Randy Owen presents Trace Adkins with the Humanitarian Award at the 2010 Country Radio Seminar in Nashville, Tenn. on February 24. Photo by Bev Moser, courtesy of AristoMedia.

Trace Adkins received the Country Radio Broadcasters’ 2010 Artist Humanitarian Award Wednesday in Nashville, recogizing his contributions to the community during the opening session of the 41st annual Country Radio Seminar. Presented by 2009 winner Randy Owen, the crystal block honors Trace’s efforts on several fronts. He’s played for American soldiers fighting in the Middle East on a couple of tours, and he raised nearly $500,000 for the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, thanks in great part to his efforts two years ago on “The Celebrity Apprentice.” “You know that I do truly deserve this,” Trace said with faux sarcasm, “because I’ve never killed anybody.” He waited a beat for the laughter to stop. “I’ve thought about it,” he continued. “Maybe some of you!” After more laughter, he continued addressing the radio programmers: “Got a new single comin’ out—remember that!”

The mood quickly turned serious, though. Trace got involved with FAAN after watching his daughter, who has a severe food allergy, develop life-threatening reactions to ordinary diet staples. He’s seen the dedication of the people in the armed forces firsthand. And he deflected Wednesday’s humanitarian honor.

“I do what I can, and it’s miniscule sometimes,” he said. “You know, I just try to help out where we see needs, and we do what we can. I don’t feel deserving of this. I’m humbled by it and honored and grateful.”

Trace becomes the 21st recipient of the CRB’s Humanitarian Award, joining a list that includes Clay Walker, Joe Diffie, Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson and Reba McEntire. And Randy Owen is on the list twice, having accepted the first year as a member of Alabama. “I personally wish I could sing like he can,” Randy said of Trace. Trace said plenty about Randy’s influence with very few words. “The first concert I ever went to was Whitesnake,” Trace noted. “The second was Alabama.”

The Country Radio Seminar continues through Friday as radio personnel share research data about the country marketplace and attempt to make sense of a difficult economic climate. The event also provides Nashville’s record companies with a ready-made place to market their artists to radio stations, one of the genre’s primary vehicles for exposure.

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