“I Cried Like a Child”: Thomas Rhett Pays Tribute to HARDY's ‘Dog Years’ After Losing His Beloved Dog, Kona

There's no question that losing a pet is often just as heartbreaking as losing a family member. It's a unique form of grief, one that many genres don't delve into too often - but thankfully, country music has an array of odes to man's best friend that can help us through those horrible times when we've lost a beloved dog.

In the wake of losing his Catahoula Leopard dog, Kona, just a matter of weeks after his Chocolate Labrador, Cash, passed away, Thomas Rhett has taken to Instagram to reflect on how one particular song has managed to capture his grief perfectly.

The ‘T-Shirt’ hitmaker candidly begins, “It’s been a tough dog month for our family. We lost our little Kona girl. I think after Cash passed she just wanted to go be with him. It’s weird losing a dog, cause whether you know it or not they are just always there, always by your side at the dinner table. They are truly a part of your family”.

He goes on to pay homage to HARDY's ‘Dog Years’, one of the many stand-outs from the country-rocker's latest album, COUNTRY! COUNTRY! It's written from the perspective of a dog, who looks back on all the wonderful memories he's made with his owner, before concluding with the gut-wrenching moment he has to leave his side.

Rhett writes, “Got the courage last night to listen to [HARDY's] song “Dog Years”. I cried like a child, but dang that song is so spot on about the life of a dog if they could talk”, before concluding with a sweet message for above, “Kona and Cash yall will be missed a lot. I know yall are having a blast up in heaven together”.

A host of fellow country artists have flooded Rhett's comments with well wishes, letting him know they're thinking of and praying for him. Ashley Cooke, for instance, has touchingly shared, “dogs truly are the sweetest things. i’m so sorry for yall. what a wonderful life they both lived”, while Alana Springsteen has responded, “aww my heart. so sorry for your loss”. Jackson Dean, meanwhile, also offers his condolences, commenting warmly, “so sorry for you and the fam TR”.

Some songs are able to reflect and mirror the emotions we're feeling in a way that we can't express ourselves, and there's no doubt that ‘Dog Years’ is a prime example of this. Hopefully this song - which was written solely by HARDY - is providing some comfort and solace to Rhett and his family during this difficult time.

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