Thomas Rhett Reflects On Unexpected No. 1 With ‘Mamaw’s House’ Featuring Morgan Wallen
“This song wasn’t even supposed to be a single, and now it’s becoming a hit,” Rhett shared.

Morgan Wallen, Thomas Rhett; Photos Courtesy of Instagram/Andrew Wendowski
Thomas Rhett admits he’s “surprised” to learn his sentimental tune, “Mamaw’s House” featuring Morgan Wallen has claimed the top spot on the Billboard Country Airplay. This marks Rhett’s 22nd No. 1 at country radio and Wallen’s 12th.
The song, penned by Rhett and Wallen with Matt Dragstrem and Chase McGill, earned praise from fans early on when Rhett teased it on social media prior to its official release. Between the comforting tune and the storyline that serves as a heartfelt tribute to the country star’s grandmas, “Mamaw’s House” was a recipe for greatness and destined to make listeners melt.
The Call That Inspired The Song

While serving as co-host on this weekend’s Country Countdown USA with Lon Helton, Rhett opened up about the wholesome moment that inspired the song’s message and how that memory makes this particular No. 1 that much more special.
“Morgan & I wrote this song in 2020 on Zoom. Halfway through the session, Morgan got a call from his grandmother. After that, we decided to write a song about our grandmothers. The fact that we can write a song about our grandmothers and it could be a #1 is pretty awesome.”
He Never Thought It Would Be A Hit
“This song wasn’t even supposed to be a single, and now it’s becoming a hit,” he added.
In reference to that fateful call Wallen had that day, they decided to include a snippet of an audio recording of his conversation with his grandma in the opening of the song. This element makes it clear that this the track is incredibly personal to these artists. They spend the rest of the song reflecting on their shared experiences of finding comfort in these women who had a profound influence on their lives and wishing, “every town had a Mamaw’s house.”
At the same time that “Mamaw’s House” is climbing the chart, Wallen has another song sitting inside the Top 10. Because of this, Rhett says he was almost confident that their joint release “didn’t have a chance.”
He thought, “Maybe there were too many collaborations. But it seems there can’t be too many collaborations. Not with Morgan.”
What Has Thomas Rhett Been Up To?

Besides this release, Thomas Rhett has been relatively quiet over the last eight months. We now know that it’s because he has been using this time off to split between his family and making his next album.
“We toured so hard in 2023, I was like what would it look like to take some time off between tours. So I’ve spent the last 8 months making a record, and this is the first time I’ve had time to make a record,” he revealed to Helton.
The “What’s Your Country Song” singer went on to say that this new collection of work came as a result of having “a lot more freedom” and that the theme is “joy,” because that’s how he wants his wife and kids to feel when they listen to it.
“It’ll be ready soon,” he teased.
Balancing Work And Family
Rhett’s recent period of down time was well-deserved. When he wasn’t touring the country, bringing his show to new fans each night, he was helping his wife, Lauren, raise their four daughters. Now that they are finally growing up and finding more independence, Rhett admits he feels as though they are “coming up for air after 8 years of having babies.”
“We’re getting a piece of our life back,” he added.”
There’s no signs of Lauren and Rhett adding another member to their family anytime soon, but it does appear that the country star is gearing up to enter a new chapter of his career with his next album on the way.
“20 Number Ones” Record

Last year, he celebrated the culmination of his success in the music industry thus far with the release of his retrospective vinyl collection, 20 Number Ones. This record features each of the 20 No. 1 songs he’s earned within just 10 years of his career, along with “Mamaw’s House” added as a bonus track. This includes songs like “Make Me Wanna,” “Die a Happy Man,” “Crash and Burn,” “Unforgettable,” and many more.
Thomas Rhett wrapped up his 40-city HOME TEAM TOUR 23 in September of 2023 with back-to-back shows at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. He may not have his next tour lined up yet, but Rhett still has plenty of shows taking place at numerous fests and festivals throughout the year.
He’s slated to take the stage at highly-anticipated events like Boots in the Park, CMA Fest, Windy City Smokeout, Country Jam and more.
Additional details can be found HERE.
Madeleine O’Connell graduated from North Central College with a bachelors degree in Journalism and Broadcast Communications before deciding to pursue her studies further at DePaul University. There, she earned her masters degree in Digital Communication & Media Arts. O’Connell served as a freelance writer for over two years while also interning with the Academy of Country Music, SiriusXM and Circle Media and assisting with Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast. In addition to Country Now, she has been published in American Songwriter, Music Mayhem, and Holler.Country. Madeleine O’Connell is a member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.