Biography

Thomas Rhett Akins, Jr. (born March 30, 1990) is an American country music singer, known by his stage name Thomas Rhett. He is the son of singer-songwriter Rhett Akins. Akins has charted four singles from his debut album It Goes Like This, including the title track, which reached number 1 on Country Airplay in late 2013.

Early life

In junior high, Thomas learned how to play the drums. When he was old enough, Thomas would go onstage with his dad, Rhett Akins, and play the drums for him. A band was then put together in high school called The High Heeled Flip Flops. Besides music, he didn’t have a career choice in mind. After high school, Thomas went to college at David Lipscomb University in Nashville. He there played as a member of Tau Phi for their cowboy show and for frat parties, where he got used to the crowd.

Career

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. 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.

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”.