Thomas Rhett‘s wife, Lauren Akins, is speaking out about her husband’s first ACM Award, for Entertainer of the Year. Although he shares the title with Carrie Underwood, the mother of three is still just as proud of her hard-working husband.
“I think we’re both still processing,” Lauren shared on the Today Show. “Watching years and years of him put so much work and energy and love towards country music and the people who come to the shows, and all the people who work with him, what they’ve done to make this happen, it feels like finally, after all these years, it’s his ultimate dream come true. And it’s just so cool to watch. Just so proud of him and everybody.”
For Thomas, sharing the Entertainer of the Year win with Carrie makes it even sweeter for him.
“I’ve been doing this now for about eight or nine years, and I’m accepting an award with the legendary, iconic Carrie Underwood,” he reflected. “It was the most surreal moment of my life. I’m so happy for her. It’s just amazing.”
Thomas is happy to be the reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year, even if he can’t quite wrap his head around it yet.
“It was the most surreal moment of my life,” he said. “This is an award that I have been dreaming about since I began. Me and my band have put so much work into the show, trying to make it as good as it can possibly be. Last night, it came and went so fast. I think I’ll need a week to process it, to be honest with you. The word is ‘surreal.'”
Immediately after his win, the 30-year-old said winning Entertainer of the Year has been something he has been dreaming about for a long, long time.
“It truly has been a dream of mine since day one,” Thomas shared at a virtual press conference. “There’s countless times where my manager Virginia has asked me, ‘What are your goals for the next five years? What are your goals for the next ten years?’ Winning Entertainer of the Year was definitely was at the top, number one on the list. Tonight, being here at the Opry, getting to hear an idol of mine, Keith Urban, mention my name along with Carrie Underwood, it made me feel like I’m not the new guy anymore, if that makes any sense.”
See a complete list of all the ACM Awards winners here.