Country singer Thomas Rhett created his brand in 2013 with his first album, “It Goes Like This” and captured the hearts of music fans around the world with his 2015 single “Die a Happy Man.”

The song portrayed the ardent love for his wife Lauren Atkins, flourished his fan base and later earned him a Grammy nomination in 2017 for Best Country Song. 

NIU students may recognize Rhett’s name as he played the Convocation Center last spring and wooed students, parents and friends.

Since then, the singer and his wife adopted a daughter, Willa Gray Akins, from Africa and welcomed another baby girl, Ada James Akins,  a few months later. I’d be lying if I said they’re adorable little family wasn’t goals. 

The singer recently released his third album, “Life Changes” in September. The record captures the transformation of his life, family and fame.

Easily one of the most popular songs from the album, “Craving You” features Maren Morris and soared through the charts. The track characterizes the feeling one has after breaking up with their partner, but realizing they still want them in their life. With the catchy lyrics in the chorus and the dynamic vocals of Rhett and Morris, it’s no wonder the song was a hit on both country and pop radios.

In another beloved song and single from the record, “Unforgettable,” Rhett describes a day, October 14 to be exact, in the past with his wife Lauren and all the details from the day. If you really want your heart to melt, watch this video of him serenading her on stage recently. 

When fans first saw the tracklist for the album before its release, they immediately thought the song “Marry Me” would be the next “Die a Happy Man” and be the year’s top wedding song. In reality, the song faces the harsh truth when the love of your life marries someone else and you’re in the audience watching.

Rhett sings, “I remember the night when I almost kissed her. Yeah, I kinda freaked out, we’ve been friends forever. And I’d always wonder if she felt the same way. When I got the invite, I knew it was too late.”

The heartbreaking lyrics illustrate the time Rhett’s wife and himself almost married different people instead of each other. 

On more of an upbeat note, the track “Drink a Little Beer” features Rhett and his father, country music singer and songwriter Rhett Atkins. Easily the most country rooted song on the album, it applies a bit of father-son mischief.

While I can go on about every song on the album, the last notable one is the title track, “Life Changes.” The tune, like others on the album, is a pop country mix and depicts the changes in Rhett’s life, from being a college student to marrying the love of his life to having two daughters under two in one year. The track best describes his life and his unconditional love for living it.

Rhett’s record debuted at number one on the Billboard charts and the first country album to take the spot this year. His mixture of pop and country along with his honest lyrics make for an all-around admirable album to jam out to.

The album is available for purchase on iTunes and can be streamed on Spotify. If you like what you hear, you can catch Rhett at Kenny Chesney’s 2018 tour at 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 28 at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL.