Thomas Rhett and Niall Horan Join Forces for a Surprise Collaboration on “Old Tricks”
Country superstar Thomas Rhett just dropped a collaboration fans didn’t see coming — teaming up with Niall Horan for a brand-new take on his song “Old Tricks.” The track, originally recorded with Blake Shelton for Rhett’s About A Woman (Deluxe) album, now gets a fresh, genre-blending twist thanks to Horan’s smooth vocals and undeniable charm.
How the Collaboration Came to Be
The unexpected pairing began with a little friendly banter and a lot of mutual admiration. Earlier this month, Horan posted a TikTok of himself strumming “Old Tricks” on acoustic guitar, writing, “Love this song by my pal Thomas Rhett and my Voice dad, Blake Shelton.”
Not long after, he followed up with another post, jokingly asking, “Heard Thomas Rhett hosted a Blake Shelton lookalike contest. Is it too late to audition?”
Then came the big reveal — a playful text exchange between Rhett, Horan, and Shelton that officially announced the new version.
“Since you weren’t available to shoot content for our song,” Rhett teased Shelton, “I found a great replacement.”
Horan chimed in:
“Blake! Did you hear TR and I have a song coming out together?”
To which Shelton hilariously responded,
“Let me get this straight… first you steal my last chance at a win on The Voice, and now you’re stealing my song? Unbelievable.”
A Full-Circle Moment
As it turns out, this collaboration has been years in the making. Rhett explained that he and Horan have been friends for six or seven years, often catching up whenever they’re in the same city.
“Anytime I’m over in the UK or he’s in Nashville, we always try to link up,” Rhett said. “We’d talked about doing something together for a long time, but I never imagined it would be this song.”
@thomasrhett Couldn’t say no to this. Old Tricks with @Niall Horan ♬ Old Tricks – Thomas Rhett & Niall Horan
The moment of inspiration came earlier this year when Rhett was at the Masters golf tournament with Horan and Noah Kahan.
“Out of nowhere, Niall goes, ‘I’m so mad you didn’t ask me to sing on Old Tricks.’ I said, ‘Man, you were the last person I would’ve thought would even like this one!’ He kept texting me about it and knew all the words,” Rhett recalled. “With how fired up he was — and his connection with Blake — it just felt right. I’m pumped it’s finally out there.”
Niall Horan’s Country Moment
For Horan, the collaboration was an easy yes.
“I actually heard Old Tricks by accident when I was in the studio with my producer, Julian Bunetta,” Horan said. “It came on and I was instantly hooked. I told Thomas Rhett straight up I was gutted he didn’t ask me to jump on it. Next thing I know, I’m in the studio laying vocals down. It felt easy, natural — like it was always meant to happen.”
The Irish singer even swapped out a few lyrics to make the story more personal. For example, Rhett’s original line “Huntin’ with the boys is a business trip” becomes Horan’s “Golfin’ with the boys is a business trip.”
Same Story, Fresh Sound
Written by Thomas Rhett, Andrew Haas, Ian Franzino, Jim Beavers, John Ryan, and Julian Bunetta, “Old Tricks” is a laid-back, two-stepping tune about growing older and realizing that the “moves” that once worked in your twenties don’t quite land the same anymore.
The new version keeps the heart of the original while blending Rhett’s southern warmth with Horan’s pop-country crossover appeal. Their harmonies give the song a renewed energy that’s both nostalgic and modern.
What’s Next for Thomas Rhett
With the release of About A Woman (Deluxe) — which adds nine new tracks to the original album — Rhett closes out a massive year that included his Better In Boots Tour. He’s now taking some well-earned downtime before heading overseas in 2026 to join Luke Combs as a supporting act on the My Kinda Saturday Night Tour.
A Collaboration Fans Didn’t Know They Needed
What started as a joke between friends turned into one of the most fun and unexpected country collaborations of the year.
With Rhett’s storytelling and Horan’s charm, “Old Tricks” bridges two worlds effortlessly — proving that when genuine friendship meets great music, genre lines disappear, and all that’s left is one hell of a song.