Thomas Rhett Akins Sr. (born October 13, 1969) is an American singer and songwriter. Signed to
Decca Records
Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...
between 1994 and 1997, he released two albums for that label (1995's ''
A Thousand Memories'' and 1996's ''
Somebody New''), followed by 1998's ''
What Livin's All About'' on
MCA Nashville
Universal Music Group Nashville is Universal Music Group's country music subsidiary. Some of the labels in this group include MCA Nashville Records, Mercury Nashville Records, Lost Highway Records, Capitol Records Nashville and EMI Records Nashv ...
. ''
Friday Night in Dixie
''Friday Night in Dixie'' is the fourth studio album by American country music artist Rhett Akins. It was released in 2002 on Audium Entertainment/Koch Records. The album produced two singles in "Highway Sunrise" and "In Your Love", which peak ...
'' was released in 2002 on
Audium Entertainment
Entertainment One Ltd., trading as eOne, is an American-owned Canadian multinational entertainment company. Based in Toronto, Ontario, the company is primarily involved in the acquisition, distribution, and production of films and television se ...
. Overall, his albums have accounted for fourteen singles on the
''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs, including the number one "
Don't Get Me Started" from 1996.
Although he has not charted a single since 2006, Akins has written singles for other country music singers, primarily as one-third of the songwriting team
The Peach Pickers
The Peach Pickers are an American songwriting team, composed of Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, and Ben Hayslip.
Akins and Hayslip met while attending high school together in Valdosta, Georgia, before Akins signed a contract with Decca Records in ...
, alongside
Dallas Davidson
Dallas Davidson is an American country music singer and songwriter from Albany, Georgia, who has written for artists such as Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Cole Swindell, Jake Owen, Luke Bryan, Randy Houser, Lady Antebellum, and Billy Curringto ...
and
Ben Hayslip
Ben Hayslip (born March 11, 1970 in Evans, Georgia) is an American country music songwriter.
Early life
Hayslip first attended Valdosta High School in Valdosta GA where he was a freshman quarterback for the 1984 State and National champion Val ...
. Akins's son,
Thomas Rhett
Thomas may refer to:
People
* List of people with given name Thomas
* Thomas (name)
* Thomas (surname)
* Saint Thomas (disambiguation)
* Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church
* Thomas the A ...
, is also a singer.
Early life
Rhett Akins was born on October 13, 1969, in
Valdosta, Georgia
Valdosta is a city in and the county seat of Lowndes County, Georgia, Lowndes County, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, United States. As of 2019, Valdosta had an estimated population of 56,457.
Valdosta is the principal city of the Valdosta Metr ...
, to Pamela LaHood and Thomas Akins.
By age 11, he and his two younger brothers had formed a band.
Rhett played football at the
University of Georgia
, mottoeng = "To teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things.""To serve" was later added to the motto without changing the seal; the Latin motto directly translates as "To teach and to inquire into the nature of things."
, establ ...
and studied business but gave up his studies after a year. He then worked for his father’s oil and gas distribution company.
Career
1992–1994: Move to Nashville and recording contract
In 1992,
after performing in the theme park show "Music Country Music" at Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, Texas, Akins moved to
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...
, and performed in "Country Music USA" at Opryland Theme Park. Akins then became a demo singer before
Decca Records
Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...
signed him to a recording contract.
1994–1997: ''A Thousand Memories'' and ''Somebody New''
Akins's first single was "What They're Talkin' About", a No. 35 on the ''
Billboard'' country charts in late 1994, followed by the No. 36 "I Brake for Brunettes". After these first two singles came his signature song, "
That Ain't My Truck
"That Ain't My Truck" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Rhett Akins. It was released in May 1995 as the third single from his debut album '' A Thousand Memories''. The song spent 21 weeks on the U.S. ''Billboard'' ...
". This was his breakthrough hit, peaking at No. 3 on the country charts in mid-1995. All three of these songs were included on his 1995 debut album ''
A Thousand Memories'', which also produced the No. 17 "She Said Yes". Also in 1995 and 1996, Akins toured with
Reba McEntire.
In 1995, he was named one of ''Country America's'' "Top New Stars".
Akins' second album, ''
Somebody New'', produced his only number one hit in "
Don't Get Me Started", which peaked in August 1996. The other three singles from ''Somebody New'' were less successful, with "Love You Back" (the second single) becoming his last top 40 hit at No. 38.
1997–2004: Transfer to MCA Nashville, ''What Livin's All About'', and ''Friday Night in Dixie''
After Decca's Nashville division was merged into
MCA Nashville
Universal Music Group Nashville is Universal Music Group's country music subsidiary. Some of the labels in this group include MCA Nashville Records, Mercury Nashville Records, Lost Highway Records, Capitol Records Nashville and EMI Records Nashv ...
in 1997, Akins was transferred to MCA Nashville for the release of his third album, 1998's ''
What Livin's All About''. This album was even less successful, however, with its lead-off single "More Than Everything" falling one space short of top 40 in the U.S., although it was a No. 25 hit on the ''
RPM
Revolutions per minute (abbreviated rpm, RPM, rev/min, r/min, or with the notation min−1) is a unit of rotational speed or rotational frequency for rotating machines.
Standards
ISO 80000-3:2019 defines a unit of rotation as the dimensionl ...
'' country charts in Canada. Also in 1998, Akins charted with a cover of
Eddie Rabbitt's 1980 number one hit "
Drivin' My Life Away
"Drivin' My Life Away" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Eddie Rabbitt. It was released in June 1980 as the first single from the album '' Horizon''. The song was written by Rabbitt, Even Stevens and David Mall ...
", which Akins covered on the soundtrack to the 1998 film ''
Black Dog''.
In 2000, he voiced the character of Tom Sawyer in MGM's animated remake of ''
Tom Sawyer
Thomas Sawyer () is the titular character of the Mark Twain novel ''The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'' (1876). He appears in three other novels by Twain: '' Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'' (1884), '' Tom Sawyer Abroad'' (1894), and '' Tom Sawyer, ...
'' alongside fellow country singer
Mark Wills
Mark Wills (born Daryl Mark Williams; August 8, 1973) is an American country music artist. Signed to Mercury Records between 1996 and 2003, he released five studio albums for the label – ''Mark Wills'', ''Wish You Were Here'', '' Permanently'' ...
, who voiced Huckleberry Finn, as well as
Lee Ann Womack
Lee Ann Womack Liddell (; born August 19, 1966) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Her 2000 single, " I Hope You Dance" was a major crossover music hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Country Chart and the Top 15 ...
, who voiced Becky's singing voice. A fourth album, ''
Friday Night in Dixie
''Friday Night in Dixie'' is the fourth studio album by American country music artist Rhett Akins. It was released in 2002 on Audium Entertainment/Koch Records. The album produced two singles in "Highway Sunrise" and "In Your Love", which peak ...
'', was released in 2002 on
Koch Records
MNRK Music Group (pronounced "monarch", formerly known as Koch Records and eOne Music) is a New York City-based independent record label and music management company. It was formed in 2009 from the music assets of Koch Entertainment, which had ...
. This album's only two singles, "Highway Sunrise" and "In Your Love", peaked at No. 55 and No. 57, respectively.
2005–2006: BNA Records and ''People Like Me''
Akins did not release another single until his signing with
BNA Records
BNA Records, formerly known as BNA Entertainment, was a label group that shared ties with Arista Nashville and RCA Nashville from parent company Sony Music Nashville, which itself is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment. Based in Nashville, ...
in 2005, when he released the No. 57-peaking "Kiss My Country Ass", which was later recorded by
Blake Shelton
Blake Tollison Shelton (born June 18, 1976) is an American country music singer and television personality. In 2001, he made his debut with the single " Austin". The lead-off single from his self-titled debut album, "Austin" spent five weeks at ...
for his 2010 extended play ''
Hillbilly Bone
''Hillbilly Bone'' is the first extended play, and seventh studio release overall, by American country music singer/songwriter Blake Shelton. It was released on March 2, 2010 (see 2010 in country music) via Warner Music Group Nashville, his first ...
''. It was included on his album ''People Like Me'', which was originally to have been released via BNA on June 14, 2006, but was ultimately self-released in June 2007. "
If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away
"If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away" is a song written by Dallas Davidson, Rob Hatch and Brett Jones. It was first recorded by American country music artist Rhett Akins, whose version was released as a single in September 2006 but did not chart. Justin ...
" was the second single from ''People Like Me'', which failed to chart for Akins, but was later recorded by
Justin Moore
Justin Cole Moore (born March 30, 1984) is an American country music singer and songwriter, signed to Big Machine Records imprint Valory Music Group. For that label, he has released six studio albums: his self titled debut in 2009, '' Outlaws ...
, whose version went to number 1. ''Down South'' followed in 2008, as did its only single, the title track, which again failed to chart.
2009–2010: ''Michael Waddell's Bone Collector: The Brotherhood Album''
In 2009, Akins released the single "Hung Up", which did not chart. It was later included on the 2010 album ''Michael Waddell's Bone Collector: The Brotherhood Album'', a collaboration with fellow
country music
Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...
singer
Dallas Davidson
Dallas Davidson is an American country music singer and songwriter from Albany, Georgia, who has written for artists such as Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Cole Swindell, Jake Owen, Luke Bryan, Randy Houser, Lady Antebellum, and Billy Curringto ...
, released through
Reprise Records
Reprise Records is an American record label founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operates through Warner Records, one of its flagship labels.
Artists currently signed to Reprise Records include Enya, Michael ...
Nashville.
Songwriting career
In the late 2000s, Akins began writing songs for other artists, primarily with
Ben Hayslip
Ben Hayslip (born March 11, 1970 in Evans, Georgia) is an American country music songwriter.
Early life
Hayslip first attended Valdosta High School in Valdosta GA where he was a freshman quarterback for the 1984 State and National champion Val ...
and
Dallas Davidson
Dallas Davidson is an American country music singer and songwriter from Albany, Georgia, who has written for artists such as Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Cole Swindell, Jake Owen, Luke Bryan, Randy Houser, Lady Antebellum, and Billy Curringto ...
, collaboratively known as
The Peach Pickers
The Peach Pickers are an American songwriting team, composed of Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, and Ben Hayslip.
Akins and Hayslip met while attending high school together in Valdosta, Georgia, before Akins signed a contract with Decca Records in ...
. Among the singles that Akins has co-written are "
Put a Girl in It" recorded by
Brooks & Dunn
Brooks & Dunn are an American country music duo consisting of Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, both of whom are vocalists and songwriters. The duo was founded in 1990 through the suggestion of Tim DuBois. Before their formation, both members were so ...
, "
Barefoot and Crazy
"Barefoot and Crazy" is a song recorded by American country music artist Jack Ingram. It was released in March 2009 as the second single from his album '' Big Dreams & High Hopes''. In late 2009, the song became Ingram's second Top Ten country hit ...
" by
Jack Ingram
Jack Owen Ingram (born November 15, 1970) is an American country music artist formerly signed to Big Machine Records, an independent record label. He has released eleven studio albums, one extended play, six live albums, and 19 singles. Although ...
, "
Gimmie That Girl
"Gimmie That Girl" is a song written by Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, and Ben Hayslip and recorded by American country music singer Joe Nichols. It was released in October 2009 as the second single from Nichols’ 2009 album '' Old Things New''. T ...
" and "
The Shape I'm In" by
Joe Nichols
Joseph Edward Nichols (born November 26, 1976) is an American country music artist. Between 1996 and 2001, he held recording contracts with the Intersound and Giant labels. In 2002, he signed with Universal South Records, now known as Show Dog-U ...
, "
All About Tonight", "
Honey Bee
A honey bee (also spelled honeybee) is a eusocial flying insect within the genus ''Apis'' of the bee clade, all native to Afro-Eurasia. After bees spread naturally throughout Africa and Eurasia, humans became responsible for the current co ...
", "
I Lived It", and "
Boys 'Round Here
"Boys 'Round Here" is a song written by Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, and Craig Wiseman and recorded by American country music artist Blake Shelton. The song is credited to "Blake Shelton with Pistol Annies and Friends", as it features myriad voc ...
" by
Blake Shelton
Blake Tollison Shelton (born June 18, 1976) is an American country music singer and television personality. In 2001, he made his debut with the single " Austin". The lead-off single from his self-titled debut album, "Austin" spent five weeks at ...
, "
When She Says Baby
"When She Says Baby" is a song written by Rhett Akins and Ben Hayslip and recorded by American country music artist Jason Aldean. It was released in November 2013 as the fifth and final single from Aldean's 2012 album '' Night Train''.
Critical r ...
", "
Just Gettin' Started", "
Tonight Looks Good on You" by
Jason Aldean, "
All Over Me" by
Josh Turner
Joshua Otis Turner (born November 20, 1977) is an American country and gospel singer and songwriter. In 2003, he signed to MCA Nashville Records. That same year, his debut album's title track, "Long Black Train", was his breakthrough single ...
, "Hot Mess" by
Tyler Farr
Tyler Lynn Farr (born February 5, 1984) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Originally signed to BNA Records Farr released two singles for the label before it closed. He transferred to Columbia Records Nashville, releasing two al ...
, "
Farmer's Daughter A farmer's daughter is a stock character who is a desirable and naive young woman.
The Farmer's Daughter or Farmer's Daughter may also refer to:
Movies
* ''The Farmer's Daughter'' (1928 film), by scriptwriter Frederica Sagor Maas
* ''The Far ...
" and "
Take a Back Road
''Take a Back Road'' is the fourth studio album by American country music artist Rodney Atkins. It was released on October 4, 2011, by Curb Records. The album's first single, its title track", is the fastest-rising and sixth number one hit of At ...
" by
Rodney Atkins
Rodney Allan Atkins (born March 28, 1969) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Signed to Curb Records in 1996, he charted his first single on the ''Billboard'' country chart in 1997, but did not release an album until 2003's '' ...
, "
Bait a Hook
"Bait a Hook" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Justin Moore. It was released in August 2011 as the second single from his 2011 album '' Outlaws Like Me''. The song became Moore's fifth top 20 hit on the '' Billboar ...
" and "
Point at You" by
Justin Moore
Justin Cole Moore (born March 30, 1984) is an American country music singer and songwriter, signed to Big Machine Records imprint Valory Music Group. For that label, he has released six studio albums: his self titled debut in 2009, '' Outlaws ...
, "
I Can Take It from There" by
Chris Young, "
I Know Somebody" by
LoCash
LoCash (stylized as LOCASH), formerly known as LoCash Cowboys, is an American country music duo consisting of vocalists Chris Lucas and Preston Brust. They have released 3 studio albums, one each for Average Joes Entertainment, Reviver Records, and ...
, "
Parking Lot Party
"Parking Lot Party" is song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Lee Brice. It was released in May 2013 as the fourth single from his 2012 album '' Hard 2 Love''. The song was written by Brice, Rhett Akins, Thomas Rhett and Luk ...
", "
That Don't Sound Like You
"That Don't Sound Like You" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Lee Brice. It was released in May 2015 as the third single from his third studio album '' I Don't Dance''. The song was written by Brice, Rhett Akins
...
" by
Lee Brice
Kenneth Mobley Brice Jr. (born June 10, 1979), known professionally as Lee Brice, is an American country music singer and songwriter, signed to Curb Records. Brice has released five albums with the label: '' Love Like Crazy'', '' Hard to Love'', ...
, "
Hey Girl" by
Billy Currington
William Matthew Currington (born November 19, 1973) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Signed to Mercury Records Nashville in 2003, he has released seven studio albums for the label: his self-titled debut (2003), '' Doin' Someth ...
, "
I Don't Want This Night to End", "
Huntin', Fishin' and Lovin' Every Day
"Huntin', Fishin' and Lovin' Every Day" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Luke Bryan for his fifth studio album, '' Kill the Lights'' (2015). It was released to American country radio on March 14, 2016 as the album' ...
" by
Luke Bryan, "
Wild in Your Smile
"Wild in Your Smile" is a song recorded by American country music artist Dustin Lynch. It was released in May 2013 as the third single from his self-titled debut album. The song was written by Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip and Marv Green.
Critical r ...
", "
Mind Reader", "
Small Town Boy" by
Dustin Lynch
Dustin Charles Lynch (born May 14, 1985) is an American country music singer and songwriter, signed to Broken Bow Records. Lynch has released four albums and one EP for the label: a self-titled album in 2012, '' Where It's At'' in 2014, '' Curren ...
, "
It Goes Like This", "
Get Me Some of That" and "
Star of the Show" by
Thomas Rhett
Thomas may refer to:
People
* List of people with given name Thomas
* Thomas (name)
* Thomas (surname)
* Saint Thomas (disambiguation)
* Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church
* Thomas the A ...
, "Granddaddy's Gun" by
Aaron Lewis
Aaron Lewis (born April 13, 1972) is an American musician who is best known as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and founding member of the nu metal band Staind, with whom he released seven studio albums. Since 2010, he has pursued a solo ca ...
and "
A Buncha Girls", "
Young & Crazy" by
Frankie Ballard
Frank Robert Ballard IV (born December 16, 1982) is an American country music singer-songwriter and guitarist. He has released two albums each for Reprise Records and Warner Bros. Records, and has charted eight singles on the Hot Country Songs ...
, "
Kick It in the Sticks", "
Small Town Throwdown" by
Brantley Gilbert., "
Ready Set Roll
"Ready Set Roll" is a song recorded by American country music artist Chase Rice. It was released in November 2013 as his first single from his EP album, '' Ready Set Roll'', and later appeared on his first major-label studio album, ''Ignite the Ni ...
" by
Chase Rice
Chase Rice (born September 19, 1985) is an American country music singer, songwriter and reality television personality. He first came to prominence in 2010 while he was a contestant on '' Survivor: Nicaragua'', where he was the runner-up to J ...
, "
Dirt on My Boots
"Dirt on My Boots" is a song recorded by American country music artist Jon Pardi. It was released to radio on September 19, 2016, as the second single to his second studio album ''California Sunrise''. The song was written by Rhett Akins, Jesse Fra ...
" by
Jon Pardi
Jonathan Ryan Pardi (born May 20, 1985) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Signed to Capitol Nashville, he has released four studio albums: ''Write You a Song'' (2014), ''California Sunrise'' (2016), ''Heartache Medication'' (2 ...
and "Missing" by
William Michael Morgan
William Michael Morgan (born May 13, 1993) is an American country music singer from Vicksburg, Mississippi. He was signed to Warner Bros. Nashville.
His debut single " I Met a Girl", reached number two on the Country Airplay chart and number e ...
.
Personal life
Akins married Paige Braswell in 1989, but they have since divorced. They have a son,
Thomas Rhett Akins Jr. (born March 30, 1990) and a daughter, Kasey Lee Akins (born 1993). The younger Rhett is also a country music singer.
Akins married Sonya Mansfield in 2017. They had their first child on March 13, 2020, a boy.
Discography
Studio albums
Collaboration albums
Singles
Other charted songs
Music videos
Filmography
References
External links
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Akins, Rhett
1969 births
Living people
People from Valdosta, Georgia
American country singer-songwriters
American male singer-songwriters
Country musicians from Georgia (U.S. state)
MCA Records artists
Decca Records artists
MNRK Music Group artists
BNA Records artists
Reprise Records artists
Musicians from Nashville, Tennessee
Country musicians from Tennessee
Singer-songwriters from Georgia (U.S. state)
Singer-songwriters from Tennessee