Exclusive: Thomas Rhett reveals new album Life Changes

Thomas Rhett drinks a lot of coffee these days — and he’s about to drink even more.

Thomas Rhett and his wife, Lauren, adopted their daughter Willa Gray from Uganda in May. His wife is due to give birth to their second daughter Aug. 8. And Rhett’s highly anticipated third album will be delivered exactly one month later.

Rhett’s “Life Changes” will be in stores Sept. 8. Stacked with 14 songs about love, life and growing up, the collection is a diverse personal reflection of the soon-to-be father of two. The album is home to Rhett’s eighth No. 1 song, “Craving You,” which is a duet with Maren Morris, and his new single “Unforgettable,” available Friday.

More:First Listen: Thomas Rhett reveals new single

The country singer co-wrote 10 of the album’s 14 songs, which sonically range from the early ‘90s country throwback “Drink a Little Beer” featuring his father, singer-songwriter Rhett Akins, to his EDM-influenced “Leave Right Now.” Co-written with west coast writers Julian Bunetta, Edward Drewett and John Henry Ryan, “Leave Right Now” is the first song Rhett said he’s written in an “EDM headspace” and he was “scared to give it away.”

“I want people to come in from different genres and be like, ‘Dang, I never really listened to country music, but this record kind of turns me on in different ways,' ” the singer explained. “I think that’s why I recorded so many different types of songs on this record and really just tried to write what I know about.”

The title track, “Life Changes,” is the best autobiography Rhett said he could write. The progressive mid-tempo chronicles the singer’s life, from his carefree college experience to marrying his childhood sweetheart and starting the adoption process only to find out she was pregnant.

There was snow on the ground the February day Rhett, his dad and songwriters Ashley Gorley and Jesse Frasure met to write. At the time, the singer and his wife were midway through the adoption process and he was travelling to Africa every week he had off to spend time with his wife and their new daughter. 

“I was probably venting to the room, like ‘You all, I don’t know what is happening in my life right now. … How am I going to keep up this pace?’ ” he recalled. 

He refers to “Renegades” as his “inner Tom Petty.” And Rhett explains “Sixteen” as “Merle Haggard meets Eric Church meets Corey Smith.”

“I tried to channel my inner storyteller and force the listener to listen to three different choruses that tell you something different,” Rhett said. He co-wrote “Sixteen” and “Sweetheart” with Sean Douglas and Joe Spargur, the same writers with whom he co-wrote his multiweek No. 1 song “Die a Happy Man.” 

Given his early love of country music, Rhett believes he will always be a storyteller. But he also grew up listening to hip-hop, R&B, rock and soul — all influences heard on “Life Changes.”

“There was a ton of discussion … about how do these songs get to co-exist on the same record,” he said. “But … at the end of the day, it’s all me and all things I’ve listened to and been inspired by. I think that’s what makes it a cohesive Thomas Rhett album.”

'Life Changes' track list

(Produced by a combination of Thomas Rhett, Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure, Julian Bunetta and Joe London.)
1. "Craving You" (featuring Maren Morris)
Written by Dave Barnes, Julian Bunetta
2. "Unforgettable"
Written by Thomas Rhett, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley, Shane McAnally
3. "Sixteen"
Written by Thomas Rhett, Sean Douglas, Joe Spargur
4. "Drink A Little Beer" (featuring Rhett Akins)
Written by Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure, Ben Hayslip
5. "Marry Me"
Written by Thomas Rhett, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley, Shane McAnally
6. "Leave Right Now"
Written by Thomas Rhett, Julian Bunetta, Edward Drewett, John Henry Ryan
7. "Smooth Like The Summer"
Written by Thomas Rhett, Jesse Frasure, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
8. "Life Changes"
Written by Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley
9. "When You Look Like That"
Written by Jessi Alexander, Matt Dragstrem, David Lee Murphy
10. "Sweetheart"
Written by Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Sean Douglas, Joe Spargur
11. "Kiss Me Like A Stranger"
Written by Thomas Rhett, Dave Barnes, Jordan Reynolds
12. "Renegades"
Written by Thomas Rhett, Julian Bunetta, John Henry Ryan
13. "Gateway Love"
Written by Thomas Rhett, Sean Douglas, Sam Ellis, Emily Weisband
14. "Grave"
Written by Chris DeStefano, Hillary Lindsey, Josh Miller