Rhett Akins

Rhett Akins shot to brief stardom in the summer of 1995 when his single "That Ain't My Truck" reached the Top Five. Many newcomers in country music struggle to match the impact of an early hit with their follow-up album, yet Akins built a loyal audience that continued to support his work over the years.

Raised in Valdosta, GA, he picked up the guitar early and, by age eleven, had already started a band alongside his two younger brothers. He relocated to Nashville in 1992, where he recorded demos and landed his own publishing agreement. A tape of one of his compositions eventually reached Decca Records, prompting the label to sign him to a recording contract.

His first full-length project, A Thousand Memories, arrived in 1994. After "What They're Talkin' About" and "I Brake for Brunettes" both entered the Top 40, the track "That Ain't My Truck" broke through, climbing to number three during the summer of 1995. The song became his trademark and propelled the album to strong sales. Throughout most of that year he served as Reba McEntire's opening act on the road, while also headlining a handful of shows on his own.

Somebody New, his sophomore effort, appeared in the summer of 1996. Although initial sales were solid, the album soon slipped from the upper chart ranks. He resurfaced in January 1998 with the release of his third album, What Livin's All About. In 2002 he moved to Audiom Records for Friday Night in Dixie, then joined BNA Records for the 2006 project People Like Me.