Thomas Rhett Archives - Nashville Music Line

Inside Track on Music Row! All new for November 2025

New albums, new singles and more in this month’s ‘Inside Track on Music Row’

by Preshias Harris

With Halloween in the rear-view mirror and Thanksgiving on the calendar, it must be November! There’s SO much news this month about music and more from American Love Affair, Brandi Carlile, Terri Clark, Russell Dickerson & the Jonas Brothers, ERNEST, Janie Fricke, Vince Gill, Greensky Bluegrass, Emmylou Harris, Greylan James, Cody Jinks, Robby Johnson, Kathy Mattea, Shane McAnally, Walker Montgomery, Brooke Moriber & Little Anthony, Megan Moroney, Mitchell Tenpenny, Thomas Rhett & Niall Horan, Chris Tomlin, Lauren Watkins, Anne Wilson and more. Keep scrollin’ to read it all…

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: The one mentality I’ve always tried to have is that no matter what stage in your career that you are in as a musician or a performer or a songwriter or whatever, there’s always more to learn. – Nick Jonas

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest. – Psalm 85:12

ALBUM & EP NEWS

RUSSELL DICKERSON feat. THE JONAS BROTHERS

RUSSELL DICKERSON feat. THE JONAS BROTHERS: Multi-Platinum artist Russell Dickerson recruits global pop sensations the Jonas Brothers for a new version of his single, “Happen to Me (feat. Jonas Brothers).” The collaboration was born after Dickerson and the Jonas Brothers shared a party on stage earlier this year during a surprise performance in Detroit, MI, where they debuted a live rendition of “Happen to Me” together to a roaring crowd. Blending Dickerson’s signature country-pop storytelling with the Jonas Brothers’ infectious pop harmonies, the new version captures the spirit of that electric night—bridging genres and showcasing a fresh, feel-good sound that celebrates connection, gratitude, and the moments that “happen to” shape us. Look back at the unforgettable performance here and stream “Happen To Me (feat. Jonas Brothers)” here.

The collaboration breathes new life into the chart-topping anthem, which continues to dominate airwaves across Country Aircheck/MediaBase, the Billboard Country Charts, SiriusXM’s The Highway, and Canada and UK Country Radio charts. Since its original release, Dickerson is “hotter than ever” (MusicRow), with streams surpassing 235 million and earning RIAA Platinum certification. Now breaking into pop formats, “Happen To Me” has notched No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 and continues to climb, reaching No. 13 on Hot AC and No. 25 on Top 40.

Tour & ticket info and more at RussellDickerson.com. Follow Russell on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

ERNEST

ERNEST: Triple threat talent ERNEST has announced the arrival of his newest project, Live From The South, due out Nov. 21 (pre-save here). The cohesive collection built on southern imagery — pies cooling on the counter, Friday night football games, “Dixieland Delight” – features “Blessed,” out now.

“Blessed” reflects his growth as an artist and comfortability in his own shoes. The new song revels in gratitude — family ties, simple faith, making a life for yourself. A secret weapon in a writers’ room or studio, the project’s track was self-produced and penned alongside Mark Holman, Jordan Merrigan and Matt Mulhare.

Forthcoming Live From The South follows ERNEST’s lauded NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, one of 2024’s best albums of the year according to the Los Angeles Times. Similarly to its full-length predecessor, Live From The South is sonically defined by guitar-picking, fiddle and pedal steel with production by ERNEST and Jacob Durrett.

The 4x ACM Award nominee, 3x CMA Triple Play Award winner and 3x Variety Hitmaker will add to an already stacked November headlining Ryman Auditorium on Nov. 4-5. Kicking off in January in Denver, Colo., recently announced Live From The South Tour will hit Boston, New York and Houston – with new dates in Jackson Hole, Wy., Charlotte and Asheville, N.C., Knoxville and Chattanooga, Tenn., and more. Tour and ticket info at ernestofficial.com; follow him on Instagram, Facebook, X and YouTube.

VINCE GILL

VINCE GILL: It’s been 50 years since Vince Gill chose a path toward music and left his home in Oklahoma to launch his career — a journey that’s taken him to Kentucky then California and finally Nashville, and, as a touring artist, around the world. It has seen him find success as a member of bands such as Mountain Smoke, Bluegrass Alliance, Boone Creek, Sundance, Pure Prairie League, Rodney Crowell’s Notorious Cherry Bombs, The Time Jumpers and, most recently, the Eagles, and as an iconic recording artist in his own right. Last week, Gill signed a lifetime deal with his longtime label MCA.

Inside Track on Music Row – Fall special!

Inside Track on new albums, singles, videos, songwriter awards and more!

By Preshias Harris

It’s finally Fall – and here’s what you need to know about new music from Drew Baldridge, Dierks Bentley, Luke Combs, Matt Cooper, Daniella Cotton, Colt Ford, Charles Wesley Godwin, Vince Gill, HARDY, Joy Holden, Trace Nixon, Kody Norris, Thomas Rhett, Runaway June, Lauren Watkins, Tucker Wetmore – plus ‘listen/play’ links to the albums and singles and more. It’s all here, so keep scrolling!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “I wrote [Every Rose Has Its Thorns] in a mini-Winnebago outside a honky-tonk in Dallas, where we had played to maybe 50 or 100 people. I came back to the bus, me and my girl at the time had broken up and it just sparked me. Music saved my life.” -Bret Michaels of Poison, speaking of the group’s 1988 Number One hit in an interview with USA Today.

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: I can do everything through him who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:13

ALBUM & EP NEWS

DIERKS BENTLEY

DIERKS BENTLEY: Following a summer packed with standout performances and fan-favorite collaborations, multi-Platinum singer-songwriter Dierks Bentley is expanding his 11th studio album with Broken Branches Extended, released October 3. Bentley continues to grow his signature blend of against-the-grain creative courage, offering two brand new tracks, including the rowdy standout “IYKYK” and the driving, dobro-laced “All Night to Figure It Out.” Listen/save Broken Branches Extended here.

The punchy foot-stomper “IYKYK” comes out swinging with a spirited mandolin riff, courtesy of Charlie Worsham, that hits like a honky tonk anthem on overdrive. With lyrical nods to fiddle, steel guitar, Natty Light and Friday nights, Bentley leans into a defiant celebration of the country way of life—one that doesn’t need explaining if you already live it. Meanwhile, “All Night to Figure It Out” sets the (acoustic) mood for a little romantic research. Burning with slow-grooving, stomp-and-clap desire, the dobro-drenched jangle rocker features a loose, casual sway, with Bentley’s easy vocal in no hurry for the moment to end.

The two new tracks join Broken Branches’ original 11. Rooted in raw honesty and storytelling, the album embraces life’s outliers and underdogs with songs about resilience, change, and connection. Praised for its “distinctive and daring sound” (Esquire), the original collection features a cross-generational lineup of collaborators—including John Anderson, Riley Green, Miranda Lambert, and Stephen Wilson Jr. More at Dierks.com, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.

LUKE COMBS

LUKE COMBS: Global superstar Luke Combs released The Prequel, a new 3-song EP, October 3 via Sony Music Nashville— listen-save here. Produced by Combs and Chip Matthews, The Prequel features “My Kinda Saturday Night,” which is already highly anticipated by fans after being teased online, as well as “15 Minutes” and “Days Like These.”

Of the project, Combs shares, “Still working on my new album that’ll be out early next year, but 3 songs from it are ready now and I couldn’t wait to get y’all some new music, so I’m releasing them this Friday, October 3 as The Prequel. Songs will be ‘Days Like These,’ ‘15 Minutes’ and ‘My Kinda Saturday Night,’ which next year’s tour will be named after. I’ll have more news on that very soon.”

The release adds to yet another monumental year for Combs, who recently made history as the first country artist ever to headline both Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. Additionally, Combs released his latest single, “Back in the Saddle,” earlier this summer, which is currently #8 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and rising. Combs is a multi-diamond, award-winning artist from Asheville, NC. In the midst of yet another triumphant year, Combs is nominated for three awards at the 2025 CMA Awards. Tour updates at LukeCombs.com and TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.

COLT FORD

COLT FORD: Country music trailblazer Colt Ford has announced the release of his brand-new album, Little Out There, available everywhere on November 7, 2025 (pre-save here) via Average Joes Entertainment. The project marks Ford’s first full-length release since his near-fatal heart attack in April 2024 – a powerful comeback story underscored by resilience, passion, and a renewed creative fire.

Along with the album announcement, the multi-platinum artist dropped a new single, “Country AF” featuring Jay Webb, available now on all streaming platforms. The rowdy, unapologetic anthem channels Ford’s signature country swagger, blending hip-hop energy, Southern grit, and sharp lyricism––penned by Michael Hardy, Jaren Johnston, and Jesse Frasure.

New albums, new singles for the New Year!

Inside Track on Music Row hits the ground running for January 2025

By Preshias Harris

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “As a songwriter, you have to live to write songs. You can’t just make this stuff up. It just feels inauthentic, and people can see through that; country fans can see through that faster than anybody else if a song feels contrived.” – Dierks Bentley, interviewed by Annie Reuter, American Songwriter, March/April 2023

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11

It’s a brand new year and there are new albums from Kane Brown, The Coward Brothers, Charles Esten, Joe Nichols and Flatland Cavalry… new singles from Logan Mac, Aaron Halliday, Runaway June and Morgan Wallen… plus news about Dolly Parton, Thomas Rhett, Brooks & Dunn, Bill Anderson, Dustin Lynch, Brian Kelley, The Opry 100 Celebration, Tin Pan South and more. Scroll down and catch up!

ALBUM NEWS

KANE BROWN

KANE BROWN: Global superstar, Kane Brown has unveiled the tracklist for his highly anticipated forthcoming record, The High Road out January 24, via Sony Music Nashville (pre-add, pre-save here). The bold body of work features collaborations with Brad Paisley, Khalid, Jelly Roll, Marshmello, and Brown’s wife, Katelyn Brown, who is featured on “Body Talk,” and “Do Us Part.”. Full tracklist at Brown’s website.

Of the record, Kane previously shared, “This album, The High Road, is my favorite album I’ve ever made. I get to explore all sides of my story and styles of my music. Every song is important to me and every collaboration means something personal to me. I’m so incredibly proud of this record.”

The news follows on the heels of Brown’s recent single release, “Body Talk with Katelyn Brown,” (Listen here) which was released last month to widespread critical acclaim. Of the song, Billboard praises, “They return with another pop-heavy groove on this sensuous, dance-worthy track that further evinces that Katelyn’s airy, velvety vocal is a standout, and when paired with Kane’s vocal, brings out the grittier, sultrier notes in his voice.”

Eager to hit the road following his acclaimed In The Air Tour and recent JingleBall performances, Brown is gearing up to deliver electrifying live performances on The High Road Tour which kicks off on March 13, 2025, in San Diego, CA. #KaneBrownMusic

THE COWARD BROTHERS

THE COWARD BROTHERS: The new, self-titled album from The Coward Brothers — better known as T Bone Burnett and Elvis Costello — is now available on LP and CD everywhere. Pick up a copy from your favorite store today and enjoy it one week before the digital release. More information and purchase options here.

In conjunction with the Audible Original releasing, the album features all-new music from The Coward Brothers and boasts an all-star cast which also includes Edward Hibbert (The Prestige, Earthworm Jim), Stephen Root (Barry, Office Space), and Kathreen Khavari (Avengers Assemble, Big Little Lies). The Elvis Costello scripted musical-comedy series will be available exclusively for Audible listeners beginning November 21.

The soundtrack is available on CD, regular black vinyl, limited-edition “Licorice Red” vinyl and Barnes & Noble-only “Pink Bubblegum” vinyl. Notice how those latter variants tying in with satirical song titles on the release. See The Coward Brothers performances (and an interview on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert) at their YouTube channel. #TheCowardBrothers

CHARLES ESTEN

CHARLES ESTEN: Lauded by Grammy.com as delivering an independent debut album, Love Ain’t Pretty, that’s “the purest representation of his artistry possible,” multi-talented entertainer Charles Esten is set to drop a double vinyl for the one-year anniversary of the acclaimed release. Available on January 24, 2025, fans can preorder the Love Ain’t Pretty Deluxe Edition here.

Inside Track on Music Row December 2024

New albums, singles, tour updates and more!

By Preshias Harris

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “I was a different person before I started to write. When I realized I could be a songwriter and that people would listen – that was when I started feeling good in my life.” – Gwen Stafani

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. – Psalm 34:1-2

December already? It seems like only yesterday it was November! So it’s time for the December 2024 edition of Inside Trak on Music Row, the longest continuously-running monthly country music column in the USA. A lot of new music to check out. Albums from Brooks & Dunn, George Jones, Red Cat Strays and Ringo Starr… Singles from Tanner Adell, Bowman, Ian Flanigan, Thomas Rhett, Lily Rose, Shaboozeyand Swon Brothers… plus tour updates, news about Christmas music, Bluegrass, music videos and a whole lot more. Scroll down and click on ‘Continue Reading’ to catch up on the music news you can use…

ALBUM NEWS

BROOKS & DUNN

BROOKS & DUNN: The best-selling duo of all time, Brooks & Dunn, have released their highly anticipated collaboration project Reboot II, via Sony Music Nashville. The album serves as the sequel to their acclaimed 2019 release Reboot, following a similar concept but with a fresh twist. This time, a new generation of today’s top artists—from country to beyond—were given full creative freedom to join forces with the duo. The result is a collection that showcases Brooks & Dunn’s iconic catalog while pushing genre boundaries. Featuring 18 exciting new collaborations with Lainey Wilson, Morgan Wallen, Marcus King Band, Megan Moroney, Warren Zeiders, Jelly Roll, Riley Green, The Cadillac Three, Halestorm, Mitchell Tenpenny, The Earls of Leicester, Jake Worthington, Hailey Whitters, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, HARDY, ERNEST, A Thousand Horses and Corey Kent. Fans can listen to Reboot II now here.

Reboot II‘s 18 tracks include reinterpreted hits such as “Neon Moon,” “Boot Scootin’ Boogie,” and “Believe,” resulting in a dynamic and eclectic collection that spans genres and generations. To celebrate the release of Reboot II, Brooks & Dunn performed their hit song “Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You” on Today on November 13, watch here.

They recently announced 2025 dates for the first leg of their Neon Moon Tour; for a full list of upcoming tour dates and to purchase tickets, visit www.brooks-dunn.com. #Brooks&Dunn

GEORGE JONES

GEORGE JONES: With excitement peaking, George Jones: The Lost Nashville Sessions is available now (play/listen here), offering fans a long-awaited treasure trove of music from the legendary George Jones. This album features sixteen tracks, blending beloved classics with rare gems from Jones’ extensive catalog. Fans will recognize favorites like “The Race Is On,” “The Grand Tour,” “White Lightnin’,” and “Tender Years.” The collection also highlights lesser-known recordings of songs such as “Old Brush Arbors,” “She’s Mine,” “Four-O-Thirty-Three,” and more, providing a fresh glimpse into Jones’ iconic career.

Inside Track Summer Edition now posted

Warm weather, hot music news

Inside Track on Music Row, my monthly music column, is now posted and ready to read at Nashville Music Guide. This month’s column is a special ‘Summer Edition’ with even more news than usual including info on upcoming tours, album releases, artist and songwriter news and more. Inside Track is the longest running monthly country music column in the USA. Read the entire column here. Meanwhile, here is a teaser with just a few of the stories in this month’s column…

Country’s top stars pay tribute to Charlie Daniels on new album
Thomas Rhett and dad Rhett Akins team up on “Things Dads Do”
Doyle Lawson set to release final album before retiring
Male trio Texas Hill‘s 8-song collection Stabal Session (Live Acoustic)
Buck Owens albums from the 60s and 70s re-released on CD & digital
Chris Lane will kick off Fill Them Boots Tour in October

scroll down to read these items…

ALBUM NEWS: Walmart is helping pay tribute to the late Charlie Daniels by exclusively carrying an upcoming collaborative album that features the Country Music Hall of Fame member dueting with some of the biggest stars in country music, bluegrass, and southern rock. The physical edition of Charlie Daniels & Friends – Duets (via Blue Hat Records & BFD / Audium Nashville) will be available for purchase in all Walmart stores and walmart.com on Friday, July 16.

“It goes without saying that it’s been a rough year for my mom and I, our CDB family and dad’s fans,” says Daniels’ son, Charlie Daniels Jr. “But his music will live on forever, and we’re happy that this Duets collection will add to his legacy.” The nineteen-track compilation features Daniels singing and pickin’ with a slew of top-notch stars including Dolly Parton, Brooks & Dunn, Darius Rucker, Travis Tritt, Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Brenda Lee, Gretchen Wilson, Marty Stuart and more. Album details and pre-order info here.

Country music tours are back!

Tour buses are heading out of Nashville again

by Preshias Harris

Country artists can’t wait to get back on the road – and their fans can’t wait to see ‘em! New announcements about upcoming tours are being released almost every day, but for now, here are the ones we have confirmed for Michael Ray, Brandy Clark, Scotty McCreery, Old Dominion, Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jason Aldean, Thomas Rhett, Florida Georgia Line, The Cadillac Three, Brett Young and Blake Shelton:

Michael Ray is off to the beach – Myrtle Beach, SC – on June 13 for Carolina Country Music Fest, the first of twenty-plus dates on his 2021 Just The Way I Am Tour. The Carolina Fest runs June 10 – 13 with 30+ country acts including Luke Combs, Eric Church, Ashley McBryde, Darius Rucker and more. Ray then heads on to major stops throughout the summer and fall in cities such as Roanoke, VA, Birmingham, AL, Baltimore, MD, St. Louis, MO and Fargo, ND, before wrapping up November 14 at the Tortuga Music Festival in Fort Lauderdale FL.

“I can’t wait to be back out on the road and be with all of you again,” said Ray. “There’s nothing better than being with one another and singing the songs that have brought us together over the years, and I’m so excited to share some new songs with you that have come to mean so much to me. Let’s make some memories!” Tickets and a full list of tour dates here.

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Brandy Clark will return to the stage this fall with her Who You Thought I Was headline tour, including stops at Seattle’s Neumos, San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall, Los Angeles’ Lodge Room, Denver’s Lost Lake, New York’s Bowery Ballroom, Philadelphia’s World Café Live and Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley among many others. Tickets for the shows are on-sale now, full details can be found here.

The newly confirmed dates celebrate a landmark year for Clark, whose new deluxe album, Your Life is a Record (Deluxe), is out now on Warner Records (stream/purchase here). The special extended edition features all eleven tracks from her GRAMMY-nominated album plus six new songs including “Remember Me Beautiful,” which Clark wrote late last year with Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna and Liz Rose for NPR’s Morning Edition Song Project. Produced by Jay Joyce, Your Life is a Record was nominated for Best Country Album at the 63rd GRAMMY Awards and landed on several “Best of 2020” lists including NPR Music, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, Variety, Paste and Slate.

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Scotty McCreery will headline his You Time Tour kicking off in Fresno, CA, on June 18. On some dates, McCreery will be supporting Chris Young or Old Dominion. “This last year I was glad to get more ‘you time’ with my wife Gabi than ever before, as well as a lot of ‘you time’ with some of my favorite songwriters via zoom as we created new songs for the upcoming album,” said McCreery. “And now that we’re able to tour again, I cannot wait to get back on the road and have some ‘you time’ with fans this summer.”

The tour’s title refers to “You Time,” released in September 2020, a single from his next album set for release later this year. McCreery co-wrote the song with Frank Rogers and Aaron Eshuis. Additional dates for the You Time Tour will be announced soon. Tickets and info here.

‘Inside Track’ for April 2021

The April 2021 edition of my column, Inside Track on Music on Music Row is now posted at Nashville Music Guide.

It’s the longest continuously-running country music column in the USA. Check out the entire April column, with the accompanying photos and videos, here at NMG. Among some of the stories:

Justin Moore’s new project is an eight-song collection titled Straight Outta the Country that he announced on his Justin Moore Podcast.
Shenandoah’s Marty Raybon returns to his bluegrass roots, signing with Nashville’s Billy Blue Records that released the debut single “Walking the Floor.”
Ronnie Milsap believes it’s the music that makes you young. With A Better Word for Love dropping April 30, the 4-time Country Music Association Album of the Year winner is ready to tease his fans with a little “Wild Honey.”
Thomas Rhett’s journey continues with the release of part one of his fifth studio double album: Country Again Side A on April 30 and fans can pre-order it now.
Check out Cadillac Three’s new video for “Long After Last Call,” a startling reminder of the empty independent venues across the globe to benefit #SaveOurStages.
American country rock band and Kentucky Music Hall of Fame members, Exile, will reissue four of their legendary albums via a new signed deal with Time Life to coincide with the original Exile Reunion concert.

Plus much more. read the entire column here at NMG.

Preshias Harris is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com

Covid-19 lockdown inspires country artists

From heartfelt to funny: songs to get us through the virus

Country music is where songs tell stories. What better music genre to express the hopes and fears of us all as we deal with the fear and uncertainty of the current coronavirus? Here are some of the songs that are worth a listen, along with links to the accompanying videos:

Big & Rich: “Stay Home”

In the official video, John Rich sits by the guitar-shaped pool at his Mt. Richmore home (carefully-placed bottles of Granny Rich Whiskey on the table beside him!) and is joined remotely by Big Kenny with fun lyrics such as:

The shelves are bare and empty / Because some people just don’t care / Got one roll of toilet paper / And I’m down to my last square

Thomas Rhett: “Be A Light” ft. Keith Urban, Chris Tomlin, Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott

A sweet and inspiring song encouraging us all to take the opportunity to do what’s right for ourselves and each other.

In a world full of hate, be a light / When you do somebody wrong, make it right / Don’t hide in the dark, you were born to shine / In a world full of hate, be a light

Here’s Thomas singing an acoustic solo version of the song while self-isolating.

Inside Track on Music Row March 2020

by Preshias Harris

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “Songs write themselves, we just hold the pen” – Garth Brooks on stage at the 2020 Country Radio Seminar in Nashville, TN.

My column, Inside Track on Music Row, is the longest-running country music column in the USA and now worldwide on the Internet! Send me music stuff, I love to get it!

Preshiaswriter@hotmail.com TN/USA. Google “Preshias”

Here, below, are just some of the news items in the March 2020 column that is published by Nashville Music Guide. Scroll down to continue reading…

Lauren & Thomas Rhett welcome baby Lennon Love
Love Lives On tells stories of fallen warriors’ survivors
Cody Purvis on “Drinkin’ Terms” with Billboard Indicator chart
Brandy Clark: “Love Is a Fire” can warm you or burn you
“Copper Coil” new song from duo Band Steele
CJ Solar’s “Watered Down Whiskey” heralds new EP
Outlaw music from Billy Don Burns
Chris Bandi’s first step on hallowed Opry stage
Tin Pan South tix going fast: grab yours now
Scroll down to read these news stories from Inside Track on Music Row

BABY NEWS

County singer Thomas Rhett and wife Lauren Akins welcomed their third daughter last month. Her name is Lennon Love Akins, and she weighed 9lbs 2oz and a head full of dark hair and blue eyes. His father Rhett Akins and his wife Sonya are expecting a boy in March… More baby news… Shay Mooney (Dan+ Shay) and wife Hannah welcomed their second child, another boy, named Ames Alexander on February 21st in Nashville. He joins big brother, three-year-old Asher James.

Thomas Rhett and co-writers celebrate two No. 1s

“Sixteen,” “Look What God Gave Her” feted

By Preshias Harris

It was party time for Thomas Rhett (TR) and his co-writers on October 9 as they celebrated his twelfth and thirteenth No. 1 hits, “Sixteen” and “Look What Gave Her.” “Look” was written by Thomas Rhett along with his father Rhett Akins, Julian Bunetta, John Ryan, Jacob Kasher and Ammar Malik. Thomas co-produced the song with Dann Huff and Julian Bunetta, so it really was a group effort. It is the first single from Rhett’s fourth studio album, Center Point Road. “Sixteen” was penned by Thomas Rhett, Joe London and Sean Douglas.

(L to R) Rhett Akins, John Ryan, Sean Douglas, Thomas Rhett, Joe London and Julian Bunetta. Photo Credit: Preshias Harris

And how many No. 1 songs have been written by a father and son?! In a way, it was destined to be. Growing up as the son of a successful singer-songwriter, he was immersed in the world of music as the son of Rhett Akins. The family moved from Valdosta, Georgia to Nashville when Thomas was still an infant and he grew up knowing his dad’s friends such as Tim McGraw and Brooks & Dunn. He did give a shout out to Tracy Lawrence, one of his favorites growing up country.

“Look What God Gave Her” was certified Gold by the RIAA for 500,000 units in combined sales and streams. It followed his previous single and No. 1 hit, “Sixteen,” a cut on his previous album Life Changes that gave Thomas a total of five Number Ones on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.

Linking L.A. with Nashville

I said to Rhett Akins, “I watched you start in Country and I’m watching you, Thomas, create your mark in Country music history.” Turning to Thomas, I asked him to tell me about working with his co-writers and how he chose the songs to get to Center Point Road. Looking at Thomas sitting with his co-writers, I commented that they all looked like family. I asked him and his co-writers what it was like, creating these songs together. Continue reading “Thomas Rhett and co-writers celebrate two No. 1s”