Country singer Rodney Atkins cashes in on big change

Hollywood couldn't have crafted a better script for Rodney Atkins. Five years ago, the country singer was working odd jobs while trying to take the next step up the ladder in Nashville.

A friend who was working for country superstar Alan Jackson visited Atkins and noticed stacks of firewood. The pal asked where the wood was from and Atkins told him that he had chopped it. Fortuitously enough, Jackson needed some kindling and Atkins delivered what he had cut for some extra Christmas cash.

The following month Atkins delivered something else — his breakthrough album, "If You're Going Through Hell."

"Just a few months later I was opening for Alan Jackson," Atkins said. "He gave me a huge opportunity."

Atkins, 41, made the most of it. He toured hard behind the album, which became a huge hit.

The album's first two singles, the title track and "Watching You," each resided at the top of the country charts for four weeks. The album also yielded two other No. 1 songs, "These Are My People" and "Cleaning This Gun (Come on in Boy)."

Atkins no longer had to find a way to come up with extra cash. He finally arrived after spending nearly a decade trying to establish himself in country circles.

"It's great when good things happen to you," Atkins said. "I remember what it was like before things went really well for me. That's just something that stays with you. A good thing happened to me and you just try to build on it."

Atkins, who will perform Sunday at the Kansas State Fair, is trying to do just that with his latest album, "It's America," released last year.

The disc features contemporary country songs, including "The River Knows," the fiery "Tell a Country Boy" and the catchy "Got It Good."

It's not easy to follow up a smash disc but Atkins is hoping his fans still like what he's doing.

"I'm just fortunate that I get to focus on doing what I love," he said.

If you go

rodney atkins

What: Country singer with opening act Chris Young

Where: Sprint Grandstand, Kansas State Fair

When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday

How much: Tickets $25 available at Fair box office, at kansasstatefair.com or by calling 800-362-3247.

This story was originally published September 10, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Country singer Rodney Atkins cashes in on big change."