Top Ten Thomas Rhett Songs

In honour of his new album, Center Point Road, being released this Friday, May 31. I’m counting down what I think are the Top Ten Thomas Rhett songs (so far)!

From Country pop to Country rock, and everything in between, TR has done it all. With over 10 airplay number one singles, two ACMs, and three best selling albums, it is no doubt he is one of the most sought after artists in the industry today.

His highly anticipated new album promises to add to these accolades, and with singles such as "Look What God Gave Her," and "Remember You Young" already making waves, it leaves us with great expectations that Center Point Road will be one to remember.

10. "Leave Right Now"

Hailing as the fifth single from his Life Changes album, "Leave Right now" was penned by Rhett himself, alongside frequent collaborators, including Julian Bunetta, whose name you may see again within this list. A post-chorus 'drop' combines influences of electric dance and pop music, and, infused with his Country twang, makes for a catchy and addictive sound.

Whilst not one of his most successful singles, peaking at #38 on the Hot Country charts, "Leave Right Now" is the ultimate crowd pleaser, and opened many of his 2018 tour dates. You can also check out a Nashville remix, as well as a Martin Jensen remix, which features as the audio track for the video.

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9. "Craving You" Ft. Maren Morris

The first single from Life Changes, "Craving You" reached number one on the Country airplay chart, and instantly created high expectations for Rhett's forthcoming album. Co-written by Grammy nominated Dave Barnes, Maren Morris' additional vocals weren't guaranteed to be on the record, which Rhett determined as 'not really a duet song.' But after Morris taking only one hour to lay down her vocals, Rhett, alongside his wife, and his team, decided that her undeniable talent made the song so much better.

The music video sets itself as a trailer for a bank heist movie, with Rhett playing an undercover police officer, and Morris playing the bank robber herself. It adds to the lust worthy-ness of the track, and allows us to see another side to Rhett completely.

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8. "Star of the Show"

Released as the fifth and final single from Tangled Up, "Star of the Show" became Rhett's seventh number one song, and is an ode to his beautiful wife, Lauren. The songs bashful tone, and harmonic melody, is a testament to the loving words written by Rhett, his father Rhett Akins, and former ASCAP Songwriter of the Year winner Ben Hayslip. Hayslip is the mastermind behind numerous Country megahits, including Jake Owen's "Anywhere With You," Martina McBride's "I'm Gonna Love You Through It," and Blake Shelton's "Honey Bee."

The music video features Lauren herself, as well as a simplistic voyage through an underground road, and compliments the coy, and effortless vocals of the track. The song rounded off the Tangled Up era perfectly, and left us with a dreamy look on life through Thomas Rhett's eyes.

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7. "Make Me Wanna"

The last single released from his debut album It Goes Like This, is a mid-tempo Country pop song, with a Rhett described 'BeeGees sound.' Whilst again not being one of Rhett's best-selling hits, the song was still certified Gold at the beginning of 2015, six months after its initial release. The song reached number one on the Country airplay charts, making it Rhett's second airplay chart topper from his debut single.

For this track, he collaborated with Bart Butler, whose presence is prominent on Job Pardi's debut album, California Sunrise. Pardi collaborates with Rhett on "Beer Can't Fix," which features on Center Point Road. "Make Me Wanna" seems to draw on some old school Disco influences, and its lyrics are as catchy as any one of Rhett's singles, and never fails to get the crowd going. Its fun nature has gotten better over the years, and makes for a great contrast to some of Rhett's more recent records.

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6. "Look What God Gave Her"

The most recent song on this list, "Look What God Gave Her," is the first single from Center Point Road. It debuted at number 35 on Hot Country Songs, but after 19,000 sales in its first week, it got bumped up to number five, and is still in the top ten as of May 2019.

Co-written once again with Rhett Akins and Julian Bunetta, he also teams up with Josh Ryan, as well as frequent Maroon 5 writers, Ammar Malik, and Jacob Kashur, who penned "Moves Like Jagger," and "Sugar," respectively. The Country-crossover hit takes us back to the electric dance feel that is present in Rhett's earlier albums, and once again, is a catchy crowd pleaser. The music video once again features Lauren, as well as their two children, and showcases wonderful women across the world. The song has been the opener for Rhett's 'Very Hot Summer' tour which kicked off in May. He also performed the song at the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards in April, where he also took home the award for Male Vocalist of the Year.

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5. "Life Changes"

The title track and fourth single from the Life Changes album, this is probably the most personal song of Rhett's to date. Appearing as an almost biographical take on Thomas Rhett's life, the song takes us from his college days, to his musical success, to his current life revolving around his three girls. Penned once again with his father, alongside Ashley Gorley, and Jesse Frasure, who also helped write "Marry Me," the song makes you feel emotions that you didn't even know existed.

It is amazing to see how his life has changed, even in the short five years between the release of his first record, and this song. The music video takes us on the journey of Rhett's tour, and showcases his wife Lauren, who he states in the song now has her 'own set of fans,' as well as his two young daughters, Willa Gray and Ada James. The whole video has a family feel from it, and you can tell that this is the attitude of his whole band; they are all one big family. And it shows when they are on the road and performing. The song reached number one on the airplay charts, and number six on the Hot Country charts, and was certified Gold in 2018.

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4. "Get Me Some of That"

The fourth single from It Goes Like This, was released late 2013, and made it to number one on the Country airplay chart, as you can tell, most Thomas Rhett songs do. A popular expression turned into a memorable chorus, with a smooth delivery, it is a song that will undoubtedly get you swaying along to the melody—or more so 'swinging your hips and slinging your head'—as he states in the song.

One of not many songs that Rhett didn't co-write, Rhett Akins wrote this alongside Roller Coaster writer Michael Carter, and Cole Swindell, who has since had successful number ones of his own. The song takes us back to college days, and the instant connection that two people can have, and how one person dancing can 'keep making this my favourite song.' The song was even mentioned in Maddie & Tae's "Girl in a Country Song," and whilst this isn't necessarily a compliment, it strikes to the longevity of the song, and that it is still current today. The music video has a naive take on the song, and focuses more on the 'prettiest thing I ever seen before' rather than the 'shakin' that money maker' element, but still compliments the desire and confidence of the track itself.

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3. "Die a Happy Man"

I can already hear people screaming, 'WHAT? This should be number 1!' But note, this is a personal evaluation, I am not going by record sales, chart history etc. And yes, whilst this song is one of TR's best, it is not my personal favourite. In saying that, I cannot fault it. The dreamy melody, combined with Rhett's perfectly tuned lyrics and vocals, make a song that every girl wishes was written for them. I mean, who wouldn't want to be told that the black dress she's wearing 'makes it hard (for him) to breathe.'

The song is by far Rhett's biggest success, so much so he even talks about it in future hits, such as Life Changes. Co-written by Rhett, alongside Sean Douglas and Joe Spargur, the song remained number one on Billboards Hot Country Song's for 17 weeks, went 5x Platinum in the US, was nominated for a Grammy, and won Single of the Year at both the ACMs and the CMAs. So, yeah, you could call it a smash hit. If you listen to this song, and don't melt into yourself, watch the music video, which of course features Lauren. And if that still doesn't send you into a tantalizing fantasy of being married to Thomas Rhett then there is something wrong with you. The song gets an undeniable reaction from audiences, and if you're going to propose at a gig, this is the song to do it to. I was lucky enough to see Rhett live in London last year, and after a couple got engaged during the song, he got them up on stage to 'practice' their first dance, whilst he sang the chorus again. It is a beautiful song, and never fails to make me feel all kinds of things.

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2. "T-Shirt"

"T-Shirt" was the follow up single to "Die a Happy Man," so no pressure there! A complete contrast to the previous single, the sexy, upbeat tune was no disappointment whatsoever. The number one song was penned by three of the most successful, and well known songwriters in Country Music. Ashley Gorley, who has had over 38 number ones, including Jon Pardi's Dirt on my Boots, and Carrie Underwood's Heartbeat. Luke Laird, who is the reigning Grammy winner for Country Song of the Year, Kacey Musgraves, "Space Cowboy." And Shane McAnally, who teamed up with Luke on "Space Cowboy," but also has one of the most illustrious discographies in music today, with co-written singles including "Body Like a Back Road" (Sam Hunt), "Drinkin' Problem" (Midland), and "Female" (Keith Urban.)

"T-Shirt" has a mainly pop-country vibe, also possess country-rock elements, and builds electric tension of young love and lust. The lyrics enable you to picture the night this couple are having, and allows you to get lost in the music. It again, is an audience favourite, and it is one of the songs that make Thomas Rhett concerts so much like a party. "T-Shirt" is currently the encore track on the 'Very Hot Summer' setlist.

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1. "Marry Me"

If you have heard this song, you will know it is not as it seems. Whilst the words "Marry Me" are among the most romantic there is, this song sucker punches them into a cruel twist of fate, because she 'don't wanna marry me.'

Co-written by Rhett, alongside powerhouses of Country music McAnally, Gorley, and Jesse Frasure, who is responsible for huge hits such as "Lonely Girl" by Charles Kelley, and Lauren Alaina's "Road Less Travelled." "Marry Me" starts off exactly how you imagine, creating a picture of a perfect wedding day, but falls into the heartbreak of Rhett when you realise she isn't marrying him.The music video showcases the story flawlessly, and you fall in love with the characters in an instant. The song reached number one on the airplay charts, but only peaked at number two on Billboards Hot Country Songs. It won Music Video of the Year at the 2018 CMA Awards, and gained great commercial praise from critics and colleagues alike. The song has been described as a 'clever ode to rejection,' and its stunning peak will hit you where it hurts. And whilst it is a sad song, that won't stop you from listening to it on repeat, as the remarkable vocals, and beautiful grit of the melody leaves you hanging on and wanting more.

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Center Point Road comes out May 31, 2019, check back here next week for a full review of the new record!

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