Thomas Rhett rolls into Columbus on Friday night with 25 career No. 1 hits behind him and a fresh crop of milestones to show for a career that started with his debut chart-topper back in 2013. The 36-year-old singer-songwriter brings his Soundtrack to Life Tour to Ohio State's Schottenstein Center, marking his first major headlining arena run in three years. Openers Vincent Mason and Emily Ann Roberts round out the bill for the Columbus stop.
Roberts has appeared on every date of the tour, while secondary support acts have rotated by city, according to Taste of Country. Friday's show comes as Rhett resumes the tour after kicking it off in July, per The Columbus Dispatch, which also reports that ticket prices for the Columbus date range from $49 to $702 and can be purchased online.
A Milestone Year On and Off Stage
The tour is billed as a global run and supports Rhett's seventh studio album, About a Woman, which debuted in August 2024 before being expanded into a 25-track deluxe edition in September 2025, inspired by his wife, Lauren Akins, according to Country Central. The Dispatch notes Rhett recently returned from three sold-out nights at London's Wembley Stadium, a feat also achieved by fellow country star Luke Combs.
His chart resume now includes 25 Billboard Country Airplay No. 1 singles, a streak that began with “It Goes Like This” in 2013. The Dispatch reports Rhett secured his 24th No. 1 with “After All the Bars Are Closed.” “Ain’t a Bad Life” is a collaboration with Jordan Davis, per antiMusic. Rhett has said it “ain’t a bad life for a good ol’ boy,” according to the Dispatch's report.
Family news arrived just before ticket sales launched for the tour. Rhett and Lauren welcomed a son named Brave in February 2026, per Taste of Country. In July, Rhett was inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame in Nashville, receiving the 113th star in Walk of Fame Park, as reported by Country Now. The Dispatch adds that Rhett was one of the youngest artists to receive a star on the Walk of Fame.
Nashville Roots and a Songwriting Pedigree
Rhett grew up around country royalty, including Tim McGraw and Brooks & Dunn, according to the Dispatch. His father, Rhett Akins, has charted 14 songs on Billboard himself and has written for artists including Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, and Brooks & Dunn. The younger Rhett has built his own songwriting résumé beyond his own catalog, penning tracks for Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, Cole Swindell, Lee Brice, and Old Dominion, per the Dispatch. He has also crossed genre lines, teaming with EDM producer and DJ Marshmello on “Where We Go.”
What to Know Before Heading to the Arena
The Schottenstein Center, built on Ohio State's campus, ranks as the largest arena in the Big Ten Conference, with a maximum concert seating capacity of more than 20,000, according to the Greater Columbus Sports Commission. The venue listing also names Columbus Arena Sports & Entertainment.
Concertgoers should plan ahead on payment: the arena enforces a strict cashless policy across the building, meaning tickets, concessions, and merchandise all require a debit or credit card or mobile payment option. The Schottenstein Center's ticket information page confirms the cashless policy.
The Schottenstein Center's schedule also includes Kacey Musgraves, Ella Langley and The Smashing Pumpkins. That follows Caamp's sold-out Schottenstein show in August and comes on the heels of a summer that saw Rhett join Morgan Wallen for four Still the Problem Tour dates.
