Valdosta, Georgia based country/ pop star Thomas Rhett is excited to bering his first solo headlining tour to the Enmax Centre, May 7.
He his busily working on his third CD due out in September, has adopted a child from Africa and is expecting his first child with his wife Lauren. In the meantime he has been touring a lot and picked up numerous awards including a Grammy nomination for his CD “Tangled Up.”
“I really don’t think I could put anymore on my plate. So I’ve been learning how to change diapers and just be the best dad I can be while still maintaining that balance of being creative and making music,” Rhett said from Palm Springs, where he is enjoying a couple of days off before beginning the Canadian tour.
“t’s been a real roller coaster of a year. My life has been completely altered over the past year with adopting a kid and we’re pregnant,” he said, adding he always enjoys playing in Canada.
“I’ve never played Lethbridge before, but I’ve played from coast to coast from Vancouver, to I think the farthest east I’ve been is Halifax,” Rhett said.
“There are a lot of firsts on this tour. It’s my first headlining tour and first time headlining tour, which is scary enough doing it in a country you are from compared to a country you don’t know,” he continued.
You can hear a new single “Craving You” which he recorded with Grammy Award winner Maren Morris.
“I cut like 22 songs for the new record. That song is a lot more edgier than I usually do, but as soon as she added her voice to that one, I knew it would be a great way to start the album,” he said, noting that should be released in September.
Rhett has played a few shows with Morris, but hasn’t done a full tour with her.
“I’d like to. I’ve taken her boyfriend Ryan Hurd on tour with me and she’ll come with him sometimes. I’d like to do a tour with her,” he said.
He is excited about the songs on the new CD.
“There are a lot more story songs on the album. My life has been completely altered over the past year, so it is going to be a lot more personal record,“ he said.
Rhett is the son of country star Rhett Akins, who had a lot of success in the ’90s with numerous hits including “ “She Said Yes,” “ That Ain’t My Truck,” “ Love Me Back,” “ If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away” and a cover of Eddie Rabbit’s “Driving My Life Away.”
So Rhett grew up in a very musical household. He noted there wasn’t any pressure as a result.
“I’ve toured Europe with him and would like to do another,” he said.
He is excited about the show.
“ I’ve got Brett Young with me in Lethbridge,” he said.
“I always am impressed with how well the Canadian audiences knows the music, not just the hits, but the album cuts as well. And Canadian audiences are so rowdy,” he said.
“ We play a pretty energetic show. if you’re sitting down, you’ll probably be in the majority,” he said, promising a whole lot of hits.
And he has plenty to choose from, like “Crash and Burn,” “ Die a Happy Man,” and T-Shirt,” just a few from “Tangled Up.” and older songs like “Beer With Jesus,” “ You make Me Wanna,” “ It Goes Like That” and “Get me Some of That” and “Something to Do With my Hands.”
“We like audience participation and we may play a few surprise covers,” he continued, adding he wont be playing any of the new songs from the upcoming album.
“ We don’t do that. It‘s had to get people to listen to songs they don’t know, though we may pull one out for the acoustic part of the show.”
Thomas Rhett and Brett Young play the Enmax Centre, May 7 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $54,$74, and $84.
