Trace Adkins Is Working On Family Communication

Trace Adkins notices the irony of his family life. The big, tough roughneck-turned-country-star has no one at home to do guy stuff -- as the father of five girls (plus his wife Rhonda), he is heavily outnumbered. "It goes against who I am to be interested in ballet," Adkins tells Good Housekeeping in the January issue.

Of course, he wouldn't trade them for anything, but the 'Million Dollar View' singer admits he's had to change, grow and learn to open up. "I didn't grow up with that," he says about open communication. "My old man was pretty quiet. I have to remind myself to ask them about their lives. It's not something that comes naturally, but I do try."

His 10-year-old daughter, Brianna, started a tradition years ago in which everyone would share the best and worst parts of their day at the dinner table. Adkins calls that a highlight of the time he gets to spend at home. While he's on the road, he misses his girls. "I get such comfort from just being near them," he admits.

They miss him too, especially when a light bulb burns out. "We have 8-foot ceilings and I'm 6 feet 6 inches so I don't even need a ladder," he quips.