Rhett Akins is brought to tears for the first time in "20 years" after his son, Thomas Rhett, delivers a beautiful tribute.
Videos by Wide Open Country
The National Music Publishers' Association Awards were hosted on June 11, where both Kacey Musgraves and Rhett Akins received awards.
Rhett Akins has been in the game for a while, so it's no wonder he earned the Non-Performing Songwriter Icon Award. He was recognized for his "over three decades of contributions to country music." He started in the industry with his 1996 song "Don't Get Me Started," and has since written songs for himself and other famous musicians. Both Blake Shelton and Dustin Lynch has benefited from his songwriting.
His son, Thomas Rhett, was with him, who is currently a big presence in the country scene. Thomas wasn't just there to support his dad. He was there to perform for him, too. Billboard shared a clip of his beautiful rendition of his song "What's Your Country Song."
Thomas Rhett and Rhett Akins wrote that song together. It appeared on Thomas' Country Again album.
Winning such an award and seeing his son perform a song they wrote together. It's no wonder his water works turned on.
After the performance, Akins took to the stage for his acceptance speech, where he could barely keep himself together.
" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;margin: 1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:99.375%;width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px);width:calc(100% - 2px)">"I Haven't Cried In 20 years"
The emotional moment took Rhett Akins by surprise, especially as it'd been so long since he last cried.
Composing himself a little, he said, "I haven't cried in 20 years, I think."
Seeing him so welled up with emotional on stage moved the crowd, who applauded his sincerity. "Only God can do this," he finally continued.
Funnily enough, he was forced into being present and sincere as he lost his phone which had his speech on it.
What gets me though is that he only gets choked up when talking about his son. That's a real proud dad, right there. I'm sure Thomas Rhett wasn't without tears of his own by the end of the speech.
