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Thomas Rhett and Niall Horan Cover “Choosin’ Texas,” Team up To Perform a One Direction Hit During First-Ever Co-Headlining Show
Country artist Thomas Rhett and pop musician Niall Horan collaborated for their first co-headlining performance in Nashville on Thursday evening, drawing an audience of 20,000 fans to Geodis Park. Following their separate set lists, the two musicians joined forces for an extended finale featuring five songs performed together, with highlights including Horan's solo track "Heaven" and the pair's rendition of "Old Tricks," which they had previously released as a collaboration.
The evening's most memorable moments came from the duo's cover choices and the inclusion of One Direction material. They performed an interpretation of Ella Langley's current hit "Choosin' Texas," with Rhett playfully introducing themselves as "Ella's Fellas," before concluding with a performance of the 2014 One Direction song "Steal My Girl." The concert served as the launch date for Rhett's The Soundtrack to Your Life Tour and represented a particularly significant occasion for Horan, who described the week as "the most amazing week of my whole life," citing his Grand Ole Opry debut alongside the co-headlining show.
In short
- Musicians Thomas Rhett and Niall Horan performed their first joint headlining concert at Nashville's Geodis Park on July 9 before 20,000 attendees
- The pair delivered multiple duets during the show's finale, including covers of Ella Langley's 'Choosin' Texas' and One Direction's 'Steal My Girl'
- The event marked the launch of Rhett's new tour and coincided with Horan's Grand Ole Opry debut earlier in the week
Explained simply
Thomas Rhett is a country music artist recognised for blending country with contemporary pop influences, whilst Niall Horan is a pop musician who rose to prominence as a member of the international boy band One Direction and has established himself as a solo artist since the band's hiatus. The two performers operate within different musical traditions, making their collaboration across these genres notable.
A co-headlining concert is one in which two artists share equal billing and prominence throughout the show, with each typically performing their own set before joining together for collaborative performances at the event's conclusion. This touring format allows established acts to introduce their audiences to one another whilst sharing production costs and logistics.
Cross-genre partnerships between country and pop musicians have become increasingly common as artists seek to expand their listener base and reach beyond their traditional audiences. When performers from different musical backgrounds collaborate, they often attract fans from multiple communities and can introduce each artist's work to listeners who might not otherwise encounter that particular musical genre.