Thomas Rhett’s Family Welcomes Two New Puppies After Saying Goodbye to Beloved Dogs
The Akins family keeps on growing!
Thomas Rhett and Family With Two New Dogs
Thomas Rhett and his family are heading into the new year with a little more fur and a lot more love.
After experiencing heartbreaking season of loss last fall when the Rhett family said goodbye to their two beloved dogs, Kona and Cash, the singer, his wife Lauren, and their four daughters have welcomed two new puppies into their home: Nero and Moose.
Their “sweet little Cash man” was first to pass away in October. At the time, Rhett penned a heartfelt Instagram post in his honor, in which he reflected on the fact that Cash had been a constant presence through every major milestone, including welcoming each of their daughters home for the first time.
He wrote, “Today our sweet little Cash man went to go be with Jesus. He was the most loyal, kind dog that I have ever known. He was Lauren’s best friend. He was there when every single baby came home for the first time. He would stay up so many late nights with her while she was sick and I was gone. I never in a million years thought that a dog I got so frustrated with for eating food or tearing up things in the house would make me this sad.”
At the end of the message, the country star encouraged anyone who has a dog to “give them some extra love” as he and his family suddenly felt a lot more quiet without Cash roaming around.
“I know Cash is running around in heaven and will be the first one to greet us when we get there,” he added.
Kona passed away the following month, and the brief gap between her and Cash’s deaths led Rhett to believe she simply wanted to be reunited with Cash.
“It’s been a tough dog month for our family,” the “Old Tricks” singer admitted. “We lost our little Kona girl. I think after cash passed she just wanted to go be with him. It’s weird losing a dog, cause whether you know it or not they are just always there, always by your side at the dinner table. They are truly a part of your family.”
Rhett admitted it took some courage to listen to HARDY’s powerful song “Dog Years,” knowing that it would hit him harder than ever. He says the lyrics brought him to tears, and made him realize just how much he missed Kona and Cash, but was also met with some peace while imagining them happy together in heaven.
Despite the grief, the Rhett and his family have slowly opened their hearts again. The day after Christmas 2025, he and Lauren revealed that a new dog named Nero joined their family in September. Nero even had time to bond with Kona and Cash before they passed, which they believe helped with the transition, as if the two older dogs “passed on the family dog responsibilities” to him.
Then, just in time for the holidays, Santa delivered a second surprise in the form of Moose, who Rhett jokingly described as being “not so little.” Images of the two new dogs were included in the carousel of family photos, making it clear that they are already fitting with in.
Another video shared on the Southern Oak Kennels account shows the moment Rhett’s daughters met Moose for the first time on Christmas. The couple expressed gratitude for their growing family, noting that Nero already feels like he’s “been with us forever.”
While Kona and Cash are deeply missed, the arrival of Nero and Moose marks a hopeful new chapter. Soon, the Rhett family will get even bigger as the parents are expecting their fifth child. They made the exciting announcement on Instagram early Tuesday, August 26.
They captioned the sweet video, “Here we go again! We’ve got some really excited big sisters in our house. God is so good.”
Their newest little one will join their four girls: Willa Gray (9), Ada James (8) , Lennon Love (5), and Lillie Carolina (3). They have yet to share the gender of baby No. 5, but when he or she arrives, they will officially be a family of nine, thanks to the addition of Moose and Nero.
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.
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