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Thomas Rhett’s New Album, ‘Where We Started,’ Was Completely Unexpected
Thomas Rhett thought he was writing for ‘Country Again: Side B,’ but things didn’t exactly go as planned.
Thomas Rhett; Photo by John Shearer
After Thomas Rhett released Country Again: A in the Spring of 2021, he had plans to take the next natural step by releasing Country Again: Side B, however, things don’t always go as planned.
In late 2021, with between 150 and 200 songs under his belt for his next album, Rhett found himself at a crossroads. He had just co-written a very special track called “Where We Started,” and quickly realized his plans for Country Again: Side B would have to be sidelined.
“I think I’ve learned to kind of roll with the punches over the last five years,” Rhett laughed during a recent press event when asked about how he ended up with an entirely separate album.
“We were out at my farm, and this song for some reason spurred a lot of other songs that kind of followed suit with it,” Rhett explained of “Where We Started.” “And, when we got in the studio and recorded this song, it kind of started becoming a different project.”
When he realized he was ultimately writing for an entirely separate album, Rhett got with his team and they decided to release Where We Started and hold off on Country Again: Side B.
“This album seemed to be such a great middle-ground between the two [albums], very versatile,” he explained. “I feel like this record has a song literally for everybody on there.”
Out April 1, the project serves as Rhett’s sixth studio album and includes a whopping 15 tracks, all but one co-written by Rhett. The album’s lead single, “Slow Down Summer,” was previously released and is inside the Top 25 at country radio.
The father of four says it’s “is one of my favorite records I’ve gotten to be a part of” and admits he can’t wait for fans to hear it in its entirety.
“I think a lot of people have heard some of these songs with me playing teasers on social media,” he said. “And so I’m excited for people to see the track listing and be like, ‘oh, I remember when he played that acoustic,’ ‘I wonder what’s gonna sound like on the record?’
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From the lyrics to the melodies to the star-studded collaborations, Rhett promised Where We Started is “gonna be really fun.”
The title track is a “mind-blowing” collaboration with Katy Perry that completely came out of left field.
“That was never a plan. I don’t think we were looking for a collaboration on this song,” he admitted. But after someone at his label sent it to Perry’s team he was all-in.
“I was like, ‘Yeah, but they’re not gonna respond.’…And literally within 24 hours Katy responded and said, ‘I love this. I resonate with this so well,’” he recalled. “When she put her vocal on it, it took her, like, two weeks. She really put a lot of time and effort into this vocal…This reminded me of how amazing a vocalist she is, and I feel like it really came to life.”
Other featured artists include Riley Green (“Half Of Me”) and Tyler Hubbard and Russell Dickerson (“Death Row”).
Overall, Rhett teased that the album will be an “emotional roller coaster” for fans.
“I like to make you cry, but then I immediately like to make you smile. And once you smile, I want you to dance. And once you dance, I want you to cry again,” he said.
Ahead of the release of Where We Started, Thomas Rhett shared two new tracks, “Angels” and “Church Boots,” further amplifying the excitement for the record.
While fans will have to wait until April 1 to hear the full project, those who pre-order will instantly receive the two new tracks.
WHERE WE STARTED Track List:
1. “The Hill” | Lori McKenna, Jordan Reynolds, Emily Weisband
2. “Church Boots” | Thomas Rhett, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley, Ernest Keith Smith
3. “Bass Pro Hat” | Thomas Rhett, Matt Dragstrem, Joshua Miller, Josh Thompson
4. “Anything Cold” | Thomas Rhett, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley, Shane McAnally
5. “Angels” | Thomas Rhett, Julian Bunetta, Jaten Dimsdale, Josh Thompson
6. “Half Of Me” (featuring Riley Green) | Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Will Bundy, Josh Thompson
7. “Bring The Bar” | Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley, Parker Welling
8. “Paradise” | Thomas Rhett, Matt Dragstrem, Ernest Keith Smith, Josh Thompson
9. “Death Row” (featuring Tyler Hubbard, Russell Dickerson) | Thomas Rhett, Zach Crowell, Ashley Gorley
10. “Mama’s Front Door” | Thomas Rhett, Matt Dragstrem, Ashley Gorley, Chase McGill
11. “Slow Down Summer” | Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Sean Douglas, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley
12. “Simple As A Song” | Thomas Rhett, Luke Laird, Josh Thompson
13. “Us Someday” | Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure, Amy Wadge
14. “Somebody Like Me” | Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Matt Dragstrem, Josh Thompson
15. “Where We Started (with Katy Perry) | Thomas Rhett, Jon Bellion, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley
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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