Country singer Trace Adkins is remembering his favourite holiday traditions as he celebrates his first Christmas without his dad.

The You’re Gonna Miss This hitmaker’s father, Aaron Adkins, passed away in February (14), and the gravel-voiced star reveals he's missing his old man over the holidays.

But, while Adkins admits the usually cheerful season has been "tough" for him, he's happy with memories he has of Christmases in Louisiana when he was a kid, and the annual traditions he shared with his family.

He recalls, "Going out and carolling, I remember when we used to do that. We’d go from the church and walk and just go stand in front of somebody’s house and bellow. I don’t even know if people do that anymore."

Adkins had a rough start to 2014 - in January, he entered a rehab facility in a bid to beat his battle with alcoholism following a verbal altercation with a celebrity impersonator on a country music-themed cruise. According to multiple reports, he was allowed to leave the centre in February to be with his dying father.

Then, in March (14), Adkins’ wife of 16 years, Rhonda, filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.