Before rising to fame as a country music superstar, Thomas Rhett had a brief but memorable punk-rock phase. As a teenager, Rhett formed a band called The High Heeled Flip Flops, inspired by his father, singer-songwriter Rhett Akins, who began his musical journey at age 11.
The band, which lasted only a short time, adopted a punk-rock style, often performing with British accents and jet-black dyed hair reminiscent of bands like The Ramones. They even recorded a five-song EP in the Atkins family living room and played one infamous show—a Halloween party for a classmate. Rhett humorously recalls, “We were in sixth grade, and that was it. That was our greatest hits-reunion show.”
Though The High Heeled Flip Flops didn’t make it to the big stage, Thomas Rhett has certainly found success in country music. Currently, he’s riding high on his 23rd career No. 1 hit on the Billboard Country Airplay charts with “Beautiful As You” from his latest album, About A Woman.
Rhett is also set to perform at the BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau in Las Vegas this weekend and next, headlining four shows during the National Finals Rodeo. He recently teamed up with CMA Best New Artist nominee Teddy Swims for a show-stopping performance at the 58th Annual CMA Awards, though he had to recover from illness afterward, joking, “I’m lucky to be standing.”
In addition to his music career, Rhett will host the first tree lighting at Fontainebleau’s Oasis Ice Rink, a nod to his family’s love for Christmas. He shares, “My wife and I, we go pretty hard for Christmas. The lights go up the day after Halloween, and we’ve seen all the classic movies with our kids a hundred times.”
As the holiday season kicks into gear, Rhett also plans to unwind in Las Vegas, where he looks forward to experiencing the Eagles at the Sphere, exploring the Grand Canyon, and enjoying the city’s food scene. Despite these exciting plans, Rhett remains focused on his music: “Music has always been my first love,” he says.
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