Thomas Rhett Akins (born October 13, 1969 in
Valdosta, GeorgiaValdosta is the county seat of Lowndes County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Valdosta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 Census, the city had a total population of 43,724; by the 2006 census estimate, it had grown slightly to 45,529...
) is an American
country musicCountry music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains...
artist. Signed to
Decca RecordsDecca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; later the link with the British company was broken for several decades...
between 1994 and 1997, he released two albums for the label (1995's
A Thousand MemoriesA Thousand Memories is the debut album of American country music artist Rhett Akins. It was released in 1995 on Decca Records Nashville...
and 1996's
Somebody NewSomebody New is the second studio album by American country music artist Rhett Akins. The album was released by Decca Nashville on June 4, 1996...
), followed by 1998's
What Livin's All AboutWhat Livin's All About is the third studio album by American country music artist Rhett Akins. It was released in 1998 on MCA Nashville. The album accounted for two singles: "More Than Everything" and "Better Than It Used to Be", which respectively reached #41 and #47 on the Billboard country...
on MCA Nashville.
Friday Night in DixieFriday Night in Dixie is the fourth studio album by American country music artist Rhett Akins. It was released in 2002 on Audium Entertainment/Koch Records. The album produced two singles in "Highway Sunrise" and "In Your Love", which peaked at #55 and #57 respectively on the Billboard country...
was released in 2002 on Audium Entertainment, and a fifth album was recorded for
BNA RecordsBNA Records, formerly known as BNA Entertainment, is a label group that shares ties with Arista Nashville and RCA Nashville from parent company RCA Records, which itself is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, BNA features country music acts on its roster...
,
People Like Me, was never released. Overall, Akins's albums have accounted for fourteen singles on the
Billboard country singles charts, including the Number One "
Don't Get Me Started"Don't Get Me Started" is a 1996 song performed by Rhett Akins. The first single from Akins' Somebody New album, it is also Akins' only Number One hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts.-Chart performance:...
" from 1996.
Rhett Akins was born on October 13, 1969 in
Valdosta, GeorgiaValdosta is the county seat of Lowndes County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Valdosta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 Census, the city had a total population of 43,724; by the 2006 census estimate, it had grown slightly to 45,529...
.
Thomas Rhett Akins (born October 13, 1969 in
Valdosta, GeorgiaValdosta is the county seat of Lowndes County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Valdosta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 Census, the city had a total population of 43,724; by the 2006 census estimate, it had grown slightly to 45,529...
) is an American
country musicCountry music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains...
artist. Signed to
Decca RecordsDecca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; later the link with the British company was broken for several decades...
between 1994 and 1997, he released two albums for the label (1995's
A Thousand MemoriesA Thousand Memories is the debut album of American country music artist Rhett Akins. It was released in 1995 on Decca Records Nashville...
and 1996's
Somebody NewSomebody New is the second studio album by American country music artist Rhett Akins. The album was released by Decca Nashville on June 4, 1996...
), followed by 1998's
What Livin's All AboutWhat Livin's All About is the third studio album by American country music artist Rhett Akins. It was released in 1998 on MCA Nashville. The album accounted for two singles: "More Than Everything" and "Better Than It Used to Be", which respectively reached #41 and #47 on the Billboard country...
on MCA Nashville.
Friday Night in DixieFriday Night in Dixie is the fourth studio album by American country music artist Rhett Akins. It was released in 2002 on Audium Entertainment/Koch Records. The album produced two singles in "Highway Sunrise" and "In Your Love", which peaked at #55 and #57 respectively on the Billboard country...
was released in 2002 on Audium Entertainment, and a fifth album was recorded for
BNA RecordsBNA Records, formerly known as BNA Entertainment, is a label group that shares ties with Arista Nashville and RCA Nashville from parent company RCA Records, which itself is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, BNA features country music acts on its roster...
,
People Like Me, was never released. Overall, Akins's albums have accounted for fourteen singles on the
Billboard country singles charts, including the Number One "
Don't Get Me Started"Don't Get Me Started" is a 1996 song performed by Rhett Akins. The first single from Akins' Somebody New album, it is also Akins' only Number One hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts.-Chart performance:...
" from 1996.
Biography
Rhett Akins was born on October 13, 1969 in
Valdosta, GeorgiaValdosta is the county seat of Lowndes County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Valdosta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 Census, the city had a total population of 43,724; by the 2006 census estimate, it had grown slightly to 45,529...
. By age eleven, he and his two younger brothers had formed a band. In 1992, after performing in the theme park show "Music Country Music" at Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, Texas, Akins moved to
Nashville, TennesseeNashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is the second most populous city in the state after Memphis. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state...
, first working as a demo singer before
Decca RecordsDecca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; later the link with the British company was broken for several decades...
signed him to a recording contract. In 1989 Akins married former wife Paige, with her he has two children, daughter Kasey Lee and son Thomas Rhett.
Akins's first single was "What They're Talkin' About", a #35 on the
Billboard country charts in late 1994, followed by the #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 #3 on the country charts in mid-1995. All three of these songs were included on his 1995 debut album
A Thousand MemoriesA Thousand Memories is the debut album of American country music artist Rhett Akins. It was released in 1995 on Decca Records Nashville...
, which also produced the #17 "She Said Yes". Also in 1995 and 1996, Akins toured with
Reba McEntireReba Nell McEntire is a Grammy award-winning American country music artist. She began her career in the music industry singing with her siblings on local radio shows and rodeos. As a solo act, she was invited to perform at a rodeo in Oklahoma City, which caught the attention of country artist Red...
.
Akins' second album,
Somebody NewSomebody New is the second studio album by American country music artist Rhett Akins. The album was released by Decca Nashville on June 4, 1996...
, produced his only Number One hit in "
Don't Get Me Started"Don't Get Me Started" is a 1996 song performed by Rhett Akins. The first single from Akins' Somebody New album, it is also Akins' only Number One hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts.-Chart performance:...
", which peaked in August 1996. The other three singles from
Somebody New were less successful, however, with "Love You Back" (the second single) becoming his last Top 40 hit at #38.
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 AboutWhat Livin's All About is the third studio album by American country music artist Rhett Akins. It was released in 1998 on MCA Nashville. The album accounted for two singles: "More Than Everything" and "Better Than It Used to Be", which respectively reached #41 and #47 on the Billboard country...
. 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 #25 hit on the
RPMRPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
country charts in Canada. Also in 1998, Akins charted with a cover of
Eddie RabbittEdward Thomas "Eddie" Rabbitt was an American country music singer-songwriter who enjoyed much pop success at the height of his career in the 1970s and 80s with 20 #1 country hits including "Drivin' My Life Away" and "I Love a Rainy Night," which also topped the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Adult...
's 1980 Number One hit "
Drivin' My Life Away"Drivin' My Life Away" is a country song by Eddie Rabbitt. It reached number one on the Hot Country Singles in 1980, and peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100....
", which Akins covered on the soundtrack to the 1998 film
Black DogBlack Dog is a 1998 film about an ex-con manipulated into transporting illegal arms. The film stars Patrick Swayze, Randy Travis, and Meat Loaf.-Plot:...
.
A fourth album,
Friday Night in DixieFriday Night in Dixie is the fourth studio album by American country music artist Rhett Akins. It was released in 2002 on Audium Entertainment/Koch Records. The album produced two singles in "Highway Sunrise" and "In Your Love", which peaked at #55 and #57 respectively on the Billboard country...
, was released in 2002 on
Koch RecordsE1 Music , the primary subsidiary of E1 Entertainment LP, is the largest independent record label in the United States. It is also distributed by the Universal Music Group in Europe and in Asia under the name E1 Universal. Today in the US, it is distributed by Epic Records...
. This album's only two singles, "Highway Sunrise" and "In Your Eyes", peaked at #55 and #57, respectively. Akins did not release another single until his signing with
BNA RecordsBNA Records, formerly known as BNA Entertainment, is a label group that shares ties with Arista Nashville and RCA Nashville from parent company RCA Records, which itself is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, BNA features country music acts on its roster...
in 2006, when he released the #57-peaking "Kiss My Country Ass". It was included on his album
People Like Me, which was originally to have been released via BNA but was ultimately self-released in 2007.
Akins has found success as a songwriter, co-writing
Brooks & DunnBrooks & Dunn are an American country music duo, consisting of Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn. Both Brooks and Dunn had worked as singer-songwriters before the duo's formation, charting singles of their own in the late 1980s...
's 2008 single "
Put a Girl in It"Put a Girl in It" is the title of a country music song co-written by singer Rhett Akins along with Dallas Davidson and Ben Hayslip. The song was recorded by the duo Brooks & Dunn on their 2007 album Cowboy Town, and was released in May 2008 as that album's third single.-Content:The song is an...
" and
Jack IngramJack Owen Ingram is an American country music artist signed to Big Machine Records, an independent record label. He has released eight studio albums, one extended play, six live albums and fifteen singles. Although active since 1992, Ingram did not reach the U.S. country Top 40 until the late 2005...
's 2009 single "
Barefoot and Crazy"Barefoot and Crazy" is the title of a song written by Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson and Ben Hayslip, and recorded by American country music artist Jack Ingram. It serves as the second single from his album, Big Dreams and High Hopes.-Content:...
", as well as album cuts for
Chris CagleChristian "Chris" Cagle is an American country music artist. Signed with Virgin Records in 2000, Cagle made his debut on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts with the single "My Love Goes On and On", the first single from his debut album Play It Loud...
,
Blake SheltonBlake Tollison Shelton is an American country music artist. In 2001, he made his debut with the single "Austin". Released as the lead-off single from his self-titled debut album, "Austin" went on to spend five weeks at Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts...
,
Jake OwenJoshua Ryan "Jake" Owen is a Grammy-Award nominated American country music artist. Signed to RCA Records Nashville in 2005, Owen released his debut album Startin' with Me that year...
, and
Rodney AtkinsRodney Austin Atkins is an American country music artist. Signed to Curb Records since 1997, Atkins charted his first single on the Billboard country charts that year. However, he did not enter the charts again until late 2002, with the Top 40 single "Sing Along"...
. He also self-released the album
Down South in 2008.
Studio albums
| Year |
Album details |
Peak chart positions |
| US Country |
US The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling new music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
|
US
HeatTop Heatseekers is a weekly albums chart introduced by Billboard in 1993 whose purpose is to highlight sales by new and developing musical recording artists. Albums appearing on Top Heatseekers may also concurrently appear on the Billboard 200....
|
CAN Country |
| 1995 |
A Thousand Memories A Thousand Memories is the debut album of American country music artist Rhett Akins. It was released in 1995 on Decca Records Nashville...
- Released: January 3, 1995
- Label: Decca Nashville
|
45 |
— |
23 |
23 |
| 1996 |
Somebody New Somebody New is the second studio album by American country music artist Rhett Akins. The album was released by Decca Nashville on June 4, 1996...
- Released: June 4, 1996
- Label: Decca Nashville
|
13 |
102 |
2 |
— |
| 1998 |
What Livin's All About What Livin's All About is the third studio album by American country music artist Rhett Akins. It was released in 1998 on MCA Nashville. The album accounted for two singles: "More Than Everything" and "Better Than It Used to Be", which respectively reached #41 and #47 on the Billboard country...
- Released: January 13, 1998
- Label: MCA Nashville
Universal Music Group Nashville is Universal Music Group's country music subsidiary. Some of the labels in this group include MCA Nashville Records Mercury Nashville Records, and Lost Highway Records...
|
33 |
— |
20 |
— |
| 2002 |
Friday Night in Dixie Friday Night in Dixie is the fourth studio album by American country music artist Rhett Akins. It was released in 2002 on Audium Entertainment/Koch Records. The album produced two singles in "Highway Sunrise" and "In Your Love", which peaked at #55 and #57 respectively on the Billboard country...
- Released: March 26, 2002
- Label: Audium/Koch
|
65 |
— |
— |
* |
| 2007 |
People Like Me
- Released: 2007
- Label: self-released
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 2008 |
Down South
- Released: 2008
- Label: self-released
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
"—" denotes releases that failed to chart
* denotes unknown peak positions |
Singles
| Year |
Single |
Peak chart positions |
Album |
| US Country Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
|
US The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday; while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
|
CAN Country |
| 1994 |
"What They're Talkin' About" |
35 |
— |
44 |
A Thousand Memories |
| 1995 |
"I Brake for Brunettes" |
36 |
— |
28 |
| "That Ain't My Truck "That Ain't My Truck" is a song co-written and recorded by country music artist Rhett Akins. It is the third single released from his 1995 debut album A Thousand Memories...
" |
3 |
— |
7 |
| 1996 |
"She Said Yes" |
17 |
— |
20 |
| "Don't Get Me Started "Don't Get Me Started" is a 1996 song performed by Rhett Akins. The first single from Akins' Somebody New album, it is also Akins' only Number One hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts.-Chart performance:...
" |
1 |
— |
8 |
Somebody New |
| "Love You Back" |
38 |
— |
51 |
| 1997 |
"Every Cowboy's Dream" |
51 |
— |
41 |
| "Somebody New" |
69 |
— |
— |
| "More Than Everything" |
41 |
121 |
25 |
What Livin's All About |
| 1998 |
"Better Than It Used to Be" |
47 |
— |
62 |
| "Drivin' My Life Away "Drivin' My Life Away" is a country song by Eddie Rabbitt. It reached number one on the Hot Country Singles in 1980, and peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100....
" |
56 |
— |
61 |
Black Dog (soundtrack) |
| 2002 |
"Highway Sunrise" |
55 |
— |
* |
Friday Night in Dixie |
| 2003 |
"In Your Love" |
57 |
— |
* |
| 2006 |
"Kiss My Country Ass" |
57 |
— |
— |
People Like Me |
| "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away" |
— |
— |
— |
| 2008 |
"Down South" |
— |
— |
— |
Down South |
| "Hung Up" |
— |
— |
— |
"—" denotes releases that failed to chart
* denotes unknown peak positions |
Music videos
| Year |
Video |
Director |
| 1994 |
"What They're Talkin' About" |
Jon Small |
| 1995 |
"That Ain't My Truck" |
Mary Newman-Said |
| 1996 |
"She Said Yes" |
| "Love You Back" |
Guy Guillet |
| 1997 |
"More Than Everything" |
Richard Murray |
| 1998 |
"Better Than It Used to Be" |
| "Drivin' My Life Away" |
Charley Randazzo |
External links