Rhett Recalls Not-So-Romantic Way Wife First Heard 'Die a Happy Man'

Thomas Rhett was on the road with songwriters Sean Douglas and Joe Spargur when he wrote "Die a Happy Man," from his Tangled Up album, for his wife Lauren. However, Rhett chose a slightly unromantic way to share the sentimental tune.

"I wish I could have played "Die a Happy Man" for her in person the first time she heard it, but I actually sent her an email of the demo at 4:00 in the morning, when we finished it on the bus," Rhett told The Boot and other reporters at a recent media event. "But when she woke up and heard it, she’s like, ‘This is, hands down, one of the best songs you’ve ever written.’

"She’s only really said that two other times in my life, so I guess I don’t write that many great songs," he adds with a laugh. "She loved it, and I think we all knew immediately, even when I played it for management and the label, that we had something really special."

Perhaps even more unromantic? To film the song's music video, Rhett's label sent a crew along with the singer and his wife on an already-planned trip to Hawaii.

"We try to go to Hawaii once a year; it’s kind of our spot. And the label was like, ‘Do you mind if we send a couple video guys along and capture some footage?'" Rhett recalls. "My buddy TK [McKamy], who’s done the last four videos of mine, it was him and literally one other guy with a camera and a couple of lights. And basically, for five days, we all hung out. He’s like, ‘Y’all do your thing, and we’ll capture moments. You’ll have to do a little bit of acting, but at least it won’t be acting because you love the person you’re being romantic with.’"

The country star had already hit No. 1 with four other songs by the time "Die a Happy Man" landed in that spot, but it certainly wasn't a success he was expecting. Nonetheless, the tune spent six weeks at the top of the charts, a feat that no other country artist has accomplished since Taylor Swift with "Our Song" in 2008.

"Never in a million years did I think a love ballad would have been one of the biggest songs I ever put out," Rhett notes. "It really is such an honor. To have a No. 1 song, period, is amazing, but for it to sit there for that long and to achieve a feat that Taylor did in 2008 is truly just incredible.

"It’s hard to think about without getting a little gooey inside," he continues, "but it’s really special."