Country music artist Thomas Rhett and his wife Lauren Akins have welcomed their fifth child, a baby boy, in February 2026. The announcement marks a significant milestone for the couple, who had previously welcomed four daughters over the course of their marriage.
The couple's journey to parenthood has been both unconventional and inspiring. After struggling to conceive following their 2012 honeymoon in Hawaii, Rhett and Akins explored alternative paths to building their family. Their first daughter, Willa Gray, was adopted from Uganda in May 2017 after Akins developed a bond with the baby girl during a 2016 visit to the country.
The family grew rapidly thereafter. Biological daughter Ada James arrived in August 2017, followed by Lennon Love in February 2020 and Lillie Carolina in November 2021. The February 2026 arrival of their first son completes a family of six children, all under the age of nine.
The couple's relationship spans more than three decades, beginning when they met as kindergartners at Goodpasture Christian School in Madison, Tennessee, in 1995. Though they briefly dated in tenth grade in 2005, it was not until 2011 that their romance truly blossomed. Rhett confessed his feelings for Akins at her sister's graduation party that year, despite both having nearly gotten engaged to other people during college.
The whirlwind courtship moved quickly. Rhett proposed in December 2011 by writing "Marry Me" on a wine bottle with a Sharpie marker during dinner at Giovanni, Akins' favorite Nashville restaurant. The couple married in October 2012 during an outdoor ceremony in Nashville, just six months after beginning their relationship.
Rhett, a successful country music performer, has frequently drawn inspiration from his relationship with Akins for his songwriting. His signature hit "Die a Happy Man" featured Akins in the music video, filmed in Hawaii in July 2015. More recently, his song "Want It Again" from his fifth studio album, Country Again (Side A), chronicles their college-era reunion. In the track, he sings, "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."
The couple has maintained a strong public presence throughout their marriage. Most recently, they attended the 2026 ACM Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in May 2026, enjoying a rare evening without their children. The event, hosted by Shania Twain, provided the couple an opportunity to celebrate together on the red carpet.
In a February 2023 interview with ET Canada, Rhett reflected on their decade-long marriage and the challenges of balancing family life with a demanding music career. "We just celebrated 10 years of marriage in October, and this lifestyle is just nuts. It truly is," he stated. "And for someone to just deal with it all for 10 years and be my rock, be that person that I've always just leaned on. Still to this day we're more in love than we've ever been."
Akins, a former nurse and New York Times bestselling author, has been praised by her husband for her parenting abilities. In February 2022, Rhett told E! News, "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."
The couple announced their fifth pregnancy in August 2025 through an Instagram video featuring Rhett singing a version of "Life Changes." The caption read, "Here we go again! We've got some really excited big sisters in our house. God is so good."
Throughout their marriage, Rhett and Akins have documented their journey through social media, sharing glimpses of family vacations, milestone celebrations, and everyday moments. From Halloween costumes as Harry Potter and Hermione Granger in October 2014 to anniversary trips to Italy and Wyoming, the couple has built a life centered on family, faith, and mutual support.
As they navigate life with five children under six years old, the couple continues to prioritize their relationship while managing the demands of Rhett's touring schedule and public life. Their story, which began in a kindergarten classroom in Madison, Tennessee, has evolved into a modern family narrative that resonates with fans across the country music landscape.
