Thomas Rhett

Early life Rhett is the son of country singer-songwriter Rhett Akins, pictured in 2019. alt=Singer Rhett Akins singing into a microphone and holding an acoustic guitar. Thomas Rhett Akins Jr. was born in Valdosta, Georgia,

He was raised in Hendersonville, Tennessee. He grew up knowing other singers including Tim McGraw and Brooks & Dunn. He has one younger sister, and two younger half-brothers; one on his mother's side, and one his father's side.

After learning to play drums while attending junior high school, Rhett later would go onstage with his father and play. In high school, he was part of a band named The High Heeled Flip Flops. Rhett went to Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, to study communications. He dropped out of college when he was 20 to pursue a career in music. He subsequently accepted a publishing deal by Big Machine Label Group to write songs. The album's first 21 weeks were spent in the top 40 of the Billboard 200; it also has sold 1.7 million in its first years of release. Rhett also co-wrote the 2013 singles "1994" by Jason Aldean, "Parking Lot Party" by Lee Brice, and "Round Here" by Florida Georgia Line. During the chart week of September 21, 2013, the Country Airplay chart included five songs within the top 10 that Rhett or his father had co-written, including "It Goes Like This".

2012–2015: It Goes Like This

In early 2012, he released his debut single, "Something to Do with My Hands", followed later that year by "Beer with Jesus". Both of these made top 30 on the Hot Country Songs charts. His third single, "It Goes Like This", topped the Country Airplay chart and also peaked at number 2 on the Hot Country Songs.

His debut album, also titled It Goes Like This, was released on October 29, 2013. The album's fourth single, "Get Me Some of That", became Rhett's second number 1 single in early 2014. The album's fifth single, "Make Me Wanna", was released to country radio on August 4, 2014. It reached number one on the Country Airplay chart on March 7, 2015. In between the two singles, Rhett sang guest vocals along with Justin Moore on Brantley Gilbert's "Small Town Throwdown".

2015–2017: Tangled Up On April 7, 2015, Rhett released a new single titled "Crash and Burn" which served as the lead single to his second studio album. The album, Tangled Up, was released on September 25. It reached at number one on the Country Airplay chart in September 2015. The album's second single, "Die a Happy Man" released to country radio on September 28, 2015. It reached at number one on the Country Airplay, Hot Country Songs, and Canada Country chart in December 2015. and January 2016. It stayed at number one on the Country Airplay chart for 8 weeks, becoming the second song in the chart's history to do so. The album's third single, "T-Shirt" released to country radio on February 16, 2016. It reached at number one on the Country Airplay in June 2016, but received poor critical reviews criticizing its lyrical content. The album's fourth single, "Vacation" released to country radio on June 13, 2016. The album's fifth single, "Star of the Show", released to country radio on October 3, 2016.

2017–2020: Life Changes and Center Point Road On September 8, Rhett released his third studio album Life Changes. It includes the chart-topping singles "Craving You" featuring Maren Morris, "Unforgettable", and "Marry Me". The title track was released as the album's fourth single on April 16, 2018. The album's fifth single was "Sixteen".

On March 1, 2019, Rhett released "Look What God Gave Her" as the lead-off single to his fourth studio album, Center Point Road. The following night, on Saturday Night Live, Rhett performed another new song from the album, called "Don't Threaten Me With a Good Time." The album was released on May 31. "Remember You Young" was the album's second single, while "Beer Can't Fix" featuring Jon Pardi was the third single.

In 2020, Rhett released the standalone single "Be a Light", a star-studded collaboration featuring Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin and Keith Urban. All proceeds earned from the song are donated to the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund. Rhett won Entertainer of the Year at the 2020 Academy of Country Music Awards.

2021–2023: Country Again and Where We Started

In March 2021, Rhett announced a double album release, with the first part, Country Again: Side A, released on April 30, 2021. It includes the singles "What's Your Country Song" and "Country Again". The album sees Rhett return to his country roots, with stripped down songs that often include country elements, such as the fiddle. Six songs were co-written by his father, country singer Rhett Akins. Rhett released previews of some of the album's songs on Instagram during the COVID-19 pandemic. The second part of the album, Country Again: Side B, has yet to release. In March 2023, Rhett stated that the album had not come together because of his focus on releasing more high-energy music to play at live shows, but he still hoped to eventually release Side B.

In November 2021, he released "Slow Down Summer", which was the lead single from his sixth studio album Where We Started, released on April 1, 2022. The album's second single, "Half of Me," was released on June 6, 2022, as a collaboration with Riley Green. Rhett released the album's third single, "Angels (Don't Always Have Wings)" on January 23, 2023. The album's latter two singles reached number one on the Country Airplay chart. The album also features collaborations with Katy Perry, Tyler Hubbard, and Russell Dickerson.

On October 21, 2022, Rhett released his EP Merry Christmas, Y'all, featuring his take on four Christmas classics.

On September 29, 2023, Rhett released "20 Number Ones," a greatest hits album, in honor of "Half of Me" becoming his 20th number one single on the Country Aircheck/MediaBase chart. On June 5, 2024, Rhett announced that his seventh album About a Woman would be released on August 23, 2024. In September 2024, Rhett co-hosted the 2024 Canadian Country Music Awards alongside MacKenzie Porter.

In 2026, Rhett joined Morgan Wallen as a direct support act on select dates of the Still the Problem Tour, performing in stadiums including Minneapolis, Las Vegas, Gainesville, and Ann Arbor.

Personal life Rhett married Lauren Akins ( Gregory), on October 12, 2012. In May 2017, they announced via Instagram that they were expecting and also in the process of adopting a child from Africa. Shortly after, they brought home their first daughter from Uganda, who was born on November 1, 2015. They then welcomed their second daughter in August 2017. Their third daughter was born on February 10, 2020, and their fourth daughter was born on November 15, 2021. On August 26, 2025, the couple announced that they were expecting their fifth child. On February 27, 2026, the couple announced the birth of their fifth child, a son.

Rhett is a Christian. He has incorporated his faith into his music through singles like "Beer With Jesus" and collaborations with worship singers such as Chris Tomlin.

Discography

It Goes Like This (2013) Tangled Up (2015) Life Changes (2017) Center Point Road (2019) Country Again: Side A (2021) Where We Started (2022) About a Woman (2024)

Tours Headlining Home Team Tour (2017) Life Changes Tour (2018) Very Hot Summer Tour (2019) Center Point Road Tour (2020–2021) Home Team Tour (2023)

Co-headlining Suits & Boots Tour with Brett Eldredge (2015)

Supporting Own the Night Tour with Lady Antebellum (2012) Night Train Tour with Jason Aldean (2013) Anything Goes Tour with Florida Georgia Line (2015) We Were Here Tour with Jason Aldean (2016) Six String Circus Tour with Jason Aldean (2016) My Kinda Saturday Night Tour with Luke Combs (2026) Still The Problem Tour with Morgan Wallen (2026)

iHeartRadio Music Awards Country Song of the Year

Video of the Year

Breakthrough Video of the Year Country Music Association Awards New Artist of the Year

American Country Countdown Awards Breakthrough Artist of the Year

Academy of Country Music Awards New Artist of the Year CMT Music Awards Collaborative Video of the Year "Small Town Throwdown" (shared with Brantley Gilbert & Justin Moore) BMI Country Awards Top 50 Songs "Make Me Wanna" Country Music Association Awards New Artist of the Year

Country Artist of the Year

Best Lyrics

Favorite Song

Favorite Country Male Artist - Country

New Male Vocalist of the Year

Album of the Year Tangled Up Single Record of the Year

Single of the Year Song of the Year

Grammy Awards Best Country Song

Country Artist of the Year Thomas Rhett

Song of the Year "Die a Happy Man"

Video of the Year

Male Video of the Year CMT Performance of the Year "Close" (with Nick Jonas) Teen Choice Awards Choice Country Song

Musical Event of the Year

Music Video of the Year Male Vocalist of the Year

American Music Awards Favorite Male Artist - Country

Grammy Awards Best Country Album Life Changes

Country Artist of the Year Thomas Rhett

Country Song of the Year "Unforgettable"

Male Vocalist of the Year Thomas Rhett

Album of the Year Life Changes Video of the Year "Marry Me" Vocal Event of the Year "Craving You" (feat. Maren Morris)

Top Country Artist

Top Country Male Artist Top Country Album Life Changes

Video of the Year "Marry Me"

Collaborative Video of the Year "Craving You" (feat. Maren Morris) Male Video of the Year "Marry Me"

Male Vocalist of the Year Thomas Rhett

Album of the Year Life Changes Music Video of the Year "Marry Me"

Favorite Male Artist - Country Thomas Rhett

Favorite Album - Country Life Changes

iHeartRadio Music Awards Country Artist of the Year

Academy of Country Music Awards Male Artist of the Year CMT Music Awards Male Video of the Year "Life Changes"

Choice Country Artist Thomas Rhett

Choice Country Song “Look What God Gave Her”

Male Vocalist of the Year Thomas Rhett

Male Video of the Year Collaborative Video of the Year "Beer Can't Fix" (with Jon Pardi)

Male Vocalist of the Year Thomas Rhett Musical Event of the Year "Be a Light" (feat. Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin, and Keith Urban)

Grammy Awards Best Country Song "Some People Do" Season 44: "John Mulaney/Thomas Rhett" 2019 Kennedy Center Honors Himself He also sang a duet with Elmo and the gang on Sesame Street.