Get ready for another bundle of joy! Country superstar Thomas Rhett and his wife, Lauren Akins, are expanding their family once more. The happy couple shared on Tuesday, August 26, that they are expecting their fifth child.
They broke the news in a super sweet way on Instagram. Lauren, 35, and Thomas, also 35, posted a video. In it, Thomas strummed his guitar and sang a special version of his hit song from 2017, "Life Changes," which is all about fatherhood.
He sang, "Well, I was getting used to being a dad. One big setback changed the plans we thought we had. Now Lauren shows it: she has one on the way. That’s—" Thomas paused his guitar, and Lauren held up five fingers. "Five under ten. Hey, what can I say? Yes, life changes. You wake up and nothing is the same. Yes, life changes." Lauren then held up an ultrasound picture for the camera, both of them laughing. They added a caption to the post: "Here we go again! We have some very excited big sisters in our house. God is so good."
This journey into parenthood for the high school sweethearts started back in May 2017. That’s when they adopted their daughter, Willa, from Uganda. Lauren once told Us Weekly in 2019 about that special time. She shared, "I called Thomas one of the first nights I met her in Uganda and talked to him about her." Lauren added, "Without hesitation, he told me, ‘Bring her home. She’s ours. We’re going to make it happen.’"
Lauren Akins and Thomas Rhett Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Just months after Willa came home, Lauren gave birth to their second daughter, Ada. Then came Lennon in February 2020, followed by Lillie in November 2021. So, with four girls already running around, adding a fifth makes for a truly busy household!
Interestingly, Thomas Rhett once spoke about their family size not too long ago. In his 2024 cover story for Us magazine, he mentioned that he and Lauren were "very happy with four." He even joked about what they’d do with their newfound free time once Lillie started school, saying, "What are we going to do with eight hours a day, three days per week?" However, he did add a little hint of what was to come: "But it wouldn’t be surprising if a fifth [baby] arrived in the next three or four years." Looks like that timeline sped up a bit!
Reflecting on his journey as a dad, Thomas Rhett said he wished he could tell his younger self to "cherish it." He knows how quickly time flies by with little ones. Lauren calls these years the "wiping years," because they’re constantly cleaning up tears, floors, and other messes. "I’ve been a dad long enough to know how fast everything goes," he shared. "Someday, the problems with my kids will be very different from not wanting to eat broccoli. I am learning to live these moments."