michael Carroll, Bucky Covington, Kellie Pickler and comedian Bill Engvall will be among opening acts on select dates throughout the tour.

San Antonio Express-News: "No other singer can match Adkins' distinctive gritty baritone that can rumble as deep as a steamy volcano or soar as high as sultry lyrics can take lovers."

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "As much as anything, Adkins suggests the Waylon Jennings persona updated for a new century. It's there in that rumbling deep voice and the thumping physicality of the man. It's also there in the music, a blend of rock and traditional country that honors small-town Southern values while projecting the energy and the hint of aggression embodied in rock 'n' roll."

Chicago Tribune: "Adkins' music frequently gives heartfelt voice to the inner fears, desires and dreams of blue-collar men."

New York Times: "He has long been one of country music's biggest personalities...He has a robust baritone voice and a catalog of songs about his own country identity."

The eight-week American Man tour launches January 24 in Bangor, ME and continues across the country, making stops in Hershey, PA; Toledo, OH; Charleston, SC; Asheville, NC and Columbus, GA, to name a few.

In every city, contest winners will be invited to a private acoustic experience with Adkins in the designated Game On Lounge. The private visitation will allow fans to hear Adkins as he recounts funny stories from the road, participate in a question and answer session and listen to acoustic versions of his hit songs.

The tour sponsorship announcement comes days before Adkins' first GAC concert special, Trace Adkins: American Man, which premieres December 1 (9 p.m. ET), and his new CD American Man: Greatest Hits Volume II that hits stores December 4. Trace Adkins: American Man was taped at the historic Mill at Lebanon in Lebanon, Tennessee before a live audience in October 2007. The special contains exclusive interviews with Adkins in the city of Lebanon about his previous adventures in the town.

"We partnered with Trace to bring a preview of his live concert to our viewers and we are continuing the momentum by becoming the official media sponsor of Trace's winter tour," says Ed Hardy, president of GAC.

Trace Adkins is a multi-platinum country music recording star who has remained a chartbuster for more than 11 years. He has become one of country music's top headlining performers and has sold millions of records, won dozens of industry awards and in 2003, became a member of the prestigious Grand Ole Opry.

Newcomer Luke Bryan was named one of Billboard magazine's new faces to watch in 2007 -- the only country music performer selected for the honor and included in Country Weekly's "Who's Hot in 2007." Bryan's debut CD "I'll Stay Me" debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart.

Jason Michael Carroll's self-titled debut CD landed at #1 on Billboard's Country Albums Chart in February 2007. The lead off single, "Alyssa Lies" became the fastest-rising debut single by a male country artist in 2006 and set a record in its first week of availability, earning the highest new country artist debut in the history of SoundScan's Digital Songs chart.

Bucky Covington is 2007's best-selling debut country artist. His self-titled CD opened at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart with not only 2007's biggest unit debut from a new country artist, but also the best first week sales and highest Top 200 debut for any new male country artist since Billy Ray Cyrus in 1992.

Comedian Bill Engvall's work can be seen across the country on cable and syndicated television. His comedy albums have reached gold-selling status.

Kellie Pickler's debut disc, Small Town Girl, made her the best-selling, new, solo country artist of 2006. The disc arrived at #1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart in its first week of release and is now gold-certified.

Tickets for the 2008 Trace Adkins American Man Tour will go on sale in select cities on Friday, December 7.

Fans can watch GAC for special Trace Adkins tour announcements and log on to www.traceadkins.com or the special Trace Adkins webpage at www.GACtv.com for more tour information.