You wouldn’t think Thomas Rhett [Akins] needs any help with his vibe. The Grammy nominee has half a dozen albums and many accolades to his name, including a plethora of CMA and ACMA awards. In 2021 — the same year he and his wife Lauren Akins welcomed their fourth daughter — Variety dubbed him the “most reliable maker of No. 1 songs in country music.” He’s the ultimate country singer and the ultimate girl dad. And so, again, you wouldn’t think he’d need any help nailing down his “brand.”
But you know what they say about entering a new year…new you.
And the new Thomas Rhett is apparently taking inspo from his youngest daughter when it comes to figuring out his vibe for 2024. Rhett posted two photos on Instagram of his 2-year-old, Lillie Carolina, and our jaws were on the floor. Sitting in front of a wall of wood shingles, the little cutie is undeniably cool in the effortless candids. She rocks a pair of Ray-Bans and a colorful top with different bows printed on it. The first photo is in color, and the second, where her head is tipped back, is in black and white.
“Borrowing Lillie’s vibe for 2024,” Rhett captioned the carousel.
And same. This toddler is a total icon who followers want to emulate too.
“OMG YES” “You can tell she’s loaded with personality.” “So cute❤️ me too Lillie” “Such a mood 😎” “Look Vibe up in the dictionary & guess whose picture is there!! 1 guess only ❤️” “Next album cover? 👀” “We ALL should!!!!”
Lillie turned 2 in November, and Rhett couldn’t help but post a touching birthday tribute with pictures of him and his youngest, Lauren and Lillie, and Lillie on her own just (of course) being a whole vibe.
“Lillie how in the world are you 2 already??! Time is moving so fast. I love you sweet baby. You bring so much joy with that smile of yours. HAPPY Birthday!!!”
Girl Dad
Rhett and Lauren also share daughters Willa Gray, 8, Ada James, 6 (photographed above in 2019), as well as Lennon Love, 3. The couple adopted Willa from Uganda when she was an infant, and he shared the moment he decided she was theirs in an interview this past fall. When talking with Kevin Bacon on the actor’s podcast, Rhett got candid about the first time he saw Willa. It was in a photo where Lauren was holding her at the orphanage.
“I’ve always thought my wife is the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen in my life, but there was something about this picture that she was like, glowing man,” the “Die a Happy Man” singer said.
Later that night, he FaceTimed his wife and asked her about the baby. “And my wife was just talking to me, like ‘We have to find a home for this child,’” Rhett continued. “And I’ll never forget it dude, it was 2 o’clock in the morning where I was half asleep, and it just kind of blurted out of my mouth: ‘We’re going to bring her home.’”
In 2022, Rhett spoke with Today co-host Hoda Kotb on her podcast about the “really intense questions” his daughters have about adoption. They’re questions Kotb herself is familiar with, having adopted two daughters.
“You think when you become a parent you’re like, ‘Well, I’m a dad. I have all the answers,'” he said, admitting he doesn’t know what timeline is best for explaining Willa’s adoption to her and her sisters.
“I don’t know if you’ve felt this at all, but it’s kind of like, ‘Well, what age? What age is the right age?’” he said. “Maybe we need to wait until she’s 10, you know what I mean? But she has questions all the time. She talks to Lauren, she’s like, ‘When can we get to see my friends in Uganda?’ And then Ada James will be like, ‘When can I go see our friends in Uganda?’ And Willa Gray will be like, ‘Well, they’re not your friends, they’re my friends.’”
Christmas Gone…Wrong?
Santa was very generous to the Akins girls this year, bringing them a highly-coveted gaming system. And yet, they were seemingly uninterested.
“Santa brought a Nintendo switch ‘for the kids,’” Rhett captioned a hilarious video where he, Lauren, and two other adults play a heated game of Mario Kart.
The kids are nowhere to be found, and this may have been the happiest of “accidents” for Mom and Dad.
“My husband and I have epic Mario Kart battles after the kids go to bed!” one follower said. “Haha, same in our house!” another wrote.
Santa should have known the “T-Shirt” singer’s daughters don’t need flashy gifts based on a sweet video he shared in Feb. 2023.
The Simple Things
The video begs the question, “Who needs a Switch when you have basic household items?” In it, Rhett pushes Lennon and Lillie down a hallway in a canvas-lined basket, much to their delight. They can’t help but squeal and smile, begging their dad to go faster as he sends them flying.
“Quit buying toys for your kids,” he said. “All ya need is a laundry basket with wheels.”
And quit dwelling on what your vibe will be. All ya need is some Ray-Bans, a colorful shirt, and a casual smile.
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