Thomas Rhett was honored with the 113th star on the Music City Walk of Fame on Wednesday afternoon (July 8). The country superstar and 2020 ACM Entertainer of The Year was on hand at the ceremony at Music City Walk of Fame Park in Downtown Nashville to personally accept the prestigious honor and to celebrate the milestone moment.
Joining Rhett for the memorable occasion were his wife, Lauren Akins, and the couple’s five children, Willa Gray, 9, Ada James, 8, Lennon Love, 6, Lillie Carolina, 4, and Brave Elijah, 5 months, along with other family members such as his mother Paige Lankford and several of his closest friends, including superstars Jordan Davis and Niall Horan.
The ceremony began with remarks from Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. (NCVC) President and CEO Deana Ivey and Master of Ceremonies Kelly Sutton before Jordan Davis took to the podium to deliver a heartfelt tribute and present Thomas Rhett with the coveted honor.
“I truly am honored today to get to say a few words about Thomas,” Davis began while reflecting on the first time he ever met Rhett at Bayou Country Superfest in 2016 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. “Now, I am an avid LSU fan and I wouldn’t say that it was ideal for me to see a very proud Georgia Bulldog go take over Tiger Stadium for an hour, but that’s exactly what Thomas did. And I left that day knowing that Thomas was going to be doing this for a very, very long time. And it’s not surprising at all that we’re here celebrating a star and what has already been an amazing career for Thomas.”
He continued, “It’s a privilege to get to say some words about somebody who has meant so much to me and so many people here today, not just as an artist, but as a husband, as a father, as a friend and just a person of character. It’s not shocking that we’re honoring him with a star here today. But I think for the people that truly know Thomas, he’s the exact same person sitting here today that he was in 2016 when I first met him and even the years before that”
Jordan Davis then praised his longtime friend and fellow country superstar Thomas Rhett not only for his success as an artist but for the person he is away from the spotlight. “He’s the same guy who makes people feel seen and heard on stage and off stage, who genuinely cares about others and has been given the gift from the good Lord to make everyone he means feel like family.”
Davis went on to reflect on how Rhett has remained grounded throughout his career despite his immense success. “The coolest thing is that in a world where fame can easily become somebody’s identity, Thomas has never let that define him. Instead, he’s stayed grounded in the things that matter most to him, which is his faith, his family, his friendships and his deep love for country music.”
However, Davis said what he admires most isn’t Rhett’s chart-topping career, it’s how he defines success. “Now with that being said, the thing I think I most admire about him is how he measures success totally different than most people. We’re all here to celebrate the star that Thomas Rhett obviously is, but if you spent any time around him, you know that TR’s pride is not found in a writing room or on a stage. His pride is found at home with his five beautiful kids and his lovely wife Lauren.”
“And I believe that pride and that love for them is what makes his music so impactful,” Davis added. “The reason why I believe it’s impacted so many people is because that it comes from a real place. It doesn’t just connect and stop at the music. It comes through the person singing it. And to me that’s authenticity and you can’t fake authenticity. It has to be earned. And Thomas has earned that in every step of the way.”
As he concluded his heartfelt and emotional speech, Davis said the star recognizes far more than Rhett’s accomplishments in country music but years of talent, dedication and countless hours of hard work. “So today the star is well-deserved recognition of an extraordinary career that represents years of talent, dedication, countless hours of hard work. But for those who know Thomas, it also represents something deeper. It’s a reminder that you can achieve incredible success without losing your humility, your kindness and your values.”
He closed by congratulating his longtime friend and applauding the legacy Rhett continues to build both on and off the stage. “Thomas, congratulations. This star now becomes a permanent part of this city that you’ve helped represent so well, but the legacy that you’re building extends far beyond your words, your songs. It’s found in the way that you love your family, that you encourage your friends and that you treat people with respect and use your platform for a purpose. I know everyone here is incredibly proud of you and I hope you know how grateful I am to call you a friend. And I’m excited to see what comes next. Congratulations, Thomas. No one deserves this more.”
Surrounded by friends, family and music industry personnel, Thomas Rhett officially accepted his place on Nashville’s iconic Music City Walk of Fame, cementing his legacy in the city that has played such a pivotal role in his career.
Taking the stage after an emotional introduction from fellow country star Jordan Davis, Rhett admitted he was overwhelmed by the moment. “I’m overwhelmed. This is very cool. Thank y’all so much for this. Jordan, thanks so much, dude. You’re one of my best friends, buddy. And I don’t even know that I need to give a speech after that. That was incredible,” Rhett began.
The 36-year-old country superstar, who has earned 25 No. 1 singles over the course of his career, then delivered a heartfelt speech that lasted nearly 10 minutes, thanking the people who have supported him both professionally and personally.He first turned his attention to his faith and family, crediting them for every milestone in his life.
“So I kind of have a speech, but I wanted to start with just a few thank yous. I want to first thank God because every good thing in my life has come from him. His grace has carried me through the mountaintops and the valleys and I do not stand here today without his faithfulness.”
Rhett then recognized his mother, Paige, recalling the moment he told her he wanted to drop out of college to pursue songwriting. “My whole family is here. I want to say first, y’all say hey to my mom. She’s sitting right here. I have this vivid memory of being in college and looking at my mom saying, ‘I think I’m going to drop out to go write songs.’ And I think she wanted me to do anything else in life, but I’m so appreciative to you. Thank you for being my biggest champion from the very beginning. You believed in me long before there was anything to believe in, you celebrated every win, [and] you picked me up through every disappointment and you gave me the confidence to chase a dream that didn’t make a whole lot of sense when I was 19 years old. So thank you.”
He followed by thanking his famous father Rhett Akins for allowing him to discover his own passion for country music. “To my dad, thank you for never making me feel like I had to follow in your footsteps. You never forced music on me, you just loved it, you lived it, you breathed it. And watching your passion made me fall in love with country music on my own and that is one of the greatest gifts you’ve ever given me.”
Rhett became emotional while speaking directly to his wife, Lauren Akins, who was seated in the first row of the audience. “To my beautiful wife sitting on the front row, Lauren, I could give a 90 minute speech on just you, but thank you for being my greatest encourager and my greatest grounding force. You celebrated every high with me and you’ve carried me through every load and reminded me over and over again that who I am is far more important than what I do. So thank you for that.”
He also shared a touching message for the couple’s five children, saying fatherhood still remains his proudest accomplishment. “To my five beautiful kids sitting here on the front row, thank y’all so much for reminding me what really matters in life. You’ve taught me to laugh more. You taught me to slow down. Ada James tells me to put my phone down every five seconds of the day. Being your dad will always be the greatest accomplishment of my life.”
Rhett continued by recognizing longtime manager Virginia Davis Bunetta and the team that has helped guide his career from the very beginning. “I could thank a million people, but I do want to say one thing about my manager, Virginia…Thank you for saying yes to a 19 year old kid with a dream and for never walking away. You watched me grow from a teenager to a husband to a dad and the man standing on this stage today. You believed in me on the days when I did not believe in myself. Yo protected me. You told me the truth when I needed to hear it. Celebrated the wins and helped me navigate the losses. You’ve been so much more than a manager. You’ve been a friend, a steady voice and family. I will always be grateful that we got to grow up together.”
He also expressed gratitude to members of his management team, joking that they often serve as his therapists as much as his colleagues. “And I also have to thank Harry, Samantha, Sledge, John, Emily. Thank you for being the team behind the team. You solve problems even before I know they exist. Praise God. You remind me where I’m supposed to be. Thank you for that. You keep this whole thing moving and honestly, some days you’re my team and most days you’re my therapist. So thank you for being that for me.”
Reflecting on how far he’s come, Rhett shared a message for his 19-year-old self and offered several life lessons he wishes he had learned sooner. “I’ve been thinking a lot about the 19 year old version of myself. I find myself in a lot of interviews saying, ‘Man, if my 19 year old self would know that this was about to happen, he would call me a liar.’”
He urged young artists not to obsess over things outside of their control and reminded them that no one has everything figured out. “So if 19 year old TR was sitting on this stage today, the first thing I’d say to him is relax… We’re all trying to make the best decisions we can with the information that we have. So we’re all learning, we’re all growing and we’re all hoping that the next decision is a little bit better than the last one. So stop worrying so much whether you’re behind, keep showing up, keep learning, have a little grace for yourself and everybody else because we’re all figuring it out together.”
Rhett also shared one of the best pieces of advice he’s ever received from fellow country star Miranda Lambert. “Number two, there is no such thing as a country music emergency. I will never forget the day that Miranda Lambert said that to me.”
He then encouraged others to redefine success, explaining that achievements shouldn’t be measured solely by awards, chart success or having hits at radio. “Don’t just have one definition of success… Those are incredible gifts of celebrate them, but don’t let them become your only scorecard… Give yourself more ways to win. You’ll be happier because of it.”
Another lesson, he said, was to never sacrifice family or your own life in pursuit of a career. “Don’t miss your life while you’re building your career… Some of your favorite moments won’t happen under stage lights. They’re going to happen around the dinner table, in the backyard, tucking kids in the bed.”
He even recalled a conversation with one of his daughters that helped put everything into perspective. “I remember asking one of my daughters one day, ‘What do you think I do for a living?’ She said, ‘You sing.’… And I love that because to her, that is all it is. It is simple.”
As he wrapped up his remarks, Rhett asked for everyone to slow down and appreciate life’s biggest moments before expressing gratitude to the many people who have shaped his journey. Finally, he thanked the songwriters, musicians, crew members, business partners, radio stations and, most importantly, the fans who have supported him throughout his career.
“Before I leave, I just want to say one more thank you to every single songwriter that ever invited me into a room, every musician who’s ever played beside me, every member of my band and crew who spent countless nights away from their families, every business manager, attorney, published, booking agent, promoter, record label, radio station, and every person who’s worked behind the scenes to help carry this dream.”
He concluded with a heartfelt message to the fans who have shown his endless support every step of the way. “And finally to all the fans. Thank you so much for spending your hard-earned money to buy a t-shirt, a ticket, or a record. Thank you for bringing your families to the shows. That means more to me than anything in the world that you trust me enough to bring your family to my show. Thank you for singing these songs louder than I ever could. Thank you for letting my music become a small part of your life. This star may have my name on it, but it belongs to a heck of a lot of people. Thank y’all so much.”
Thomas Rhett then made his way over to unveil his star on the Music City Walk of Fame for the first time ever. The star recognizes Rhett for his “significant work of preserving the musical heritage of Nashville and for contributing to the world through song.”
The induction ceremony took place just one day before Thomas Rhett will launch The Soundtrack of Life Tour at GEODIS Park on July 9 alongside Niall Horan, who also attended the ceremony. Horan joined Rhett at the Grand Ole Opry the night before for his Opry debut. Following the tour kickoff, Rhett will continue his summer trek across the U.S. before heading overseas to join Luke Combs for three consecutive shows at Wembley Stadium.
