Born 57 Years Ago Today in Georgia, the Country Hitmaker Behind Some of the Biggest Songs of the 2000s as Part of a Legendary Songwriting Trio
Rhett Akins, born in Valdosta, Georgia, on 13 October 1969, is highlighted for his career as a country singer and songwriter. His work with Ben Hayslip and Dallas Davidson in the songwriting trio The Peach Pickers helped shape country hits in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
Akins had a country chart No. 1 with “Don’t Get Me Started” in 1996, then increasingly concentrated on writing songs for other artists. The article cites Blake Shelton’s “Boys ‘Round Here”, Chase Rice’s “Ready Set Roll” and Jon Pardi’s “Dirt On My Boots” among the trio’s successes. Akins received the ACM Songwriter of the Decade award in 2020 and was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry in 2026.
- Rhett Akins turns 57, with a career spanning singing and songwriting.
- The Peach Pickers helped write major country hits.
- He received an ACM songwriting honour and an Opry invitation.
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Country music is made by singers and musicians, but songwriters often create songs that are recorded by other performers. Rhett Akins first had success as a singer, then became better known for writing songs for other country artists.
Akins worked with fellow songwriters Ben Hayslip and Dallas Davidson as The Peach Pickers. Their songs were recorded by performers including Blake Shelton, Chase Rice and Jon Pardi, helping the trio become prominent in country music. The Grand Ole Opry is a long-running country music institution in Nashville, and an invitation to join it is a notable career honour.