Thomas Rhett Says Wife's Simplicity Helped Protect 14-Year Marriage From Fame

Q: How did a country music superstar save his marriage from the toxic allure of sudden fame and constant public praise?

Thomas Rhett said he pulled his marriage back from the corrosive effects of fame by re-centering his life on Lauren Akins, their children, and a deliberately simple home life rather than on applause and celebrity. Rhett has openly said the late 2010s were the hardest stretch. As his career surged, he felt the pull of performing for huge crowds and the temptation to seek constant affirmation. He later described that period as “living a double life,” saying the pressure of success nearly harmed his marriage. The turning point came during the pandemic in 2020, when he was forced away from the stage and began figuring out who he was without the microphone, the audience, and public praise. He has said that experience made him more grounded and helped him recover a truer sense of self. He credits Akins, his wife since 2012, with keeping him rooted. Rhett has said she never cared about fame and always preferred a quiet, normal life, which gave him a steady counterweight to the music industry’s excesses. He now says the best parts of life happen at home—around the dinner table, in the backyard, and at bedtime with their five children. Practically, Rhett says the key is intentional investment in the marriage: “Don’t forget to continue to date your wife.” He and Akins still carve out time alone, including recent child-free travel together, because he believes protecting the relationship requires deliberate effort, especially once children and career demands intensify.

1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 6

Thomas Rhett said Lauren Akins’ push for a simple, normal life has helped shield their marriage from the distortions of fame, including refusing celebrity perks like cutting lines.
The 36-year-old said his career surge from 2017 to 2019 made him too comfortable with stardom and left him chasing the rush of performing for 10,000 people, which made ordinary life harder to enjoy.
Rhett said that strain once nearly damaged the relationship: earlier this year he described his early-fame years as a “double life” fueled by affirmation, and said the pandemic in 2020 forced him to rediscover who he was offstage.
Married since 2012 and raising 5 children, Rhett said the practical advice that works is to keep dating your spouse, citing a recent 2-day trip alone with Lauren as necessary time together.