Thomas Rhett's Famous Father Influenced Him throughout His Life

Thomas Rhett's father, Rhett Akins, has been integral to his son's life and career. He had long been in the music industry, first as a singer, when he started sharing his passion with his son. Nowadays, the father-son duo frequently collaborate onstage and in songwriting.

In August 2022, Thomas Rhett spoke with Big Machine Label Group following the release of his hit song "Half of Me." Among himself and a few other songwriters, his father, Rhett Akins, was credited for the song's lyrics.

It was only one of many times the duo worked together, as their collaboration spanned decades since Thomas Rhett's childhood. The country crooner recounted the story of the first unrecorded track they wrote together when he was six.

The pair titled it "A Piece of Wood," and it chronicled the process of building a guitar. Rhett remarked that the song might never be recorded, but he remembered its conception vividly. His dad even had a tape of them singing "A Piece of Wood" in the kitchen at home.

Many years later, Akins transitioned from singing to primarily writing music. Rhett recalled how intriguing it was that one could make a living off of songwriting, but he watched his dad do it. Today, they are a formidable duo in the country genre.

Thomas Rhett's Father Joined the Music Industry in the Mid-1990s

Akins rose to prominence in 1995 after signing with Decca Records and releasing his debut album, "A Thousand Memories." One of his most memorable tunes from the record was the song "That Ain't My Truck," which he performed with his son in 2016.

He released a second album, "Somebody New" in 1996 before retreating behind the scenes as a writer. Akins has since collaborated with numerous big names, including Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Chris Young, Jason Aldean, and most notably, his son.

Thomas Rhett Began Shadowing His Father When He Was in College

As a student at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Rhett started accompanying his dad to his co-writing sessions. It wasn't long after that Akins was helping his son write smash radio hits. He became a guiding light for Rhett, who initially struggled to find his feet with the craft.

"In the beginning, it was like, 'Dad, I need your help severely. We need a hit song. If you have any laying around, please send them my way.' Maybe I'm just not a little kid anymore, trying to figure out how to rhyme words together," Rhett shared in June 2021.

By then, he and Akins equally contributed to their work, and it helped deepen their bond. That month, they released the heartwarming song "Things Dads Do" ahead of Father's Day and performed the tune at the Grand Ole Opry.

Rhett Akins Encouraged His Son to Carve His Own Path

Throughout his career, Rhett relied on Akins for sound advice when navigating the nooks and crannies of music. He regarded his father as his favorite co-writer and marveled at his industry knowledge. Still, Akins wanted his son to find his own way.

He told Rhett to look for his community of writers and artists who had yet to enter the spotlight, people he could learn from and grow with. "You all go fail with each other. You all go succeed with each other," his father added.

Rhett has succeeded in music and has given his dad a daughter-in-law, Lauren Akins, and four grandchildren, including his adopted daughter Willa Gray Akins.