Thomas Rhett

Thomas Rhett Akins Jr. (born March 30, 1990)[1] is an American country music singer-songwriter.[3] He is the son of singer Rhett Akins.[4]

For his father, see Rhett Akins.
Thomas Rhett
Rhett in 2013
Background information
Birth nameThomas Rhett Akins Jr.[1]
Born (1990-03-30) March 30, 1990[1]
Valdosta, Georgia, U.S.
OriginNashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer-songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active2010–present
Labels
Associated actsRhett Akins
Websitethomasrhett.com

Rhett has released four studio albums for Big Machine Records' Valory Music imprint: It Goes Like This (2013), Tangled Up (2015), Life Changes (2017), and Center Point Road (2019). His last two albums were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Album in 2017 and 2019[5].

His four albums have produced nineteen singles on the Billboard Hot Country and Country Airplay charts, with fifteen reaching the No. 1 position on the latter: "It Goes Like This", "Get Me Some of That", "Make Me Wanna", "Crash and Burn", "Die a Happy Man", "T-Shirt", "Star of the Show", "Craving You", "Unforgettable", "Marry Me", "Life Changes", "Sixteen", “Remember You Young”, "Look What God Gave Her", and "Beer Can't Fix".

In addition to much of his own material, Rhett has written singles for Jason Aldean, Lee Brice, Florida Georgia Line, LoCash, and Michael Ray, among others.

Early life

Rhett was born in Valdosta, Georgia,[1] to Paige Braswell and country singer Rhett Akins, and grew up knowing other singers including Tim McGraw and Brooks & Dunn.[6] He has one younger sister, Kasey, and a younger half-brother on his father's side, Brody James Akins, born on March 13, 2020.[7] He is of Lebanese descent through his father's side[8].

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.[9] Rhett went to Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, to study communications.[10] He dropped out of college when he was 20 to pursue a career in music.[11] He subsequently accepted a publishing deal by Big Machine Label Group to write songs.[6]

Career

Songwriting

Rhett co-wrote the song "I Ain't Ready to Quit" on Jason Aldean's 2010 album My Kinda Party and signed a recording contract with Big Machine Records' Valory Music Group division in 2011.[12] 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.[13] 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".[14]

2012–2015: It Goes Like This
Rhett performing in 2013

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.[15] 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.[16] 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 with Deluxe Version, "Star of the Show" released to country radio on October 3, 2016.

2017–present: 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.[17] 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 upcoming 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.[18] "Remember You Young" is the album's second single.[19]

Personal life

Rhett married Lauren Akins, on October 12, 2012.[20] They announced that they were expecting a child together, and adopting a baby girl from Uganda, Willa Gray Akins (b. November 1, 2015), on May 12, 2017. On August 12, 2017, they welcomed their second daughter Ada James Akins. [21][22][23]

Rhett mentions his wife and daughters in his song "Life Changes" and they appear in the music video with him. He also included them in his video for "Look What God Gave Her". On July 23, 2019, Rhett announced that he and his wife were expecting their third daughter, Lennon Love Akins, who was born on February 10, 2020.[24][25][26]

Both of Rhett's parents have since divorced and remarried. Rhett has a half brother through his mother, Tyler Lankford (born April 2005) and another one through his father, Brody James Akins (born March 2020 and thus younger than all three of his nieces)[27]

Discography
Main article: Thomas Rhett discography

Tours

Headlining

Supporting

Awards and nominations
Year Ceremony Category Recipient/Work Result Ref
2013 American Country Awards New Artist of the Year Thomas Rhett Nominated [31]
2014 iHeartRadio Music Awards Country Song of the Year "It Goes Like This" [32]
CMT Music Awards Video of the Year [33]
Breakthrough Video of the Year
Country Music Association Awards New Artist of the Year Thomas Rhett [34]
American Country Countdown Awards Breakthrough Artist of the Year [35]
2015 Academy of Country Music Awards New Artist of the Year [36]
CMT Music Awards Collaborative Video of the Year "Small Town Throwdown" (shared with Brantley Gilbert & Justin Moore) [37]
BMI Country Awards Top 50 Songs "Make Me Wanna" Won [38]
Country Music Association Awards New Artist of the Year Thomas Rhett Nominated [39]
2016 American Music Awards Favorite Male Artist – Country Nominated [40]
Favorite Song - Country "Die a Happy Man" Nominated
Academy of Country Music Awards New Male Vocalist of the Year Thomas Rhett Nominated [41]
Album of the Year Tangled Up Nominated
Single Record of the Year "Die a Happy Man" Won
Country Music Association Awards Single of the Year "Die a Happy Man" Nominated [42]
Song of the Year "Die a Happy Man" Won [42]
Billboard Music Awards Top Country Song "Die a Happy Man" Won [43]
2017 Grammy Awards Best Country Song "Die a Happy Man" Nominated [44]
iHeartRadio Music Awards Country Artist of the Year Thomas Rhett Won [45]
Country Song of the Year "T-Shirt" Nominated
Academy of Country Music Awards Male Vocalist of the Year Thomas Rhett Won [46]
Song of the Year "Die a Happy Man" Won
CMT Music Awards Video of the Year "Star of the Show" Nominated [47]
Male Video of the Year Nominated
CMT Performance of the Year "Close" (with Nick Jonas) Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice Country Song "Craving You" (feat. Maren Morris) Nominated [48]
Country Music Association Awards Musical Event of the Year Nominated [49]
Music Video of the Year Nominated
Male Vocalist of the Year Thomas Rhett Nominated
American Music Awards Favorite Male Artist - Country Nominated [50]
2018 Grammy Awards Best Country Album Life Changes Nominated [51]
iHeartRadio Music Awards Country Artist of the Year Thomas Rhett Won [52]
Country Song of the Year "Unforgettable" Nominated
Academy of Country Music Awards Male Vocalist of the Year Thomas Rhett Nominated [53]
Album of the Year Life Changes Nominated
Video of the Year "Marry Me" Nominated
Vocal Event of the Year "Craving You" (feat. Maren Morris) Nominated
Billboard Music Awards Top Country Artist Thomas Rhett Nominated [54]
Top Country Male Artist Nominated
Top Country Album Life Changes Nominated
CMT Music Awards Video of the Year "Marry Me" Nominated [55]
Collaborative Video of the Year "Craving You" (feat. Maren Morris) Nominated
Male Video of the Year "Marry Me" Nominated
Country Music Association Awards Male Vocalist of the Year Thomas Rhett Nominated [56]
Album of the Year Life Changes Nominated
Music Video of the Year "Marry Me" Won
American Music Awards Favorite Male Artist - Country Thomas Rhett Nominated [57]
Favorite Album - Country Life Changes Nominated
2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards Country Artist of the Year Thomas Rhett Nominated [58]
Academy of Country Music Awards Male Artist of the Year Won [59]
CMT Music Awards Male Video of the Year "Life Changes" Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice Country Artist Thomas Rhett Nominated [60]
Choice Country Song “Look What God Gave Her” Nominated
Country Music Association Awards Male Vocalist of the Year Thomas Rhett Nominated [56]
Album of the Year Center Point Road Nominated
American Music Awards Favorite Male Artist - Country Thomas Rhett Nominated
2020 Grammy Awards Best Country Album Center Point Road Nominated [51]
Academy of Country Music Awards Entertainer of the Year Thomas Rhett Pending [53]
Album of the Year Center Point Road Pending
Male Artist of the Year Thomas Rhett Pending
Video of the Year "Remember You Young" Pending

Television appearances
Year Title Role Notes
2016 CMT Crossroads Himself Alongside Nick Jonas
2016–present CMA Music Festival: Country's Night To Rock Himself/Co-host Alongside Brett Eldredge and Kelsea Ballerini
2017 The Ranch Himself
2018 The Voice Himself/Advisor Season 15: Team Kelly
2019 Saturday Night Live Himself/Musical guest[61] Season 44: "John Mulaney/Thomas Rhett"
2019 Kennedy Center Honors Himself
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gollark: Look, just buy a WiFi cable...
gollark: No clue.

References
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  3. "Interview: Country singer Thomas Rhett following in his father's footsteps". Articles.chicagotribune.com. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  4. Conaway, Alanna (July 21, 2011). "Thomas Rhett Gets His Turn in the Spotlight". Taste of Country. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
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