Thomas Rhett’s Dad Surprised At Show With Songwriter of the Decade Award

Rhett Akins just named country music’s songwriter of the decade–and son Thomas Rhett was on hand to help him celebrate. MusicRow reports that the 49-year-old Akins was surprised with the Academy of Country Music’s inaugural Songwriter of the Decade Award backstage at Rhett’s recent tour stop in Chicago.

The honor is one of seven new ACM Decade Awards, including Song of the Decade, Album of the Decade, Artist-Songwriter of the Decade, Breakout Artist of the Decade, Single of the Decade, and Music Event of the Decade.

Miranda Lambert’s “The House That Built Me” has already won the Song of the Decade Award, with winners in the other categories to be announced in the coming weeks. Akins won the ACM Songwriter of the Year Award in 2017 and has penned 30 #1 singles, including Blake Shelton’s “Boys ’Round Here” and his son Rhett’s “Life Changes.”