They came to discuss fame, music and world travels.
But more than that, Thomas Rhett and his wife Lauren Gregory came to The Gathering Tuesday morning to discuss their faith story and how God uses them in the industry to which they were called.
“We could not be more opposite,” Gregory said. “I’m often asking God ‘why in the world you put me with him in this career.’ Everything I thought I would be doing is absolutely not what is going on in my life right now, but it’s so cool because no matter what we do, it’s very evident to me that God has us right where he wants us.
“That makes me feel good – knowing that He’s walking us through it and that it’s for His glory and not for ours.”
Rhett and his wife began their love story in the first grade. While he always chased a life centered around music, Lauren earned a nursing degree and had dreams of serving people across the world.
Little did she know that God had other plans for the direction of their life together.
“It’s become a new normal for us,” she said. “It’s cool to be able to support him and see how God has taken him from this super-cool, emo, black hair kid in middle school doing the ‘High Heeled Flip Flops’ band to opening up for Jason Aldean this year.
“It’s obvious that God has put him in this industry for a reason. And as long as He just keeps putting the stepping stones in front of him and us as a couple, we’re just going to keep going.”
Most weekends, Rhett is on the road Thursday evening through Sunday afternoon.
The pair make it a priority to have dinner with her family and his family once a week while in town to maintain those relationships.
“When you do finally get to hang out your friends and family after not seeing them forever, you just all of a sudden feel super refreshed,” Rhett said. “I think if you don’t get that a lot, at least for us, it’s just us two out there and we start to cling to worldly things; any time we can have real contacts and relationships – it means the world to us.”
Lauren travels with Rhett whenever she can, but regardless of their whereabouts, Rhett said his wife keeps him humble and keeps their relationship centered on faith.
“There’s so many people that are overwhelmed with entitlement, and I think that fame coming from the devil really makes you think that you deserve everything,” Rhett said. “That’s just something that me and Lauren – she has one of the most giving and loving hearts I’ve ever met — work on together.
“Her way of keeping our marriage between us and keeping me humble, never letting this life make me become deserving – it’s amazing.”
Rhett is currently nominated for three nominations at the 2016 Academy Country Music Awards, including his first in the Album of of the Year category for Tangled Up and Single Record of the Year category for “Die a Happy Man.” Rhett also received a nomination for New Male Vocalist the Year.
Tune in to CBS on April 3rd to catch the show.
Photos by Erin Turner