As a young man Thomas Rhett was surrounded by country music royalty. Tim McGraw and Brooks and Dunn, among many others, were just part of his dad’s life, according to Country Thang Daily. Renowned songwriter Rhett Akins introduced his son Thomas to all his colleagues. And it wasn’t long before TR was on stage with his father. How could he not be drawn to the art? Today, he’s known as one of music’s most respected songwriters. Here are 12 hit songs you may not know Thomas Rhett wrote.

Thomas Rhett decided not to use his last name, not because he wasn’t proud of his dad, but he was always known by his first and middle name. Apparently, he was more comfortable with this than a formal full name. Over the years, the 2020 ACM Entertainer of the Year has written quite a few hit songs for other artists. Some for country artists, but he also worked outside the genre.

TR’s career started as many country stars, working at a publishing company trying to write a hit song. 2013 was his year. He broke out as a songwriter scoring hits for Jason Aldean, Lee Brice and Florida Georgia Line all in one year. And they were big hits. All this lead to what has become a remarkable career for Thomas Rhett. His songs have become country music mainstays. From “Die A Happy Man” to “Marry Me” and his current “Angels,” Thomas has quite a catalog to his name. And he’s forever cemented his name in country music. So, take a look here at 12 hit songs you may not know Thomas Rhett wrote for other artists.

• 1. She Had Me At Heads Carolina -Cole Swindell

  Written by: Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell, Ashley Gorley and Jessie Frasure

  This 2022 smash hit came to light after Cole toured with Thomas. They wanted to write a song together that would pay tribute to the music they grew up on, country music of the 90s. Additional songwriting credits go to the original Jo Dee Messina hit, “Heads Carolina, Tails California, ” Tim Nichols and Mark Sanders. This is one of the more recent songwriting credit for TR, outside his own music. It went on to win the ACM Single and Song of the Year!

• 2. Parking Lot Party- Lee Brice

  Written by: Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Lee Brice and Luke Laird

  A top 5 hit in 2013 for Lee Brice, this tailgating tale of pre=parties and after parties became a summer staple. It went top 5 that summer and gave Thomas Rhett another notch on the songwriting belt.

   

• 3. Some People Do- Old Dominion

  Written by Thomas Rhett, Matthew Ramsey, Shane McAnally and Jessie Frasure

  Old Dominion released “Some People Do” in 2020. It was a different direction for the group. As explained in The Boot, Thomas was the one who came up with the idea, and almost was going to record it himself. Shane McAnally told the publication that writing this song with these friends was like a therapy session, as they all poured out what they thought the song meant to them.

• 4. Your Bartender- Morgan Wallen

  Written by: Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Josh Thompson and Matt Dragstrem

  Thomas Rhett shared that when he wrote “Your Bartender” he knew it wasn’t right for him, but almost immediately thought of Morgan Wallen. He sent the song to Wallen who put it on his record-breaking album, Dangerous: The Double Album

• 5. Think A Little Less- Michael Ray

  Written by: Thomas Rhett, Barry Dean, Jon Nite and Jimmy Robbins

  In March of 2017 Michael Ray scored his 2nd #1 hit with “Think A Little Less.” It went on to become his best selling single to date. Thomas Rhett was initially going to keep it for himself to record, but ended up passing it along to Michael Ray.

• 6. Stars Like Confetti- Dustin Lynch

  Written by: Thomas Rhett, Josh Thompson and Zach Cowell 

  This is the most recent Thomas Rhett-penned hit. His good friend Dustin Lynch was offered “Stars Like Confetti” after TR decided not to cut it. But he originally intended to. Thomas got the inspiration from a family vacation to Montana. He told songfacts.com, “The light pollution in Montana is like zero, and so we were looking up at the stars, and Willa Gray said something like ‘Hey, that looks like the confetti from your show.'” 

• 7. 1994- Jason Aldean

  Written by: Thomas Rhett, Luke Laird and Barry Dean

  This was the first big score for Thomas Rhett, as a songwriter. Jason Aldean included it on his Night Train album and was released in March of 2013. Another tribute to 90s country this one specifically shined a light on the artist Joe Diffie. It went on to become a top 10 hit. The star-studded video included cameos from Florida Georgia Line, Luke Bryan, Lady A, Dierks Bentley and more.

• 8. Praise The Lord- Breland

  Written by: Thomas Rhett, Breland, Julian Bunetta, David Garcia, Jacob Durrett, Jessie Jo Dillon, Kyle Fishman and Hardy

  It took a village to write this inspirational songs you may have seen TR perform live with Breland at the 2022 ACM Awards. Thomas told the Tennessean,  the first time he heard the song, “he was dancing and throwing his hands in the air and that he was grateful that Breland allowed him to write a verse.” It made the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 and was a top 20 country hit.

• 9. Ring On Every Finger- LOCASH

  Written by Thomas Rhett, Jessie Frasure and Josh Kear

  LOCASH released this gem in November of 2016. It was the third single from their Brothers album. It went top 16 on the Billboard Country Airplay charts in 2017.

• 10. Round Here- Florida Georgia Line

  Written by: Thomas Rhett, Rodney Clawson, Chris Tompkins

  “Round Here” was FGL’s 3rd consecutive #1.

  TR told USA Today that this song caused a little tiff in his house because his wife Lauren always loved the song and wanted him to record it. “My wife says ‘Round Here’ is her favorite song that I’ve ever written.” She always said, ‘I don’t care if that song sits in a pile forever, please don’t let anybody else cut that song.'”

• 11. Who I Am- NEEDTOBREATHE

  Written by: Thomas Rhett, NEEDTOBREATHE singer Bear Rinehart, and Jordan Reynolds

  The Christian Rock band NEEDTOBREATHE’s lead singer, Rinehart told songfacts.com, “”Probably the biggest and most constant struggle I have in my life is being able to accept love. At some place in my core. ‘Who Am I’ is a song about the fight to accept, embrace, and trust that the greatest love requires nothing in return.”

• 12. Goodbye Summer - Danielle Bradbery

  Written by: Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Julian Bunett and Jaren Johnston of The Cadillac Three

  “Hello Summer” preceded “Goodbye Summer” for Danielle Bradbery. “Goodbye Summer” was the same song, basically but this version featured Thomas Rhett on backing vocals. It was released in 2018 and reached the top 40 that summer.

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