Thomas Rhett’s Wife Asked Him to Remove One Hit From His Setlist Every Year — His Answer Revealed Why 148 Million Streams Could Not Save It became a surprisingly personal story about success, marriage, and one country song that never won over the woman closest to him.
Thomas Rhett revealed that his wife, Lauren Akins, has never hidden her feelings about “Make Me Wanna,” the upbeat single from his 2013 debut album, It Goes Like This. According to Rhett, her reaction was not mild disappointment or playful criticism—she strongly disliked the track from the moment she first heard it.
“She hated ‘Make Me Wanna’ with a passion. Still does,” Rhett told Taste of Country Nights, delivering the confession with the humor of someone who has accepted that this particular debate may never end. While millions of listeners embraced the song, Lauren apparently remained completely unmoved by its popularity.
The track developed a life far beyond the Rhett household, becoming one of the recognizable songs from the early stage of his career. It eventually collected more than 148 million streams, a number that would normally silence doubts about whether a song deserved to remain in a concert setlist.
But impressive statistics could not change Lauren’s verdict. Each year, Rhett said, she asks him whether he is finally going to remove “Make Me Wanna” from his live show, turning an ordinary setlist decision into a recurring private standoff between husband and wife.
For Rhett, the answer has apparently remained consistent because the song continues to connect with the audiences who helped build his career. A performer may hear the same track hundreds of times, but fans often attach personal memories to it, making its place in a concert much harder to erase.
That reality created the perfect musical contradiction: one of Rhett’s most dependable older hits remained deeply unpopular with the person whose opinion mattered most at home. Lauren could not be persuaded by chart history, audience reactions, or streaming numbers, no matter how large those numbers became.
The disagreement also offered fans a funny glimpse into the couple’s relationship, where honesty appears to matter more than automatic praise. Lauren did not pretend to love every creative decision her husband made, and Rhett did not allow her disapproval to erase a song that still worked onstage.
Rather than becoming a serious marital conflict, the annual question seems to have evolved into a household tradition. Lauren asks whether the song is leaving, Rhett keeps it alive, and “Make Me Wanna” survives another touring year despite having its toughest critic waiting at home.
In an industry obsessed with numbers, the story proved that even 148 million streams cannot guarantee universal approval. Thomas Rhett may have convinced arenas of fans to sing along, but when it came to Lauren Akins, one successful single never stood a chance.