In a surprise move bridging Nashville twang and pop polish, Thomas Rhett and Niall Horan have joined forces for a new version of “Old Tricks,” the witty, easy-rolling track from Rhett’s About A Woman (Deluxe). Originally recorded with Blake Shelton, the song’s latest iteration—out today via The Valory Music Co.—infuses a fresh, cross-genre energy that feels as effortless as the duo’s long-standing friendship.
Rhett and Horan’s chemistry translates seamlessly into sound. Where Rhett’s Southern charm once anchored the tongue-in-cheek ode to aging and ego, Horan’s signature pop smoothness lifts it with bright harmonies and renewed character. The collaboration emerged organically, sparked not by industry strategy but by genuine enthusiasm.
“Niall and I have been buddies for six or seven years now,” Rhett says. “We’d talked about doing something together for a long time, but I never imagined it would be this song. I was at the Masters this year when Niall told me he was mad I didn’t ask him to sing on it. He knew all the words—he was fired up. It just felt like a full-circle moment.”
That “moment” traces back to the song’s creators, Julian Bunetta and John Ryan, two of Horan’s longtime collaborators from his solo work and One Direction days. Horan, in fact, discovered “Old Tricks” by accident while visiting Bunetta in the studio.
“It came on and I was instantly hooked,” Horan recalls. “I told Thomas straight up I was gutted he didn’t ask me to jump on it. It’s a proper country song. Next thing I know, I’m in the studio laying vocals down—it felt easy, natural, like it was always meant to happen.”
The latest version leans into that spontaneity, keeping the original’s honky-tonk humor while adding a breezy camaraderie between the two artists. It’s a playful exchange of musical identities: Rhett’s grounded storytelling meets Horan’s melodic precision, proving that country and pop can coexist without compromise.
Beyond the duet, About A Woman (Deluxe) extends Rhett’s creative reach with nine new songs, from the retro soul-tinged “Ain’t A Bad Life” featuring Jordan Davis to the cinematic “On A River.” It caps off a banner year for the singer-songwriter, fresh off his Better in Boots Tour and a sold-out Fenway Park debut.
As for Niall Horan, his easy transition into country underscores a versatility fans have long recognized—one rooted not in reinvention but in genuine musical curiosity. No wonder, their version of “Old Tricks” feels less like a remake and more like a reunion: two worlds meeting halfway, one lyric at a time.
Fans can stream “Old Tricks” (with Niall Horan) and About A Woman (Deluxe) now on all platforms.
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