Thomas Rhett's "What's Your Country Song"

It’s no secret that country music loves a good anthem. On “What’s Your Country Song,” superstar Thomas Rhett takes stock of some of the genre’s biggest hits to craft a small-town celebration all his own. Throughout the track, Rhett tosses in clever references to both country classics (Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places,” Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried”) and contemporary favorites (Jake Owen’s “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise”), cranking up the nostalgia with each heartfelt nod. Rhett wrote “What’s Your Country Song” with some of Music Row’s finest wordsmiths, many of whom had a hand in the hits the song mentions: Ashley Gorley, Parker Welling, Jesse Frasure, and his own father, the beloved Rhett Akins, all lend Rhett their celebrated pens. A murderers’ row of session musicians—including banjo player Ilya Toshinskiy and steel guitarist Paul Franklin—joined Rhett and co-producers Frasure and Dann Huff in the studio to build the track, which includes enough subtle sonic references to some of country music’s biggest anthems, past and present, to keep studious fans busy for repeated listens. Pre-add Rhett’s upcoming album, Country Again (Side A), out soon, and get to know more about the names behind the music with this selection of playlists.