Die a Happy Man

"Die a Happy Man"
Single by Thomas Rhett
from the album Tangled Up
Released	September 28, 2015
Format	Digital download
Recorded	2015
Genre	Country pop[1]
Length	3:47
Label	Valory Music Group Republic
Writer(s)	Thomas Rhett Sean Douglas Joe Spargur
Producer(s)	Dann Huff Jesse Frasure
Thomas Rhett singles chronology
"Crash and Burn" (2015) "Die a Happy Man" (2015) "T-Shirt" (2016)

"Die a Happy Man" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Thomas Rhett. It was released on September 28, 2015 by Valory Music Group as the second single from his second studio album, Tangled Up. Rhett wrote the song with Sean Douglas and Joe Spargur. American singer Tori Kelly is featured on a pop remix included on the deluxe edition.^[2]

Content

The narrator addresses his wife, saying that all he needs in his life is her love and that if she is all he has, he could "die a happy man."

Reception

Critical

Billy Dukes of Taste of Country reviewed the song favorably, saying that "Thomas Rhett may have just released the love song of the year. "Die a Happy Man" is a slow burner that melts like candle wax. With just a few pulls from a blues-soaked guitar, the mood is set for this increasingly dynamic singer to heat up any room."^[3]

Commercial

On the week of its release, the song debuted at number 17 on the Hot Country Songs chart, number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 41 on the Country Airplay chart, with 40,000 copies sold for the week.^[4] The second week, it rose to number 30 on the Country Airplay chart,^[5] and sold 33,000 copies.^[6] It reached number one on the Country Digital Songs chart in its third week, selling 39,000 copies.^[7] It topped the Hot Country Songs chart in its sixth week,^[8] and then topped the Country Airplay chart in January 2016,^[9] staying at number one on all three country charts simultaneously for multiple weeks.^[10] On the Country Airplay chart for the week of January 30, 2016, the song logged its fifth consecutive week at number one, making it the first song to spend more than four weeks at number one since Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now" stayed at the top for five weeks in 2009, and the first song by a solo male artist to spend five weeks at the top since Kenny Chesney's "Never Wanted Nothing More" in August 2007.^[11] The following week, it topped the Country Airplay chart for a sixth week, becoming the first song to spend six weeks at number one since Taylor Swift's "Our Song" in December 2007 – January 2008.^[12] It peaked at number 21 on the Hot 100 for the week of January 2, 2016.^[13]

The single was certified 2x Platinum on May 18, 2016.^[14] The single reached the one million download sales in February 2016.^[15] As of November 2016, "Die a Happy Man" had sold 1,702,000 downloads.^[16]

Music video

The music video was directed by TK McKamy and premiered in June 2015. Rhett's wife, Lauren Gregory, appears in the video.^[17]

Chart performance

Thomas Rhett version Chart (2015–16) Peak position Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[18] 35 Canada Country (Billboard)[19] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[20] 21 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[21] 25 US Country Airplay (Billboard)[22] 1 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[23] 1 Year-end charts Chart (2015) Position US Country Airplay (Billboard)[24] 89 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[25] 59

Certifications Region Certification Certified units/Sales Canada (Music Canada)[26] Platinum 80,000^^ United States (RIAA)[14] 2× Platinum 1,702,000[16] ^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

Nelly version

"Die a Happy Man"
Single by Nelly
Released	February 5, 2016
Format	Digital download
Genre	R&B hip hop
Length	3:34
Label	RECORDS Epic
Nelly singles chronology
"I Don't Wanna Go to Bed" (2015) "Die a Happy Man" (2016) "Millionaire" (2016)

"Die a Happy Man" was covered by American rapper Nelly in 2016 and released as a single on February 5, 2016 by RECORDS and Epic Records.^[27] His version draws inspiration from hip hop music and dance music and employs synthesizers.^[28]

Commercial performance

His version debuted at number 83 on the Billboard Hot 100 with first-week US sales of 35,000.^[29]

Track listing

• Digital download^[27]

1. "Die a Happy Man" — 3:34

Charts

Chart (2016)	Peak position
Canada Digital Songs (Billboard)[30]	41
Canada AC (Billboard)[31]	43
US Billboard Hot 100[32]	83
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[33]	32

Other versions

• Travis Atreo released a version of the single in January 2016.^[34]
• Barrett Baber covered "Die A Happy Man" during the live finals of The Voice on December 14, 2015.

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Result	Ref.
2016	Academy of Country Music Awards	Single Record of the Year	Won	[35]
	Billboard Music Awards	Top Country Song	Won	[36]
	American Country Countdown Awards	Song of the Year	Won	[37]
		Digital Song of the Year	Nominated
	Country Music Association Awards	Single of the Year	Won	[38]

References

1. "Die a Happy Man - Thomas Rhett". Allmusic. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
2. "Tangled Up (Deluxe) by Thomas Rhett". iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
3. "ToC Critic's Pick: Thomas Rhett, 'Die a Happy Man' [Listen]". Taste of Country. 18 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
4. Matt Bjorke (September 28, 2015). "Top 30 Digital Country Singles: September 28, 2015". Roughstock.
5. Jim Asker (October 6, 2015). "Don Henley's 'County' Is King of Country Chart". Billboard.
6. Bjorke, Matt (October 5, 2015). "Top 30 Digital Country Singles: October 5, 2015". Roughstock.
7. Bjorke, Matt (October 12, 2015). "Top 30 Digital Singles Chart: October 12, 2015". Roughstock.
8. "Hot Country Song: November 14, 2015". Billboard.
9. Jim Asker (December 22, 2015). "Thomas Rhett Is a 'Happy Man' Atop Country Airplay Chart". Billboard.
10. Jim Asker (January 5, 2016). "He's The 'Man': Thomas Rhett Rules Multiple Country Charts". Billboard.
11. "Billboard Country Update for January 19, 2016" (PDF).
12. "Billboard Country Update for January 25, 2016" (PDF).
13. "Hot 100: January 2, 2016". Billboard.
14. "American single certifications – Thomas Rhett – Die a Happy Man". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 31, 2016. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
15. Bjorke, Matt (February 2, 2016). "The Top 30 Digital Country Singles: February 2, 2016". Roughstock.
16. Bjorke, Matt (November 28, 2016). "Top 30 Digital Singles Chart: November 28, 2016". Roughstock.
17. "Watch Thomas Rhett's Sentimental 'Die a Happy Man' Video : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. 18 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
18. "Thomas Rhett – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Thomas Rhett. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
19. "Thomas Rhett – Chart history" Billboard Canada Country for Thomas Rhett. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
20. "Thomas Rhett – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Thomas Rhett. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
21. "Thomas Rhett – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Thomas Rhett. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
22. "Thomas Rhett – Chart history" Billboard Country Airplay for Thomas Rhett. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
23. "Thomas Rhett – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Thomas Rhett.
24. "Billboard Country Update for December 14, 2015" (PDF). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. December 14, 2015. p. 7. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
25. "Best of 2015: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
26. "Canadian single certifications – Thomas Rhett – Die a Happy Man". Music Canada. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
27. "Die a Happy Man - Single by Nelly". iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
28. Kickham, Dylan (February 5, 2016). "Nelly covers Thomas Rhett's 'Die A Happy Man'". Entertainment Weekly. Wenner Media. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
29. Trust, Gary (February 18, 2016). "Hot 100 Chart Moves: Mike Posner Takes 'Pill' to Top 40". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
30. "Nelly – Chart history". Billboard Canadian Digital Songs for Nelly. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
31. "Nelly – Chart history" Billboard Canada AC for Nelly. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
32. "Nelly – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Nelly. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
33. "Nelly – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Nelly. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
34. "Die a Happy Man by Travis Atreo - single". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
35. Billboard Staff (April 3, 2016). "ACM Awards 2016: See the Full List of Winners". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
36. Billboard Staff (May 22, 2016). "Billboard Music Awards 2016: Complete Winners List". Billboard. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
37. Billboard Staff (May 1, 2016). "American Country Countdown Awards 2016: See the Winners List". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
38. Billboard Staff (November 2, 2016). "CMA Award Winners 2016: Complete List". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2016.