Jennifer Vickery Smith is returning to CMA Fest this year with another live Got It From My Momma Podcast taping with special guest Lauren Akins, who is the wife of country superstar Thomas Rhett and mother to their four daughters. The live taping will take place at 1:45 PM CT on Thursday (June 6), which is the first day of 2024 CMA Fest, inside Music City Center at Fan Fair X on the CMA Close Up Stage.
Thomas Rhett’s Wife Lauren Akins To Join Jennifer Vickery Smith For Got It From My Momma Podcast
“I’m so happy that Lauren Akins is joining us for this year’s edition of Got it From My Momma LIVE at CMA FEST!” Vickery Smith told Music Mayhem. “There are so many country artists who use the platform they’ve been blessed with for good, and Thomas Rhett and Lauren are two of those people.”
When asked why she chose to have Lauren Akins as a guest and how their connection was formed, the popular podcast host’s admiration for Lauren was palpable.
“In addition to being an incredibly kind person, Lauren is a wife, mother of four, author of a NYTimes best-selling book, and even a podcast host. She does it all so gracefully,” Vickery Smith revealed, highlighting Akins’ multifaceted life and the grace with which she manages it all.
She continued, “I am fascinated by how country music fans have connected to this family in such a unique way. Lauren has 2.7 million Instagram followers and is as genuine and unassuming as they come. I think people are just attracted to goodness, and that is Lauren Akins. The work she has helped to spearhead with Love One International is changing lives, and I can’t wait for people to hear more about it.”
Vickery Smith said she is also excited to delve deeper into Lauren Akins’ philanthropic efforts, which she greatly admires. “The work she has helped to spearhead with Love One International is changing lives,” she emphasized.
Set to Be An “Extra Special” Podcast Episode
Jennifer Vickery Smith, who is the mother of “Creek Will Rise” singer Conner Smith, also admitted that the podcast taping will be “extra special” as Thomas Rhett’s mom, Paige, was the first guest on the sought-after podcast.
“Thomas Rhett’s mom Paige was my very first guest on the podcast, and I loved meeting Lauren when Conner was on tour with TR [Thomas Rhett] a couple of years ago. I knew this would be a special episode, so now to get to do it LIVE is going to be extra special!”
When asked if fans can possibly expect a surprise appearance from Thomas Rhett during the live taping at CMA Fest, the Got It From My Momma podcast host replied, “Oh, we’re ALL hoping that happens!”
What Can Fans Expect From Jennifer Vickery Smith’s Discussion With Lauren Akins?
Over the course of the 45-minute taping, Jennifer Vickery Smith will chat with Lauren Akins about everything from how she met Thomas Rhett and their journey to where they are today as a family of six.
“I think the guests who join us for this event will LOVE getting to hear more about TR and Lauren from the very early days (they met in elementary school), their relationship, and their family. It hasn’t always been easy, and they are so real and vulnerable in how they share their journey. Their story of adoption is also so special. Anyone who values family and country music is going to love getting to know the Akins family on another level,” Vickery Smith said, previewing what fans can expect if they attend the live taping at CMA Fest.
Typically recorded in the comfort of her Tennessee home, Jennifer Vickery Smith shared what makes a live taping so much more exciting and unique. “The conversations I have with the moms on the podcast are typically recorded in my home, in a quiet, intimate setting, so bringing a live audience into the discussion totally shifts the energy and makes the conversation so much more fun! We’ll have time for audience questions, and we have a few fun giveaways planned!” she teased.
Got It From My Momma Podcast Returns for Second Live Taping at CMA Fest
This year marks the second consecutive year that Jennifer Vickery Smith has filmed a live Got It From My Momma Podcast episode at CMA Fest, following her memorable discussion in 2023 with Luke Bryan’s mom, LeClaire, and his wife, Caroline, which was certainly a highlight of CMA Fest last year.
Speaking of last year’s event, Vickery Smith recalled, “Going in, I knew that no matter how much I prepped for our time together, I needed to be ready for ANYTHING! And that proved to be true – we had a blast! LeClaire is 100% unfiltered, and the relationship that she and Caroline have a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is unmatched. They are just wonderful people and I loved sharing their story!”
The Got It From My Momma Podcast is brought to you by some amazing partners, including Able Clothing, Bare Faced, SuitShop.com, and Coat Defense, whose support ensures that listeners can enjoy the podcast for free on all streaming platforms.
To see the Got It From My Momma Podcast live taping, pick up tickets to CMA Fest’s Fan Fair X.
