Toby Keith (l) signed Trace Adkins to his label, Show Dog-Universal Music, on Jan. 12, 2010. Photo courtesy of Show Dog-Universal Music.

Trace Adkins celebrated his 48th birthday Wednesday in a manner he’d never done before: He whipped out a pen in front of a roomful of journalists and signed a recording contract with Toby Keith’s Show Dog-Universal Music label at BMI’s Nashville offices.

“You don’t have to read that,” Toby joked.

“Read it!?” Trace shot back. “Hell, I wrote it!”

If anyone doubted Toby’s dedication to his label, opened when he left DreamWorks in 2005, signing Trace as he merged with what was formerly Universal South shows he means business. And Trace is off and running already. He’s recorded eight songs with producer Michael Knox, best known for his work with Jason Aldean. As it currently stands, the album is sonically reflecting the excitement Trace said he’s feeling about the new deal.

“Some of the other stuff that I’ve done, I’ve gone pretty deep and pretty dark with some of it,” Trace noted. “That’s not on this record, and I think it’s a reflection of where I’m at right now. I feel good, I feel upbeat, I feel healthy and happy, and I think it’s reflected in the stuff that I’m cuttin’.”

Trace’s Capitol deal was up for renewal, but he declined the option, he said. He left with no hard feelings, saying he holds “great affection” for the crew he leaves behind. Mike Dungan, Capitol chief, later said he “still love[s] the guy.” In moving on, Trace leaves a 14-year Capitol legacy that includes such hits as “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk,” “You’re Gonna Miss This” and “All I Ask For Anymore,” currently nominated for a Grammy Award.

Perhaps a sign of how much his relationship with his new record company will be different, Trace initially offered to fly to Oklahoma City to play the music he’s been making in the studio for Toby. Instead, Toby gave him the freedom to do whatever he wants without creative interference.

“I didn’t need to hear his music,” Toby said. “I don’t have to tell him or any artist what to play or what to do… Trace is gonna do what I did. He’s gonna come in, bring his music in and we’re gonna put it out there. If the first [single] works, fine, we’ll put one [out] right behind it. If the first one don’t work, we’ll put one right behind it.”

Having just put the ink on the new deal, Toby and Trace planned to discuss what his first single for the label will be after the press conference. An album is expected some time in 2010.

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