We Have A Date For Rhett Akins Opry Induction!

If you grew up on '90s country, you probably know exactly what happens when you hear:

"That ain't my truck…"

And now the man behind one of the most recognizable songs of the decade is getting one of country music's biggest honors.

Rhett Akins is officially becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry. And somehow, the whole thing gets even cooler when you realize his induction is happening on his birthday, Tuesday, October 13.

Talk about a birthday present.

Akins was surprised with the invitation back in June by his friend and current Opry member Jon Pardi. The connection between the two goes way beyond friendship, too. Akins helped write Pardi's massive hit "Dirt On My Boots," which became Pardi's second career No. 1.

And if you've ever looked at the songwriting credits on some of country music's biggest songs over the last couple of decades, there's a pretty good chance you've seen Rhett Akins' name.

From '90s Country Star to the Guy Behind the Hits

For us '90s country fans, Rhett Akins will always be the guy who gave us "That Ain't My Truck."

He released his debut album, A Thousand Memories, in 1995, and the album produced four charting singles, including "That Ain't My Truck," which Akins co-wrote and took all the way to No. 1.

A year later, he did it again with "Don't Get Me Started."

But while plenty of us remember Rhett as the artist singing those songs, what happened next in his career is pretty incredible.

He became one of Nashville's go-to songwriters.

Akins has now written 36 No. 1 country singles and counting, earning him honors including BMI Songwriter of the Year, seven CMA Triple Play Awards, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame membership and the title of ACM Songwriter of the Decade.

Yes. SEVEN Triple Play Awards.

Those are given to songwriters who write three No. 1 songs within a 12-month period. Doing it once is impressive. Doing it seven times feels like you're just showing off at that point.

When Rhett officially joins the Grand Ole Opry on October 13, some familiar faces will be there to celebrate with him.

His son Thomas Rhett will perform, along with Luke Bryan, Jon Pardi, Jamey Johnson and more artists and friends who have been part of Akins' songwriting story.

Which might be my favorite part of this whole thing.

We talk all the time about the songs we grew up with, but sometimes we forget about the people sitting in a Nashville writing room who helped create the soundtrack to our lives.

Rhett Akins has the unique distinction of being part of both sides of that story.

He gave us his own songs in the '90s, then helped write the songs that became part of an entirely new generation of country music.

And now both generations get to meet on the Grand Ole Opry stage. 

 Pretty Full-Circle, Right?

The Grand Ole Opry has been celebrating country music since 1925, connecting the legends who built the genre with the artists carrying it forward.

Rhett Akins fits pretty perfectly into that story.

He's a '90s country artist. A Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer. A dad who got to watch his son become a country superstar. A songwriter behind dozens of songs we've blasted in our cars without ever thinking about whose name was in the credits.

And now he's about to be a Grand Ole Opry member.

Not bad for the guy whose truck wasn't even in her driveway.

Congratulations, Rhett. This one feels long overdue. 

- Emyle