With No. 1 hits like “Crash and Burn,” “Die a Happy Man” and “Craving You,” Thomas Rhett’s musical portfolio is sonically diversified, which has helped him earn CMA and ACM Awards, as well as Grammy nominations. But with aspirations of taking over the musical world—like his pop hero Ed Sheeran—TR told Kix Brooks of American Country Countdown that a multifaceted attack is essential.

“As an artist, I think we always love being challenged in so many different ways,” says Thomas Rhett. “And there’s so many artist these days that are doing it all. I look at somebody like Ed Sheeran as a huge inspiration and a hero to me because that guy goes out and sells out stadiums and he plays acoustic. He produces all of his own records. He writes all of his own songs. He did a guest role in Game of Thrones. I think, nowadays, as an artist, it’s tough to be only a one-dimensional artist.”

Thomas Rhett has already made multidimensional strides, including: his 2017 album, Life Changes, which debuted atop the all-genre Billboard 200 chart; his face has been on boxes of Cheerios as a spokesman for Outnumber Hunger; and he’s designed a clothing line for an L.A. pop-up store.

“You’ve gotta be willing and able to do so many different things as an artist ’cause people want to see a multifaceted artist,” says TR. “Somebody who can play multiple instruments. Somebody who can also act a little bit. Somebody who is gonna do some sort of clothing line or liquor line or whatever that may be, and I think that you’re just kind of an all-around entertainer, if you will, and I think you’re gonna have to put on that hat these days to be globally successful.”

TR recently capped the May leg of his Life Changes Tour, which will kick back up in September. TR will open a number of summer dates on Kenny Chesney’s Trip Around the Sun Tour, starting on May 26 in Atlanta.