Thomas Rhett’s latest album, About a Woman, is more than just a love letter to his wife, Lauren — it’s the soundtrack of their journey from high school sweethearts to parents, filled with heartfelt songs and ’80s-inspired country vibes. Always mixing things up while staying true to his roots, he’s mastered the art of balancing evolution with nostalgia. And he’s not slowing down anytime soon; whether he’s finding new ways to say “I love you” through his music or gearing up to host the CCMAs in Edmonton, Thomas Rhett is on a mission to make his audience smile — one “banger” at a time.

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Congratulations on your album, About a Woman. You mentioned that this project is about your wife, Lauren. What inspired you to make her the central theme of this project?

Thomas Rhett: I think in a way, she’s always been the central theme of most, actually, all of my projects. I started making records in 2012, which was also the same year I got married. Ever since “Die A Happy Man,” it has been my mission to find new ways to say “I love you” to her. Every record has a bit of that challenge — I’ve written so many songs about her and our kids. With this being record number seven, it’s like, “What do you say next?” But over the last eight years, watching Lauren become a mom and just such a great friend and person has been inspiring. I find myself constantly taking notes or writing down titles that could become songs.

The song “Something About a Woman” was the first one we wrote for this record, and when we got down to naming the project, my management team asked, “What do you think the record is about?” I said, “Well, it’s about a woman, a specific woman,” and I think people will know who that woman is. As I was listening to the track listing, all these songs really represent our love story, from high school to now and even into the future. It wasn’t a strategy at first, but as I started writing these songs, it just felt right to dedicate an entire project to her. Having her in the visualizers and music videos has been really special, and it’s content I can’t wait to show my grandkids one day. It’s been a blast to make, and I can’t believe it’s finally out. I’m very excited.

The album is a mix of retro ’80s sounds with an organic country beat. How do you balance these different musical influences while staying true to your country roots?

Thomas Rhett: Going back through all of my music, my records are pretty sonically diverse. Some would call that incohesive, but I like to call it “incohesively cohesive.” Growing up with a dad who was also a country singer in the ’90s, he was like a walking jukebox. On the way to school, we’d listen to The Beatles, Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones — he was my musical idol growing up. He took me to see concerts from the Allman Brothers to Matchbox Twenty, and all these different artists.

Country music has always been at the center of what I do; it’s my first love. But my favorite part of every record is blending all the genres I love into my own style. On my first record, there’s a song called “Make Me Wanna” that’s very Bee Gees-like disco-country. That song put me on the map as the guy who does “that thing.” It led to songs like “Crash and Burn,” “T-Shirt,” and “Unforgettable.” I’ve had hits that were quite different from what country radio was playing, and I think that made me stand out early in my career. I always try to push myself with new sounds and melodies, making sure my music feels different from everything else out there. The mission for this record was joy — I wanted people to smile while listening to it. Sometimes the heart of a song is simply that it makes you smile. My eight-year-old daughter said these songs were “bangers,” and it’s great that my kids think my music is fun too.

You mentioned that this album is about joy. With such a diverse range of songs, how did you ensure that each track still connects with the overall theme?

Thomas Rhett: There are really only two songs on the record about heartbreak, “Country for California” and “Don’t Wanna Dance,” which are ironically the only two songs I didn’t write. I don’t do heartbreak well; it doesn’t feel authentic coming from me. There was a point in this project where I thought I hadn’t done a real heartbreak song since “Marry Me,” but I wanted these songs to make sense for my story too. Even though those songs are sad, their melodies are upbeat and catchy, which creates a happy-sad song. Like “Crash and Burn,” which is actually a sad song but makes you want to jump up and down. Even with songs about heartbreak, I want them to feel enjoyable and fun at a concert.

I want to talk about your single “Overdrive.” It reflects on small-town living and young love. Can you share some personal memories that inspired this song?

Thomas Rhett: That song is pretty much a verbatim recount of a night in high school. I think I was 16 or 17 years old. I “played” football — well, I mostly rode the bench. I weighed about 140 pounds as a freshman. I really wanted to date Lauren because I had known her since the first grade, but we had never dated; we were just good friends. I remember after homecoming one night, I got my truck for the first time, and Lauren called and asked if I could pick her up. I ditched my friends so fast and sped to pick her up. That’s where the song stems from.

I feel like everyone can relate to that feeling of young love — the awkwardness, knocking on her parents’ door, wondering if you should hold her hand or kiss her on the first date. I tried to pack all those feelings into “Overdrive.” It’s been a lot of fun to play on the road, and I’m just a sucker for nostalgia. That song hits all the right notes for me.

Is that why you put your younger brother in the music video?

Thomas Rhett: Yeah, we were actually looking at casting real actors and actresses, but then my brother came to mind. He’s 19, just graduated high school, and is going into his freshman year of college. He is that awkward kid, you know? We needed that awkwardness to come through on camera, so he and his partner played a younger version of Lauren and me. I loved that they weren’t professionals because it made it feel more authentic. Plus, it was really fun to have a family member in the music video.

With 22 number-one hits over a decade in the industry, how do you keep pushing your creative boundaries while maintaining the core elements that your fans love?

Thomas Rhett: Great question. I feel like I’m always trying to evolve. If I start making the same record repeatedly, it means I’ve given up, and that’s not the artist I want to be. Even though this record just came out, my mind is already thinking about what’s next. I’m always writing and creating, always pushing myself to see what we haven’t done before — what new lanes we can explore, what new sounds we can use. I think the key is to keep moving forward sonically and melodically while remaining authentic lyrically. The day I stop pushing myself is the day I should stop making records. But right now, I feel like I’m in a new stride in my life and career, and I can’t wait to see what the next decade holds.

You’ve described this album as another step forward, but also reminiscent of your earlier work. How do you strike the balance between evolving as an artist and staying true to what made you successful?

Thomas Rhett: My dad once told me that my career is like a fast-food restaurant — like Chick-fil-A — where sometimes you want to serve pizza for a year. People would love that, but at the end of the day, they still want chicken. It took me a while to understand, but he was saying that I’ve always been the guy unafraid to push boundaries in the genre. That’s what people expect from me — not normal, down-the-middle songs, but something that pushes them musically. So, I always try new things while not forgetting what got me here. This record blends elements from all my previous work, but it also progresses those familiar elements to make them better.

You’re set to host the CCMA Awards this year. What excites you most about this role, and how are you preparing for it?

Thomas Rhett: I love Canada — it’s one of my favorite places to play. I’ve only been to one other CCMA, back in 2017, but when I was asked to host this year, I was shocked and honored. I’m co-hosting with Mackenzie, who is Canadian royalty, an amazing actress, and a great person. Having someone like her, who is a professional behind the camera, gives me a lot of confidence. We’ve been going through the script, figuring out each other’s personalities, who to make fun of, and who not to. It’s going to be a blast and a great way to celebrate all the fantastic country music coming out of Canada.

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