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Thomas Rhett often credits his kids with helping him pinpoint the best dance-worthy songs. The “Slow Down Summer” singer recently explained that his four young daughters served as a small “focus group” as he recorded his latest album, Where We Started.
During their usual “dance parties” in the basement, Rhett noticed that the girls often gravitated to smash hits by the Jonas Brothers and One Direction, among others. Rhett took note of the songs the girls loved, and says they helped inspire his latest upbeat songs like “Church Boots,” “Anything Cold,” “Paradise” and “Somebody Like Me.” He said in a statement shared by his record label:
“Kids attach to melody and beat so much more sometimes than they attach to lyric. And so, they really are such a good gauge. Like, we go downstairs in the basement and have dance parties weekly. And what they gravitate toward is always so fascinating to me. Tempo 100%, and repetitive words or melodies. Like, they love ‘Sucker’ by the Jonas Brothers. And so, I started dissecting that song and I was like, what is it about that? They love ‘You Don’t Know You’re Beautiful’ by One Direction. And so, a lot of the record I am trying to make songs that they are going to wanna be like, I love that song.”
Earlier this month, Rhett celebrated Where We Started with an exclusive iHeartRadio Album Release Party in Nashville, hosted by Bobby Bones. The new collection is Rhett’s sixth studio album and the first of two that’s set to release this year, followed by Country Again: Side B in the fall. Rhett spent the evening performing everything from his newest songs to an “oldie but a goodie,” and diving into the stories behind the songs on his record (including that his 2-year-old often requests “daddy’s song,” a.k.a. “Church Boots”).
Rhett is one of many artists included in the star-studded lineup at the iHeartCountry Festival presented by Capital One, set for May 7 in Austin, Texas. Fans can tune in and stream the 2022 iHeartCountry Festival on iHeartMedia's Country music radio stations in local markets across the country, as well as on iHeartRadio.com and the iHeartRadio app on May 7th at 8pm ET/5pm PT (7pm CT). Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.com.