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Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins’ love story is one for the books. The couple met as kindergartners, but it took them about 15 years to realize that they were life partners — and they haven’t turned back since.
The country superstar and the Live in Love author started dating in 2011 after reconnecting at a party for her sister. They were engaged within six months and married the following October.
“When I saw them stare at each other the entire 20 minutes they were saying their vows, it’s like these two people are meant to be together. They are beyond in love,” the groom’s father, Rhett Akins, told Country Weekly at the time. “Everybody there that had doubted or wondered if they were too young, all the doubts are gone now.”
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After honeymooning in Hawaii, Rhett and Akins tried to start a family. However, the pair struggled to conceive, so they began looking into other ways to have children. Akins visited Uganda in 2016 and quickly developed a bond with a baby girl named Willa Gray. She and Rhett returned to the African country a dozen times over the 12 months that followed before formally adopting the then-18-month-old.
In the middle of the process, the Grammy nominee and his wife found out that she was pregnant. Their daughter Ada James was born in August 2017, only three months after Willa came home to the U.S.
“There is nothing more fun than being around my children,” Rhett gushed to ABC News Radio in June 2019. “I can only imagine it gets more fun the more that you have.”
And with that said, they became a family of five in February 2020 when Akins gave birth to another daughter, Lennon Love. They expanded their brood yet again in November 2021 when they welcomed daughter Lillie Carolina.
Scroll down to see a timeline of Rhett and Akins’ relationship!
Credit: Lauren Akins/Instagram; Thomas Rhett Akins/Instagram; Shutterstock; Thomas Rhett Akins/Instagram
Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins: A Timeline of Their Relationship
Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins’ love story is one for the books. The couple met as kindergartners, but it took them about 15 years to realize that they were life partners — and they haven’t turned back since. The country superstar and the Live in Love author started dating in 2011 after reconnecting at a party for her sister. They were engaged within six months and married the following October. “When I saw them stare at each other the entire 20 minutes they were saying their vows, it’s like these two people are meant to be together. They are beyond in love,” the groom’s father, Rhett Akins, told Country Weekly at the time. “Everybody there that had doubted or wondered if they were too young, all the doubts are gone now.” [jwplayer rB35EyUe-zhNYySv2] After honeymooning in Hawaii, Rhett and Akins tried to start a family. However, the pair struggled to conceive, so they began looking into other ways to have children. Akins visited Uganda in 2016 and quickly developed a bond with a baby girl named Willa Gray. She and Rhett returned to the African country a dozen times over the 12 months that followed before formally adopting the then-18-month-old. In the middle of the process, the Grammy nominee and his wife found out that she was pregnant. Their daughter Ada James was born in August 2017, only three months after Willa came home to the U.S. “There is nothing more fun than being around my children,” Rhett gushed to ABC News Radio in June 2019. “I can only imagine it gets more fun the more that you have.” And with that said, they became a family of five in February 2020 when Akins gave birth to another daughter, Lennon Love. They expanded their brood yet again in November 2021 when they welcomed daughter Lillie Carolina. Scroll down to see a timeline of Rhett and Akins’ relationship! [podcast_block]
Credit: Courtesy of Lauren Akins Instagram/Instagram
1995
The pair met in kindergarten when they were in the same class at Goodpasture Christian School in Madison, Tennessee.
Credit: Courtesy of Thomas Rhett Akins/Instagram
2005
Rhett and Akins briefly dated in the 10th grade. He was head over heels in love, but she ultimately decided they would be better off as friends. “She was just like the all-American, friendliest, nicest. She was tall, blonde, beautiful, pretty much the total package for any dude from sixth grade all the way through high school,” Rhett recalled to The Tennessean in February 2016.
Credit: Courtesy of Thomas Rhett Akins/Instagram
2011
Rhett and Akins nearly got engaged to other people in college. But then, he attended her sister’s graduation party in 2011 and confessed that he still had feelings for her.
Credit: Courtesy of Thomas Rhett Akins/Instagram
2011
The hitmaker proposed to the former nurse in December 2011 by writing “Marry Me” on a wine bottle with a Sharpie marker over dinner at her favorite Nashville restaurant, Giovanni.
Credit: Al Powers/Powers Imagery/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
2012
Rhett and Akins tied the knot in October 2012 during an outdoor ceremony in Nashville.
Credit: Courtesy of Thomas Rhett Akins/Instagram
2014
The lovebirds enjoyed a trip to Italy in September 2014. “Me and @lauren_akins peacing out of the country! Here we come Italy,” the entertainer captioned a selfie via Instagram.
Credit: Courtesy of Thomas Rhett Akins/Instagram
2014
Rhett and Akins dressed up as Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, respectively, at a Halloween party in October 2014.
Credit: Courtesy of Thomas Rhett Akins/Instagram
2015
In July 2015, the couple returned to their honeymoon destination of Hawaii to shoot the music video for the singer’s signature hit, “Die a Happy Man.”
Credit: Courtesy of Thomas Rhett Akins/Instagram
2015
Rhett cozied up to his “boo” at a college football game in September 2015.
Credit: Courtesy of Thomas Rhett Akins/Instagram
2016
The musician took to Instagram in October 2016 to commemorate their fourth wedding anniversary. “4 years @laur_akins seriously?! It’s gone by so fast,” he wrote. “Love you so much!! Happy anniversary babe.”
Credit: Courtesy of Thomas Rhett Akins/Instagram
2017
Rhett and Akins adopted their daughter Willa from Uganda in May 2017.
Credit: Courtesy of Thomas Rhett Akins/Instagram
2017
Akins gave birth to the couple’s second daughter, Ada, in August 2017. “I can’t believe that we have two daughters!!” Rhett wrote via Instagram.
Credit: Courtesy of Thomas Rhett Akins/Instagram
2018
The family of four took a trip to Chicago in July 2018 ahead of Ada’s 1st birthday.
Credit: AFF-USA/Shutterstock
2019
Rhett and a then-pregnant Akins brought Willa and Ada to the CMA Awards in November 2019.
Credit: Courtesy of Katelyn Brown Photo/Instagram
2020
The childhood sweethearts welcomed their third daughter, Lennon, in February 2020. “Watching our kids meet Lennon for the first time was probably the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen in my whole life!” Rhett wrote via Instagram. “Ada James and Willa Gray are going to be the best big sisters on the planet.”
Credit: Courtesy of Lauren Akins/Instagram
2020
Akins paid tribute to Rhett via Instagram on Father’s Day in June 2020, writing, “Thomas Rhett you are the best daddy to our 3 little girls. You keep us steady, constantly entertain us, love us better than anyone could, cook us amazing food, point us to Jesus, (try to) teach us everything about music, make us laugh every single day, and with you leading our family we get to live out the most incredible adventure. Happy Father’s Day honey, you are so loved.”
Credit: Courtesy Thomas Rhett/Instagram; Shutterstock
2020
The “Remember You Young” crooner celebrated his eight-year wedding anniversary with Akins in October 2020, sharing a sweet photo of her with the couple’s three kids cuddling on their bed. “Happy 8 year anniversary @laur_akins I seriously feel like we got married 6 months ago. I have loved every second of our journey together,” he wrote via Instagram. “No matter how tough it has been at times you are a fighter and I thank you and the Lord every day that you wake up and choose love. You are my rock, my inspiration and the woman that simply just makes life better. I can’t wait to relax with you, take naps with you and crush Netflix with you today! I love you so much honey! Also, I love your shoe choice in the photo haha.”
The New York Times bestseller penned her own tribute to her husband, sharing a photo of the duo standing side by side in The Great Outdoors. “I’ll go anywhere with you babe,” she captioned the snap. “These last 8 years have been the adventure of my dreams. I love you more than any words on Instagram can say. Happy Anniversary.”
Credit: CMA/ABC
2020
The “What’s Your Country Song” singer and his wife cohosted the CMA Country Christmas special in December 2020, giving fans a glimpse at their playful relationship. Their daughters also made an appearance during Lady A’s closing performance.
Credit: The Valory Music Co.
2021
Rhett sang about getting back together with Akins after college in his song “Want It Again” from his fifth studio album, Country Again (Side A). “I knew someday you’d find your way back into my arms / So girl, I kept this heart of mine / Somewhere good and safe / I knew you’d want it again someday,” he crooned.
Credit: Courtesy Thomas Rhett/Instagram
2021
The couple took a “just us two” mountain vacation ahead of the singer’s 31st birthday.
“One of the very few times Lauren and I got to ski just us two.. it was a good day. Love you honey @laur_akins,” Rhett wrote via Instagram on March 28. A day later, he captioned a separate photo of the pair, “Mom and dad.”
Credit: Courtesy of Lauren Akins/Instagram
2021
Akins and Rhett revealed in May 2021 that she is pregnant with their fourth child. “SURPRISE!!” she wrote via Instagram. “He just couldn’t wait any longer, so @thomasrhettakins told our newest little secret onstage at @billybobstexas in Ft. Worth (my mama’s hometown) just in time for Mother’s Day: Akins family expanding in November 2021 with our FOURTH baby girl.”
The “Marry Me” crooner, for his part, gushed: “Well… we are pregnant again! Tonight when I was on stage in Fort Worth about to play ‘to the guys that date my girls’ my wife talked to me in my (ear monitors) and said ‘you can tell them if you want’ so anyways, now you know. We are pumped to be having our 4th girl. Feel free to buy all the merch you want, knowing that all the proceeds are going straight to all these weddings I’ll be paying for one day! Love you so much @laur_akins we always wanted a big thanksgiving table.”
Credit: Courtesy of Thomas Rhett/Instagram
2021
While the “What’s Your Country Song” crooner performer was away from home on tour, he shared a sweet tribute to his wife, who was unable to attend.
“When you start having kids you never remember to take pictures together,” the Georgia native captioned a snap of the couple together in October 2021. “I love you @laur_akins missing you this weekend!”
Credit: Courtesy of Katelyn Brown Photo/Lauren Adkins/Instagram
2021
The couple became a family of six in November 2021 when Akins gave birth to their fourth daughter, Lillie. “Lillie Carolina Akins,” Rhett wrote via Instagram at the time. “Born November 15th. 7.5 pounds of pure joy @laur_akins you are my hero. Watching a child being born is legit a miracle. 4 under 6 here we go!”
Credit: Courtesy of Lauren Akins/Instagram
2022
In February, Rhett praised his “super woman” wife’s skills as a mother. “My wife moms with such patience and with such grace without ever asking for anything in return, and I feel like our kids just watch Lauren be super woman and they want to help her and they want to love on her,” he told E! News at the time. “My wife is one of the most loving human beings in the world and has one of the kindest hearts that I know. I’m already starting to see that development in my little girls as well and that’s one of the things I could not be more proud of.”
Credit: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
November 2022
Before the “Unforgettable” singer performed a CMAs duet with Katy Perry, he stepped out on the carpet with his wife. “Prettiest girl in every room,” he captioned Instagram snaps of their appearance.
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