Country star Trace Adkins is hoping his new book THEN THEY DO inspires alcoholic fathers to ditch the booze and spend more time sober with their kids.

The father-of-four blames his 25-year battle with alcoholism for two failed marriages, jail time for drink driving, countless car accidents and a fight with his ex that almost cost him his life.

Adkins checked into rehab to sort out his booze problems once and for all at Christmas (02), and now he's determined to stay straight.

He says, "The elevator to hell stops on every floor, and I just took a good look at myself and said, 'Look what you've come to - you have to be institutionalised."

The gruff country superstar admits one booze-related accident led to him being trapped upside down in his pick-up truck. He once grew so intolerable, his ex shot him.

He recalls, "The bullet went through both my lungs and straight through the middle of my heart. I believe it was an accident and I've always just left it at that. Either that, or it was a pretty good shot."

He claims his third wife's insistence that he seek help was the best things she could do - because now he recognises his problems and doesn't reach for the bottle.

He adds, "Things that happened in my daily life that would have made me go, 'F**k that, I'll go and get drunk,' now make me smile."

04/07/2003 09:09