Though he didn't regret any of the ventures he'd made into different genres - in the same Rolling Stone interview, Rhett declared, "Every artist, if they're not allowed to explore, if they're not allowed to expand and try things, it halts the creative process" - he began yearning to return home, musically speaking. Some of the things I used to put so much stock in, I didn't put stock in anymore." There was a different artist I was comparing myself to and trying to write something along the lines they would write. "I remember being like, I love all my past records, but I do feel like on every record there was something I was chasing," he told Rolling Stone. Yet, in line with the album's nostalgic themes, Rhett reflected on his career - and began to have a change in perspective. 1s (a feat he has now extended to 17) and two sold-out arena tours, he went into his Center Point Road cycle nearing A-list status. Rhett even detailed the whirlwind experience with his first two daughters - Lauren found out she was pregnant amid adopting a baby girl from Uganda - and mentioned the girls by name: "Now there's Willa and sweet Ada James/ That's two under two, hey, what can I say."īy the time he released his fourth album, 2019's Center Point Road, Rhett had solidified his place as one of country's biggest current stars.
That was particularly showcased in his 2018 single "Life Changes," which documents his journey from college, to marriage, to parenthood. Fans began to invest in Rhett's love story, dubbing the couple #relationshipgoals and following Lauren on social media (she now has 2.6 million followers on Instagram alone).įrom there, Rhett began to mine his personal life for songwriting material, getting more and more specific with each release. But "Die a Happy Man" - so specifically written about Lauren that she even starred in its music video - actually had the opposite effect. The singer got married when he was 22, and early on, his marriage had its share of naysayers in the country music industry many thought it would hurt his career if fans knew he was off the market. But the song accomplished more than just commercial success - it was also one of Rhett's first forays into personal, autobiographical writing about his relationship with his wife, Lauren Akins. 21 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 and No. In addition to topping country charts, the heartfelt ballad made it to No. His crossover breakthrough came with 2015's "Die a Happy Man," a love song so catchy and eloquently written that it became a go-to first dance song for fans of all genres. "It carved out a lane for me," he continued. He specifically pointed out "Crash and Burn," acknowledging that part of him expected it to "crash and burn" at country radio. "I've made a living throwing curveballs," Rhett told Billboard in 2021. On top of his in-format success, Rhett has amassed a crossover audience with R&B influence and pop-driven production on songs like "Crash and Burn" and "Craving You," a duet with Maren Morris. 1 hits, "It Goes Like This" and "Get Me Some of That."Īkins is a stalwart of country radio, but Rhett's career soon broadened beyond those borders.
1 in 1996 with his song "Don't Get Me Started." Since then, Akins has continued to hold a prominent place in the country songwriting community, and he's a co-writer on much of his son's discography, including Rhett's first two No.
He grew up as the kid of a '90s hitmaker, who charted 14 hits on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart and hit No. In the clip, he looks like he's probably 4 or 5, wearing a cowboy hat and singing Joe Diffie's "Third Rock From the Sun" with acoustic guitar (and occasional singing) accompaniment from his country-singer dad, Rhett Akins - as Rhett aptly put it, "Where and I started."įans already knew that Rhett's roots in the music business run deep. A few weeks before the release of his newest album, Where We Started, Thomas Rhett posted a video on social media of one of his earliest performances.