It's About How You Weather he Storms

Country music superstar Thomas Rhett sits down with Us to talk about his latest record, life as a girl dad and his enduring romance with his wife, Lauren Akins

- CHRISTINA GARIBALDI & JAIME HARKIN

One of Lauren Akins’ favorite songs on husband Thomas Rhett’s new album, About a Woman, is a track called “What Could Go Right.” It tells the story of the night Rhett told his future wife — whom he’s known since first grade — how he really felt about her. “We were 21 years old and we were on her parents’ front porch, and I was like, ‘Hey, we’re either going to date or I can’t see your face for five years because I’ve been in love with you since I was 16,’” the singer tells Us. “It was the first time we kissed, and we got engaged six months later.”

Since tying the knot in their native Nashville in October 2012, the couple have been on quite a ride. Rhett scored his first of 22 No. 1 singles in early 2014 and has gone on to win eight ACM Awards and two CMA Awards. He and Akins, both 34, also welcomed four children — Willa Gray, 8, Ada James, 6, Lennon Love, 4, and Lillie Carolina, 2. Over the years, they’ve been refreshingly honest about their ups and downs, balancing their picture-perfect Instagram feeds with real talk about the trials and tribulations of marriage and parenthood. Akins even penned a bestselling memoir, Live in Love, about the challenges they’ve faced as a couple. “Hardships are going to enter your lives at some point in time, it’s just about how you weather the storms,” says Rhett. Adds Akins: “Even when it doesn’t feel easy, at the end of the day, we choose each other.” Here, the country superstar tells Us more about marriage, music and matters of the heart.

Not many couples have known each other as long as you and Lauren. That must be such a special connection.

No doubt. I think that’s why we can make fun of each other so easily. We know so many things about one another.

What do you love most about Lauren?