Thomas Rhett’s The Soundtrack To Life Tour Opens With An Epic Nashville Night Alongside Niall Horan
The co-headliners delivered a high-energy opening night filled with fan favorites, heartfelt stories, and a surprise-filled finale.
Niall Horan, Thomas Rhett; Photo by Nick Bastoky
Thomas Rhett officially kicked off his The Soundtrack to Life Tour at GEODIS Park in Nashville on Thursday (July 9), delivering a night packed with career-spanning hits, nonstop energy, and plenty of singalongs.
Before Rhett took the stage, co-headliner Niall Horan delivered an impressive set that included fan-favorite hits like “This Town,” “Slow Hands,” and “Monochromatic.” Throughout his performance, Horan shared his love for Nashville and expressed his excitement over the opportunity to share the stage with Rhett. While their audiences may be different, the pairing felt surprisingly natural, with Horan’s set fitting seamlessly into the evening. His undeniable talent and stage presence made him a perfect addition to the night.
When Rhett finally stepped onto the stage, he kicked things off with a throwback from 2014, launching into “Make Me Wanna.” From the opening note to the encore, the country superstar brought an unmatched level of energy, running across every inch of the massive stage. Despite the sweltering Nashville summer heat, Rhett and his band powered through, giving fans a show they won’t soon forget.
Keeping the momentum going, Rhett launched into feel-good favorites like “Look What God Gave Her” and “Gone Country,” with fans singing along and dancing throughout the stadium. The excitement continued as thousands of fans’ light-up bracelets synced together during “T-Shirt,” creating a memorable moment across GEODIS Park.
Before performing “Life Changes,” Rhett took a moment to reflect on his journey from growing up in nearby Hendersonville, Tennessee, to reaching one of the biggest stages in Music City. He reminisced about playing legendary Nashville venues including Exit/In, the Ryman Auditorium, the Grand Ole Opry, Bridgestone Arena, and Nissan Stadium before finally making his GEODIS Park debut.
“I grew up in a little town called Hendersonville, Tennessee, about 20 minutes from here. I’ve seen a lot of people that I went to high school with in the crowd every year. I played at Exit/In, the Ryman, the Opry, Bridgestone, Nissan. This is my first time ever playing GEODIS Park. Thank y’all so much for tonight. I never in a million years dreamed that I would get to play a show with one of my best friends in the world, Mr. Niall Horan. It is unbelievable.”
Rhett also opened up about his family during the emotional moment, sharing an update about welcoming his fifth child and celebrating a major milestone for his sister-in-law.
“All my children are sitting right over here somewhere. This year we had our fifth kid and it is absolutely insane. I’ve got a little boy, but I really want to shout out a huge praise and a huge celebration. She’s not here tonight because she’s probably resting, but my sister-in-law got to ring the bell yesterday of her last day of chemotherapy. I love you, Macy, wherever you are.”
The show continued with a string of fan favorites, including “What’s Your Country Song,” “It Goes Like This,” and “Crash And Burn,” which was accompanied by a spectacular fireworks-filled finale.
But the night wasn’t over yet. Horan returned to the stage for a special four-song collaborative set, giving fans an unforgettable closing moment. Together, the pair performed Horan’s hit “Heaven,” their own collaboration “Old Tricks,” and a cover of Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” after Rhett jokingly declared themselves “Ella’s Fellas.”
To close out the night, Rhett and Horan sent the crowd into a frenzy with a cover of One Direction’s smash hit “Steal Your Girl.”
Rhett’s opening night proved exactly why he remains one of country music’s most captivating entertainers. With his unmatched energy, genuine connection with fans, and ability to turn a stadium into one giant singalong, The Soundtrack to Life Tour is off to an unforgettable start.
Thomas Rhett Set List: GEODIS Park, Nashville, TN
Make Me Wanna
Look What God Gave Her
Gone Country
T-Shirt
Ain’t a Bad Life
Sixteen
Sky Falls
Beautiful As You
Half of Me
Marry Me
Life Changes
Craving You
Somethin’ ‘Bout A Woman
What’s Your Country Song
It Goes Like This
After All the Bars Are Closed
Crash and Burn
TR X Niall Horan
Heaven
Old Tricks
Choosin’ Texas
Die A Happy Man
Steal My Girl