Country star Adkins signs up for Christmas spoof

By Gregg Goldstein

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Country star Trace Adkins will make a ghostly appearance opposite Kelsey Grammer in David Zucker's indie Christmas comedy "American Carol."

Jon Voight, Leslie Nielsen and Dennis Hopper have cameos in the takeoff on Charles Dickens' classic holiday tale. The singer will play the Spirit of Christmas Future (a.k.a. the Grim Reaper), who uses his musical abilities to help Scrooge (Grammer) avoid a tragic end.

Adkins made his screen debut in this year's Slamdance entry "Trailer Park of Terror," recently came in second on NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice" and wrote the 2007 book "A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions From a Freethinking Roughneck." His new single, "You're Gonna Miss This," just hit No. 1 on the Billboard country singles chart.

The film is shooting in Los Angeles through April 15.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter