Country Singer Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins’ Christian Love Story: Why Purity Matters
By Allyson Vannatta, Senior Writer
Lauren Akins, wife to country music star Thomas Rhett, gives fans an inside look at their Christ-focused relationship in her upcoming book Live in Love and explains why they chose to save sex for marriage.
The mother of three explains how she and Rhett became “best friends” the summer before sixth grade at church camp.
In eighth grade, Akins said they were “joined at the hip,” and their relationship would only get better as they entered high school and their families began to get close as well.
“I always got the feeling that he still liked me the way he liked me way back at church camp in the sixth grade, but I also felt like he gave mixed signals about what he wanted to do about it,” she explained.
A romantic relationship between the two didn’t work out in high school, and then they went to different universities and even dated other people while there.
Related: Country Singer Thomas Rhett Prays for the Loss of Fellow Country Star at CMT Awards
However, the “Die a Happy Man” singer eventually revealed to Akins that he still had feelings for her, and they started dating in May 2011 before getting engaged in December.
Throughout their college relationships, Akins revealed they both “stayed true to our values,” and didn’t have pre-marital sex.
“I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s not like we didn’t kiss a ton or get a little too close a few times. We just always made a choice to stop short of breaking the promise we’d made: to save ourselves for marriage,” she wrote.
Akins admitted, though, that staying abstinent “was not easy” and she wanted Rhett to hurry and propose so they could “get to our wedding night.”
The couple now has three daughters. They adopted Willa Gray from Uganda in 2017 and, three months later, welcomed a biological daughter, Ada James. Earlier this year, Akins gave birth to their third daughter, Lennon Love.
Related: Country Star Thomas Rhett Welcomes Daughter: The Lord Is So Good
In her memoir’s acknowledgments, she wrote, “I cannot believe God gave me you three precious angels to raise on earth. My heart could explode just thinking about how much I love each of you girls.”
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
