Honestly, it’s kinda wild to think about how much the country music landscape has shifted since a kid named Thomas Rhett Akins Jr. first stepped onto the scene. Back then, he was mostly known as Rhett Akins' son. Now? He’s basically a hit machine with 22 number-one singles tucked under his belt and a career that refuses to stay in one lane. If you've been following Thomas Rhett songs over the last decade, you know he doesn’t really care about "purist" labels. He’ll give you a traditional tear-jerker one minute and a synth-heavy disco track the next.
He’s currently riding the wave of his seventh studio album, About A Woman, which dropped in late 2024 and got a massive deluxe expansion in September 2025. It’s an album that feels like a full-circle moment. It’s got the polish of his pop-leaning days but the heart of his early Georgia roots.
Why Everyone Is Talking About "Old Tricks" and the Niall Horan Collab
If you haven't heard "Old Tricks" yet, you’re missing out on one of the coolest cross-genre moments of 2025. Originally, the song appeared on the deluxe version of About A Woman featuring Blake Shelton. It was a solid honky-tonk anthem. But then, in a move that surprised everyone, Rhett teamed up with Niall Horan for an alternate version.
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It’s currently sitting at the top of the UK Country Radio charts. Seeing a former One Direction star and a Georgia boy trade lines about "old tricks" is just proof that Thomas Rhett knows how to pick a melody that sticks. He actually called collaborating with Blake Shelton a "career bucket list dream," but the Niall Horan version is what’s really lighting up the streaming numbers right now.
The Evolution of the Thomas Rhett Sound
To understand the current Thomas Rhett songs dominating the radio, you have to look at the "roller coaster" he’s been building for years. He’s gone through several distinct phases:
- The Bro-Country Beginnings: Early hits like "It Goes Like This" and "Get Me Some of That" were catchy, sure, but they didn't quite show who he was. They were radio-friendly earworms co-written with his dad.
- The Pop-Soul Experiment: This is where things got interesting. Albums like Tangled Up and Life Changes saw him diving into EDM, R&B, and funk. Think "Crash and Burn" or the wedding-staple "Die a Happy Man." Some country traditionalists hated it. Most fans loved it.
- The "Country Again" Pivot: Around 2021, he seemed to pull back the curtain. He traded the disco beats for a more acoustic, "back-to-the-porch" vibe. Songs like "Country Again" felt like a public apology to his roots.
- The Current Era: Right now, he’s blending it all together. About A Woman is basically a greatest-hits style of new material. It’s got the R&B sway of "I'm That Guy" and the "backwoods Bruno Mars" funk of "Bottle With Your Name On It."
The "Life Changes" Reality: Baby Number Five
You can’t talk about Thomas Rhett songs without talking about his wife, Lauren Akins. She is the muse for approximately 90% of his discography. From the 7x Platinum "Die a Happy Man" to the entire About A Woman album, their relationship is the engine.
Recently, they’ve been in the news for something other than music: Baby No. 5. They announced the pregnancy in true songwriter fashion by updating the lyrics to his hit song "Life Changes." The new line? "Now Lauren's showing, got one on the way / That’s five under 10, hey, what can I say?"
It’s a chaotic household, and Rhett is the first to admit it. He’s known for playing his new tracks for his daughters—Willa Gray, Ada James, Lennon Love, and Lillie Carolina—during car rides to get their "unfiltered" feedback. If they don't dance, the song doesn't make the cut.
The Songs That Defined the Journey
If you’re building a playlist, these are the essential tracks that explain how he got here:
- Die a Happy Man: The 2015 game-changer. It proved he could write a timeless ballad.
- Marry Me: A total bait-and-switch. You think it’s a love song, but it’s actually a heartbreaking story about missed opportunities. The music video is still one of his most-watched.
- Beautiful As You: The lead single from the new era. It’s wordy, it’s fast-paced, and it’s a massive earworm.
- Ain’t A Bad Life (feat. Jordan Davis): A soulful, '70s southern rock vibe that shows his growth as a vocalist.
- Small Town Girls (feat. Tucker Wetmore): A collaboration with his "Better In Boots" tourmate that basically sounds like summer in a bottle.
What’s on the Horizon for 2026?
Thomas Rhett isn't slowing down. He just wrapped his 2025 "Better In Boots" tour, which included a massive sold-out headlining debut at Fenway Park. For 2026, he’s heading across the pond. He’s set to support Luke Combs at Wembley Stadium in London on July 31 and August 1.
There are also rumblings of a gospel-influenced project. He’s been teasing tracks like "My Brother" with Brandon Lake, and he’s never been shy about his faith. Whether he goes full gospel or sticks to the "small-town funk" he’s mastered, one thing is certain: he’s going to keep the 16 billion streams growing.
How to Stay Updated on New Releases
If you want to keep up with the latest Thomas Rhett songs and tour updates, here is what you should do:
- Follow the "Deluxe" Releases: He often drops tracks in batches (like the About A Woman & A Good Ol' Boy expansion). Check streaming platforms every few months for "surprise" additions.
- Watch the Collaborations: Rhett is increasingly working with artists outside of country (like Niall Horan or Ava Max). These usually drop as singles rather than part of a full album rollout.
- Check the International Dates: With the 2026 Wembley shows, he's likely to release special UK-exclusive versions or acoustic sessions.
The best way to experience his music is to listen to the albums in order. You can literally hear him grow from a teenager trying to find his voice into a father of five who finally knows exactly who he is.
Next Step: You should listen to the "Last Call Version" of "After All The Bars Are Closed"—it’s a stripped-back take that really highlights the songwriting quality behind the production.