Jordan Davis Shares How Thomas Rhett’s Kindness Shaped Him As An Artist And Person
“…Ever since that night, I have approached music differently and it’s all because of Thomas.”
Thomas Rhett, Jordan Davis; Photo Courtesy Thomas Rhett
Long before Thomas Rhett and Jordan Davis topped the charts together with their duet “Ain’t A Bad Life,” Davis was a rising artist chasing his dreams in Nashville. Along the way, he found a friend and mentor in Rhett, a relationship that has continued to grow throughout the years.
So when Thomas Rhett was announced as the newest inductee into the Music City Walk of Fame, it was only fitting that Davis was there to celebrate the milestone and honor the person he has always admired both on and off the stage.
During the induction ceremony on Wednesday, Davis reflected on the first time he met Rhett and the impact he made on him early in his career.
“The first time I ever met Thomas, the first show I ever got to see, which was in Baton Rouge, Louisiana at the Bayou Country Superfest in 2016. Now, I am an avid LSU fan and I wouldn’t say that it was ideal for me to see a very proud Georgia Bulldog go take over Tiger Stadium for an hour, but that’s exactly what Thomas did. And I left that day knowing that Thomas was going to be doing this for a very, very long time. And it’s not surprising at all that we’re here celebrating a star on what has already been an amazing career for Thomas.”
Davis explained that his admiration for Rhett extends far beyond his accomplishments in country music, praising him as a “husband, as a father, as a friend and just a person of character.”
He went on to highlight that despite Rhett’s success, including sold-out shows, chart-topping hits and countless awards, he has remained the same person Davis met years ago. He specifically pointed to Rhett’s willingness to invest in younger artists and offer guidance throughout their careers.
“The same person that will play a sold out show in Saskatoon for two hours, walk off stage and then walk into the green room of one of the opening acts on that tour and sit for another two hours and answer questions and give advice about writing and touring, managing a family and being gone as much as we are. And he didn’t have to do that. He could have easily played that show, walked on his bus, took off for the next city, but that’s not who Thomas Rhett is. Instead, he sat in that green room with me, talked to me for two hours and I left that room with a lot more than advice in the music business.”
Davis admitted that the conversation stayed with him and helped shape the kind of artist and person he hoped to become.
“I’ve told him many times that he’ll probably never know the impact of the words and the conversations we had that night, what they meant to me. But ever since that night, I have approached music differently and it’s all because of Thomas.”
As he wrapped up his speech, Davis emphasized that Rhett’s greatest accomplishments can’t be measured by awards or accolades, but instead by the life he has built away from the spotlight.
“The coolest thing is that in a world where fame can easily become somebody’s identity, Thomas has never let that define him. Instead, he stayed grounded in the things that matter most to him, which is his faith, his family, his friendships and his deep love for country music,” he shared. “Now you’ll be hard pressed to find another artist out there that works as hard or pursues excellence in everything that he does more than Thomas Rhett. Now with that being said, the thing I think I most admire about him is how he measures success totally different than most people. We’re all here to celebrate the star that Thomas Rhett obviously is, but if you spent any time around him, you know that TR’s pride is not found in a writing room or on a stage. His pride is found at home with his five beautiful kids and his lovely wife, Lauren.”
Thomas Rhett was the recipient of the 113th star on the Music City Walk of Fame.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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