John Rich is the latest country star to appear on the NBC hit TV show, 'Celebrity Apprentice.' He was preceded by both Clint Black and Trace Adkins, who became a runner-up before losing to journalist and TV personality Piers Morgan in 2008. But while the singer-songwriter hopes to be the first Nashville star to win the grand prize, he is also fiercely defending one of his predecessors.

Apparently, the show's creator and host, business mogul Donald Trump, was unaware of Trace's lengthy -- and legendary -- music career before he appeared on 'Apprentice,' and tried to claim ownership of most of Trace's success.

"I said, 'Well, actually he was multi-platinum before he came on your show," John recalls (quote via New Mexico radio station KGRT). "He goes, 'No, no. Trace Adkins, he was basically no one.'"

The savvy tunesmith decided to play along with 'The Donald's' false claims, in hopes of advancing his position on the show. "I said, 'You know what? You're right,'" John quipped. "'He basically was no one before your show. Thank you so much for putting him on here, because now we all get to hear his great voice.' And I just totally played along with it, like Donald Trump really thinks Trace Adkins was nobody before that show."

John is competing against Star Jones, Dionne Warwick, David Cassidy, LaToya Jackson, Marlee Matlin and Meatloaf, to raise money for his chosen charity, St. Jude's Children's research hospital. 'Celebrity Apprentice' airs Sundays on NBC at 9:00 PM ET.

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