Thomas Rhett’s The Soundtrack To Life Tour Opens With An Epic Nashville Night Alongside Niall Horan
The co-headliners delivered a high-energy opening night filled with fan favorites, heartfelt stories, and a surprise-filled finale.
Niall Horan, Thomas Rhett; Photo by Nick Bastoky
Thomas Rhett officially kicked off his The Soundtrack to Life Tour at GEODIS Park in Nashville on Thursday (July 9), delivering a night packed with career-spanning hits, nonstop energy, and plenty of singalongs.
Before Rhett took the stage, co-headliner Niall Horan delivered an impressive set that included fan-favorite hits like “This Town,” “Slow Hands,” and “Monochromatic.” Throughout his performance, Horan shared his love for Nashville and expressed his excitement over the opportunity to share the stage with Rhett. While their audiences may be different, the pairing felt surprisingly natural, with Horan’s set fitting seamlessly into the evening. His undeniable talent and stage presence made him a perfect addition to the night.
When Rhett finally stepped onto the stage, he kicked things off with a throwback from 2014, launching into “Make Me Wanna.” From the opening note to the encore, the country superstar brought an unmatched level of energy, running across every inch of the massive stage. Despite the sweltering Nashville summer heat, Rhett and his band powered through, giving fans a show they won’t soon forget.
Keeping the momentum going, Rhett launched into feel-good favorites like “Look What God Gave Her” and “Gone Country,” with fans singing along and dancing throughout the stadium. The excitement continued as thousands of fans’ light-up bracelets synced together during “T-Shirt,” creating a memorable moment across GEODIS Park.
Before performing “Life Changes,” Rhett took a moment to reflect on his journey from growing up in nearby Hendersonville, Tennessee, to reaching one of the biggest stages in Music City. He reminisced about playing legendary Nashville venues including Exit/In, the Ryman Auditorium, the Grand Ole Opry, Bridgestone Arena, and Nissan Stadium before finally making his GEODIS Park debut.
“I grew up in a little town called Hendersonville, Tennessee, about 20 minutes from here. I’ve seen a lot of people that I went to high school with in the crowd every year. I played at Exit/In, the Ryman, the Opry, Bridgestone, Nissan. This is my first time ever playing GEODIS Park. Thank y’all so much for tonight. I never in a million years dreamed that I would get to play a show with one of my best friends in the world, Mr. Niall Horan. It is unbelievable.”
Rhett also opened up about his family during the emotional moment, sharing an update about welcoming his fifth child and celebrating a major milestone for his sister-in-law.
“All my children are sitting right over here somewhere. This year we had our fifth kid and it is absolutely insane. I’ve got a little boy, but I really want to shout out a huge praise and a huge celebration. She’s not here tonight because she’s probably resting, but my sister-in-law got to ring the bell yesterday of her last day of chemotherapy. I love you, Macy, wherever you are.”
The show continued with a string of fan favorites, including “What’s Your Country Song,” “It Goes Like This,” and “Crash And Burn,” which was accompanied by a spectacular fireworks-filled finale.
But the night wasn’t over yet. Horan returned to the stage for a special four-song collaborative set, giving fans an unforgettable closing moment. Together, the pair performed Horan’s hit “Heaven,” their own collaboration “Old Tricks,” and a cover of Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” after Rhett jokingly declared themselves “Ella’s Fellas.”
To close out the night, Rhett and Horan sent the crowd into a frenzy with a cover of One Direction’s smash hit “Steal Your Girl.”
Rhett’s opening night proved exactly why he remains one of country music’s most captivating entertainers. With his unmatched energy, genuine connection with fans, and ability to turn a stadium into one giant singalong, The Soundtrack to Life Tour is off to an unforgettable start.
Thomas Rhett Set List: GEODIS Park, Nashville, TN
Make Me Wanna
Look What God Gave Her
Gone Country
T-Shirt
Ain’t a Bad Life
Sixteen
Sky Falls
Beautiful As You
Half of Me
Marry Me
Life Changes
Craving You
Somethin’ ‘Bout A Woman
What’s Your Country Song
It Goes Like This
After All the Bars Are Closed
Crash and Burn
TR X Niall Horan
Heaven
Old Tricks
Choosin’ Texas
Die A Happy Man
Steal My Girl
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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