Country star Thomas Rhett is getting candid about a difficult season in his life — one that nearly cost him his marriage — and how his faith ultimately helped turn things around.

Appearing alongside his wife, Lauren Akins, on Sadie Robertson Huff’s “WHOA That’s Good” podcast, Rhett admitted that early success in his career led him down a path he now regrets.

“I look through my life and I think about all the things that have kind of twisted me or made me like not the best person to be around,” Rhett said. He pointed to a deep struggle with affirmation, explaining that at the height of his fame, he was receiving more praise than ever — and it changed him. “I really liked it,” he admitted.

But behind the scenes, things weren’t nearly as strong as they appeared.

“I look back at our life during that time, and I’m not — I don’t think I stewarded it very well, to be honest with you,” he said. Rhett shared that he was chasing success “at all costs,” even as his marriage began to suffer.

At one point, he described himself as “the most spiritually unhealthy human being.” While he appeared grounded in faith publicly, he said the reality was very different. “Publicly, I kept up a façade of spirituality, but internally I was dying.”

That disconnect took a toll. Rhett revealed that in his mid-20s, he was essentially “living a double life,” especially during a hectic season when he was constantly traveling between the U.S. and Uganda while Akins was pregnant.

“I’m playing a show in Arizona, and then I’m traveling back to Uganda, and then I’m going to New York,” he said. “Like I can never actually settle anywhere.”

Despite the strain, the couple held tightly to one commitment they made early on: “From day one, divorce is not an option.” Still, Rhett acknowledged how fragile even strong relationships can be. “The more you actually think about it, anything is actually an option if you let it become that.”

A major turning point came in 2020, when the pace of life slowed and Rhett was forced to confront who he really was — without the stage, the spotlight, or the applause.

“It was the first time it had ever been taken away from me,” he said. In that quiet, he began rediscovering his identity and deepening his faith. “Jesus has chiseled on my heart more in the last five years than I can remember.”

One of the biggest lessons he learned was about where true joy comes from. “If I look at myself as the pure sole source of her happiness, I’m going to always let her down,” Rhett said. Instead, he came to understand that “true joy comes from the Lord.”

Today, Rhett says their marriage is stronger — not because everything is perfect, but because it’s rooted in something deeper. “I’m not perfect… but I would say… I’m living my most true self now,” he shared.

Akins, who has often preferred life out of the spotlight, reflected on their journey with gratitude. Despite their differences, she said Rhett has always supported her, even in uncomfortable moments. “He’s going to hold my hand and get me out on the other side,” she said.

Looking back, she’s overwhelmed by how far they’ve come. “Every dream I ever dreamed as a little girl… has already happened and come true,” Akins said through tears. “I feel so unbelievably grateful even through all the tears and the hard moments.”

Their story is a reminder that even in seasons of struggle, growth is possible — and with faith at the center, restoration can follow.