Country music powerhouse Thomas Rhett is reeling from a profound personal loss, sharing a raw and emotional tribute to his longtime family dog, Cash, who passed away on Thursday at age 13. The singer, known for chart-topping hits like “Die a Happy Man” and “What’s Your Country Song,” took to Instagram to bid farewell to the chocolate Labrador who served as a steadfast companion through fame, family milestones and health scares.

In a post that has already amassed hundreds of thousands of views, Rhett wrote, “Today our sweet little Cash man went to go be with Jesus. He was the most loyal, kind dog that I have ever known.” Accompanied by a carousel of heartwarming photos—from Cash’s playful puppy days to tender moments curled up with Rhett’s four young daughters—the message struck a chord with fans and fellow artists alike, flooding the comments with messages of sympathy and shared grief. Rhett’s words captured the irreplaceable void left by a pet who was more than just a dog: “Our house is so quiet today. I know Cash is running around in heaven and will be the first one to greet us when we get there.”

The 35-year-old performer, whose real name is Thomas Rhett Akins Jr., didn’t hold back on the dog’s quirks or the depth of his impact. Cash, adopted over a decade ago by Rhett and his wife, Lauren Akins, was no stranger to mischief—Rhett recounted frustrations over stolen food and chewed-up household items. But those antics paled in comparison to the loyalty Cash showed, especially during Lauren’s battles with serious illness. “He would stay up so many late nights with her while she was sick and I was gone,” Rhett shared, adding, “I never in a million years thought that a dog I got so frustrated with… would make me this sad.”

Rhett capped his tribute with a poignant call to action for pet owners everywhere: “If you’ve got a dog, go give them some extra love.” It’s a reminder of the fleeting time we have with our four-legged friends, whose lifespans often feel heartbreakingly short. The post, timestamped late Thursday evening, quickly drew support from country music’s inner circle. Dan + Shay’s Dan Smyers and his wife Abby commented with broken heart emojis and words of comfort, while Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild offered, “Oh TR… I’m so sorry.” Fans echoed the sentiment, with one writing, “Sending hugs to you and your family. Cash sounds like he was the best boy,” and another sharing their own story of loss: “Lost my fur baby last year—it’s a pain that lingers, but the memories heal over time.”

For the Rhett-Akins household, Cash was woven into the fabric of their story from the start. The couple, high school sweethearts who married in 2012, welcomed Cash into their lives shortly after tying the knot, long before their daughters arrived: Willa Gray, 9; Ada James, 7; Lennon Love, 5; and Lillie Carolina, 3. (A fifth child is due in February 2026.) Photos in the tribute show Cash as the gentle giant who grew up alongside the kids—nuzzling newborns, patiently enduring tiny hands tugging at his ears, and providing comic relief during family chaos. “He was our first baby,” Rhett has said in past interviews about the dog, crediting him with easing the transition into parenthood.

Rhett’s career trajectory makes Cash’s passing all the more poignant. The Georgia native, son of ’90s country singer Rhett Akins, exploded onto the scene in 2013 with “It Goes Like This,” but his rise wasn’t without turbulence. Early tours meant long separations from home, and Lauren’s health struggles—including a life-threatening staph infection in 2018 that required open-heart surgery—tested the family’s resilience. Through it all, Cash was a constant, the “best friend” who greeted Rhett at the door after sold-out arenas and kept Lauren company during hospital stays. Rhett even name-dropped the pup in casual social media glimpses over the years, like a 2015 tweet joking about Cash’s gourmet organic diet funded by tour earnings.

This isn’t the first time Rhett has opened up about family vulnerabilities. His 2021 memoir, Home Down Home in Nashville, detailed the joys and strains of balancing superstardom with fatherhood, including how pets like Cash grounded them amid the whirlwind. “Dogs don’t care if you’re platinum-selling or just paying the bills—they love you anyway,” he wrote. The sentiment rings true now, as Rhett pauses amid a packed schedule: He’s fresh off promoting his sixth studio album, About a Woman (deluxe edition out this year), and gearing up for holiday tours. Yet, in true Rhett fashion—blending heartfelt ballads with upbeat anthems—he’s turning sorrow into a teachable moment on cherishing the everyday.

The outpouring online underscores a universal truth: Pets aren’t just animals; they’re family, therapists and silent witnesses to our messiest, most magical lives. On X (formerly Twitter), outlets like Country Now amplified the story, posting, “.@ThomasRhett is mourning the loss of his beloved dog, Cash. 💔 ‘He was the most loyal, kind dog that I have ever known.’” Radio stations from iHeartMedia affiliates to local spots like B100 Albany shared the tribute, with headlines echoing Rhett’s words verbatim. It’s a stark reminder in an industry often glamorized by spotlights and sold-out shows that even megastars grapple with the quiet devastations of ordinary life.

Country music has long been a haven for such raw storytelling—think Johnny Cash’s (no relation) own tributes to faithful hounds or more recent losses like Miranda Lambert’s dog in 2023. Rhett’s post fits seamlessly into that tradition, humanizing a genre star who’s sold over 40 million records worldwide. As the weekend unfolds, expect more reflections: Rhett’s known for acoustic Instagram Lives, and fans are already clamoring for a song inspired by Cash—perhaps a follow-up to his pet-themed tracks like “Marry Me,” where loyalty themes run deep.

For now, though, it’s about healing. The Rhett family, holed up in their Nashville-area farm (complete with horses and other critters), is leaning on each other. Lauren, an author and nonprofit founder who runs the L.A.-based Lovesick Foundation for safe water access abroad, reposted her husband’s tribute with a simple white heart emoji. With another baby on the way, the “quiet house” Rhett described won’t stay silent for long—but Cash’s paw prints, literal and figurative, will linger.

In a world quick to scroll past the sad stuff, Rhett’s vulnerability is a gut punch and a gift. It validates the ache for anyone who’s knelt beside a beloved pet’s final breath, whispering goodbyes through tears. As Rhett put it, those extra hugs today? They’re not just for the dogs—they’re for us, too, holding onto the love that outlives the loss.