Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins Are Superfans (And Rivals)

About This Episode

Country star Thomas Rhett Akins grew up in Valdosta, Georgia, with a father and grandfather who primed him to be a Bulldogs superfan. Meanwhile, his wife, Lauren, bleeds the orange of the Tennessee Volunteers. Somehow they’ve managed to build a lasting romance and a loving family in spite of rooting for teams on opposite sides of the field. In this episode, they talk about where they grew up, how they came to love their favorite teams, and the one thing they can always agree on –  Frito Pie.

What Thomas Rhett And Lauren Talk About On This Episode

• Growing up with football in their lives
• How food and traditions are a part of their lives
• Lauren on Tennessee football
• Thomas Rhett on being a Georgia fan
• The cooks in their families
• How they're bringing their four daughters up to love football
• Lauren attending nursing school
• Thomas Rhett and his summer tour and becoming a mega country star
• Food and holiday traditions
• Their grandmothers influence on their lives
• Their farm, located just outside of Nashville
• Thomas Rhett's father and grandfather

Quotes By Thomas Rhett And Lauren Akins

"It's just electric on campus. Everywhere you go, even if you've never met each other before, you're best friends on game day and everybody's walking around doing the chants, singing songs all over campus. I had friends in college whose parents would come up every weekend and set up a tailgate so we would always go. The Vol Walk and just the tradition of Tennessee is so strong and it's so cool to get to be a part of something that has so much history. Even if your team isn't doing as good as you would like for them to, it doesn't matter. At that point, everybody's bleeding orange." -Lauren Akins

"Lauren's been through the ringer with me in the van days, the bus days, and now today's days, and she's always taken my life as a champ. I say this a lot before I play the song live, but I look at Lauren sometimes and I do truly wonder every now and then if her body is completely just taken over by an angel, because it takes a lot of patience to be married to somebody like me." - Thomas Rhett

About Biscuits & Jam

In the South, talking about food is personal. It's a way of sharing your history, your family, your culture, and yourself. Each week Sid Evans, editor in chief of Southern Living, sits down with celebrity musicians to hear stories of how they grew up, what inspired them, and how they've been shaped by Southern culture. Sid takes us back to some of their most cherished memories and traditions, the family meals they still think about, and their favorite places to eat on the road. Download and listen to this episode of Biscuits & Jam with Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or everywhere podcasts are available.