American Idol alum Colin Stough proposes to McKenzie Rhett. The couple are engaged!
Colin Stough, the country singer who finished as first runner-up on American Idol 2023, has announced his engagement to girlfriend McKenzie Rhett. The news was shared on social media over the weekend with heartfelt photos and messages from the couple.
Posting on Instagram, Colin wrote: “Only God knew that a pretty little angel would end up with a tatted up cowpoke. I love you and this life with you and I can’t wait for the miles and the memories we will have to my best friend and my life partner.” The post included several images of the pair together, with McKenzie showing off her ring and the two posing beside saddled horses — a nod to Colin’s well-known love of horses and small-town roots.
McKenzie also shared photos from the proposal with a simple caption: “I love you Colin Stough! My best friend and lover for life. Let’s get married!” Her social media posts frequently feature travel, time with friends, and moments spent with Colin. She graduated from Heritage Academy, a private Christian school, in 2021, and her Instagram traces much of her life from family and friends to recent travels and outings with the singer. The couple first appeared together publicly in photos in September 2023.
Colin Stough gets ready to release his sophomore EP, Lookin’ For Home
Amid engagement celebrations, Colin is preparing to release his sophomore EP, Lookin’ For Home. The six-song collection is scheduled for release on July 12 through 19 Recordings and BMG Nashville. The project follows his debut EP, Promiseland, and continues to explore country-rock themes rooted in small-town life, love, heartbreak, and personal growth.
In a press statement, Colin described the EP as deeply personal: “Each one of these songs is a piece of my heart, and they outline trials and tribulations that I’ve been through personally. They’ve made me into who I am today.” He explained that the title Lookin’ For Home reflects a feeling of searching — an awareness that something is missing and the hope that what’s just over the horizon will bring belonging and peace.
Colin co-wrote every track on the EP, using his songwriting to examine the tension between tradition and ambition, the pull of small-town comfort, and the urge to make a mark beyond familiar borders. The lead single released ahead of the EP, “Sober,” addresses the aftermath of a painful breakup and showcases the raw, honest songwriting fans have come to expect from him.
Raised in Gattman, Mississippi, Colin began learning guitar at age eight and pursued music seriously by age ten, even trading childhood belongings for his first instrument at a local pawn shop. After high school he worked full-time as an HVAC technician, balancing day-to-day life with songwriting. It was at his mother’s encouragement that he auditioned for American Idol, a decision that propelled him into the national spotlight and helped launch his music career.
As he prepares to release Lookin’ For Home, Colin’s engagement marks a joyful chapter in both his personal life and professional journey. Fans can expect the EP to reflect his lived experiences: honest storytelling, country-rock energy, and the small-town sensibility that has defined his music since his earliest performances.
The couple’s engagement photos and Colin’s EP announcement together paint a picture of an artist who is balancing growing success with meaningful personal milestones. With marriage on the horizon and new music arriving in July, Colin Stough and McKenzie Rhett are entering a new season filled with creativity, commitment, and shared adventures.