Thomas Rhett Akins, Sr., known professionally as Rhett Akins, is an
American country music singer and songwriter. Signed to Decca Records
between 1994 and 1997, he released two albums for that label, followed by
1998's What Livin's All About on MCA Nashville. Friday Night in Dixie was
released in 2002 on Audium Entertainment. Overall, Akins's albums
have accounted for fourteen singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs,
including the number one "Don't Get Me Started" from 1996.
Although he has not charted a single since 2006, Akins has written singles
for other country music singers, primarily as one-third of the
songwriting team The Peach Pickers alongside Dallas Davidson and Ben
Hayslip. Akins' son, Thomas Rhett, is also a country singer.
Biography = Early life=
Rhett Akins was born on October 13, 1969, in Valdosta, Georgia. By age
eleven, he and his two younger brothers had formed a band. Rhett attended
University of Georgia and studied business but gave up his studies after a
year. He then worked for his father’s oil and gas distribution company.
= 1992–94: Move to Nashville and recording contract=
In 1992, after performing in the theme park show "Music Country Music" at
Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, Texas, Akins moved to Nashville, Tennessee,
first working as a demo singer before Decca Records signed him to a recording
contract. = 1994–96: A Thousand Memories=
Akins's first single was "What They're Talkin' About", a No. 35 on the
Billboard country charts in late 1994, followed by the No. 36 "I Brake for
Brunettes". After these first two singles came his signature song, "That
Ain't My Truck". This was his breakthrough hit, peaking at No. 3 on
the country charts in mid-1995. All three of these songs were included on
his 1995 debut album A Thousand Memories, which also produced the No. 17
"She Said Yes". Also in 1995 and 1996, Akins toured with Reba McEntire.
= 1996–97: Somebody New= Akins' second album, Somebody New,
produced his only number one hit in "Don't Get Me Started", which peaked in
August 1996. The other three singles from Somebody New were less successful,
with "Love You Back" becoming his last top 40 hit at No. 38.
= 1997–98: Transfer to MCA Nashville and What Livin's All About=
After Decca's Nashville division was merged into MCA Nashville in 1997, Akins
was transferred to MCA Nashville for the release of his third album, 1998's What
Livin's All About. This album was even less successful, however, with its
lead-off single "More Than Everything" falling one space short of top 40 in the
U.S., although it was a No. 25 hit on the RPM country charts in Canada. Also
in 1998, Akins charted with a cover of Eddie Rabbitt's 1980 number one hit
"Drivin' My Life Away", which Akins covered on the soundtrack to the 1998
film Black Dog. = 2000–03: Voice work and Friday Night
in Dixie= In 2000, he voiced the character of Tom
Sawyer in MGM's animated remake of Tom Sawyer alongside fellow country singer
Mark Wills, who voiced Huckleberry Finn, as well as Lee Ann Womack, who voiced
Becky's singing voice. A fourth album, Friday Night in Dixie, was released in
2002 on Koch Records. This album's only two singles, "Highway Sunrise" and "In
Your Love", peaked at No. 55 and No. 57, respectively.
= 2005–06: BNA Records and People Like Me=
Akins did not release another single until his signing with BNA Records in
2005, when he released the No. 57-peaking "Kiss My Country Ass", which
was later recorded by Blake Shelton for his 2010 extended play Hillbilly Bone.
It was included on his album People Like Me, which was originally to have been
released via BNA on June 14, 2006, but was ultimately self-released in June
2007. "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away" was the second single from People Like Me,
which failed to chart for Akins, but was later recorded by Justin Moore, whose
version went to number 1. Down South followed in 2008, as did its only
single, the title track, which again failed to chart.
= 2009–10: Michael Waddell's Bone Collector: The Brotherhood Album=
In 2009, Akins released the single "Hung Up", which did not chart. It was later
included on the 2010 album Michael Waddell's Bone Collector: The
Brotherhood Album, a collaboration with fellow country music singer Dallas
Davidson, released through Reprise Records Nashville.
Songwriting career In the late 2000s, Akins began writing
songs for other artists, primarily with Ben Hayslip and Dallas Davidson; the
collaborative is known as The Peach Pickers. Among the singles that Akins
has co-written are "Put a Girl in It" by Brooks & Dunn, "Barefoot and Crazy" by
Jack Ingram, "Gimmie That Girl" and "The Shape I'm In" by Joe Nichols, "All About
Tonight", "Honey Bee", and "Boys 'Round Here" by Blake Shelton, "When She Says
Baby", "Just Gettin' Started", "Tonight Looks Good on You" by Jason Aldean, "All
Over Me" by Josh Turner, "Hot Mess" by Tyler Farr, "Farmer's Daughter" and
"Take a Back Road" by Rodney Atkins, "Bait a Hook" and "Point at You" by
Justin Moore, "I Can Take It from There" by Chris Young, "Parking Lot Party",
"That Don't Sound Like You" by Lee Brice, "Hey Girl" by Billy Currington,
"I Don't Want This Night to End" by Luke Bryan,"Wild in Your Smile", "Mind
Reader" by Dustin Lynch, "It Goes Like This" and "Get Me Some of That" by
Thomas Rhett, "Granddaddy's Gun" by Aaron Lewis and "A Buncha Girls", "Young
& Crazy" by Frankie Ballard., "Kick It in the Sticks", "Small Town Throwdown"
by Brantley Gilbert., "Ready Set Roll" by Chase Rice.
Personal life Akins married Paige Braswell in 1989,
but they have since divorced. They have a son, Thomas Rhett Akins, Jr. and a
daughter, Kasey Lee Akins. Thomas Rhett Akins, Jr. is also a singer-songwriter,
who records for Big Machine Records' Valory Music Group imprint as Thomas
Rhett. Discography
= Studio albums= = Collaboration albums=
= Singles= = Music videos=
Filmography References
External links Official website