Thomas Rhett Celebrates 10th And 11th No. 1 Singles

Pictured (L-R): ASCAP songwriter Ashley Gorley, BMI songwriter Thomas Rhett, BMI songwriter Jesse Frasure and BMI songwriter Rhett Akins.

Thomas Rhett welcomed several of the Nashville music industry’s top execs and writers to celebrate the Valory Music Co. singer-songwriter’s 10th and 11th chart-toppers, “Marry Me” and “Life Changes.” Industry members celebrated on Tuesday, Oct. 2 at Hi-Fi Clyde’s in Nashville.

Both singles are from his CMA Album of the Year-nominated project Life Changes. Thomas Rhett is also nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year and Music Video of the Year (for “Marry Me”).

“Marry Me” was penned by Thomas Rhett, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley, and Shane McAnally. “Life Changes” was penned by Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Frasure, and Gorley.

ASCAP’s Beth Brinker and BMI’s Jody Williams hosted the event, along with Pinnacle Bank and First Tennessee Bank.

Among those celebrating were Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta and George Briner, SMACK’s Lee Krabel, Round Hill Music’s Mark Brown, Warner/Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, Rhythm House’s BJ Hill, Sony/ATV’s Troy Tomlinson, Tape Room’s Kelly Bolton, and Combustion’s Chris Farren.

“These literally are some of my best friends,” said BMI writer Frasure. “These are the people who wrote with me when I didn’t have anything going on, they took chances. Big Machine, you were part of my first No. 1 song and my 10th No. 1 song.” Frasure surprised the writers with certificates for custom tuxes.

“Because we now know Thomas Rhett is addicted to DJ life,” Frasure also presented Thomas Rhett with his own turntables. “The last thing he needs is another hobby,” Frasure joked. “We all know how passionate he is about his hobbies.”

Pictured (back row, L-R): Round Hill’s Mark Brown, SMACK’s Lee Krabel, ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, Big Machine Label Group’s Allison Jones, Warner/Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, BMI’s Leslie Roberts, Rhythm House’s BJ Hill, Sony/ATV’s Troy Tomlinson and BMI’s Jody Williams; (front row, L-R): The Valory Music Co.’s George Briner, ASCAP songwriter Ashley Gorley, BMI songwriter Thomas Rhett, BMI songwriter Jesse Frasure, and Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta and Combustion’s Chris Farren.

BMI writer Thomas Rhett said, “I feel so blessed to be in Nashville, around people who love songs and people, especially the dudes on this stage, and Shane McAnally. You know when you come out of a session with them, something good is going to happen. I’m proud to be part of a record label that has allowed me to express anything I wanted to on these records. Thank you Scott for letting me record too many songs and to my management, my life would physically fall apart if you didn’t call me every day. BMI, I remember sitting with Leslie at 18 or 19 years old and thinking, I get to go back to college and tell them I’ve signed with BMI. I was the man. Here’s to a lot more hits.”

Fellow BMI writer Rhett Akins said, “This is a special song to me. This is our second No. 1 we’ve written together. Thank y’all especially the label for letting the dad jump in there and write some songs. This song wasn’t supposed to happen, the album was almost finished. We got together at our farm and Thomas Rhett wanted to write a song about his life. Country music is supposed to be about real life and real songs. I can’t think of another country song ever, except “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” that was that specific about someone’s life and then for the label to have the guts to put it out. It’s got the word ‘Uganda’ in it. How many country songs have that in it? Just a special song all the way around.”

ASCAP writer Gorley thanked his family, Big Machine Label Group. “Having the confidence in a record label that they can put out something a little crazy and they can still get it up the charts, helps us creatively in the writing room more than you know. We know we can try that crazy groove, let Jesse play that sound or Rhett say Uganda. All that gives us freedom to create the way we want to. So that’s cool for us. Thomas Rhett as well, just the artist he is and the different types of songs he can do. It’s been great on the road to see the reaction of the fans.”

Pictured (back row, L-R): Round Hill’s Mark Brown, ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, Rhythm House’s Stevie Frasure, Big Machine Label Group’s Allison Jones, Tape Room’s Kelly Bolton, Warner/Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, Tape Room’s Blaine Rhodes, BMI’s Leslie Roberts, Combustion’s Chris Farren, BMI’s Jody Williams and Sony/ATV’s Troy Tomlinson; (front row, L-R) The Valory Music Co.’s George Briner, ASCAP songwriter Ashley Gorley, BMI songwriter Thomas Rhett, BMI songwriter Jesse Frasure, BMI songwriter Rhett Akins, and Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta.