Country music star Thomas Rhett opens up about the challenges he and his wife Lauren Akins faced during their marriage, including the stress of adoption and pregnancy.
In a candid interview with Us Weekly, country music star Thomas Rhett revealed that his relationship with his wife Lauren Akins, often portrayed as an ideal marriage, nearly "imploded."
The singer recalled the tumultuous period in their lives when they were adopting a child from Africa while simultaneously expecting their second daughter. According to Ugandan law, the couple had to foster the little girl for a year in the East African country.
Thomas Rhett's Marriage Nearly 'Imploded' During Adoption and Pregnancy Journey
"We were becoming famous at arguably the hardest moment in our personal lives," Rhett said. "Adopting [Willa Gray] and getting pregnant at the same time while having to be in Uganda for a year with me traveling back and forth was so challenging."
The journey to parenthood proved exhausting, with Rhett and Akins flying between Uganda and the United States nearly a dozen times. "I'd go to Uganda and be husband and dad, and then go to America and be like, 'OK, shows and music.' I was internally imploding, and so was Lauren. We'd both come to these breaking points [feeling like] something has to give. It was not a fun time in our marriage."
Thomas Rhett's Marriage Nearly 'Imploded' During Adoption and Pregnancy Journey
Despite the struggles, the couple remained steadfast in their commitment to each other. "Giving up was not an option," Rhett emphasized. "That thought has never crossed my mind or Lauren's. With me being a fixer and Lauren being stubborn, we made it work. The easiest thing to do is quit. But when you don't and you keep grinding it out, you'll inevitably become stronger."
Rhett credits their resilience with giving them valuable tools for navigating future challenges. "I'm so grateful we had to go through that because now we have a full bag of tools to use the next time something hard [happens]," he said.
Thomas Rhett's Marriage Nearly 'Imploded' During Adoption and Pregnancy Journey
As they reflect on their marital struggles, Rhett and Akins are keen to dispel the idealized image of them often presented on social media. "At 26, it was nerve-racking to portray anything that was less than 'couple goals' on Instagram. Now there's no pressure to pretend we're [something] we're not. We are normal people who deal with the same stuff everybody else deals with," Rhett said.
The singer believes in the importance of honesty and transparency in discussing the challenges of marriage and parenting. "One of my favorite things to do is talk about how hard marriage can be and how hard it is to be a dad and raise children to be good people," he said of parenting his four daughters.
Thomas Rhett's Marriage Nearly 'Imploded' During Adoption and Pregnancy Journey
Rhett stresses that marriage is a journey filled with both joy and challenges. "There are days that are easier than others and moments of pure joy, and there's a lot of days that suck. I feel like I have some wisdom to share with younger people so they don't make the same mistakes I did."
For Rhett, complete honesty is the key to overcoming marital difficulties. "Darkness cannot live where the light is. As for younger artists trying to decide, 'Do I want to get married at 22? What will this do for my career?' If they're your person, marry 'em and own it. Make that person your centerpiece, because that's your rock for the rest of your life."
