The sweet message behind Thomas Rhett’s photo with daughter Willa

Country crooner Thomas Rhett recently posted an adorable photo of himself with his 3-year-old daughter, Willa Gray, on Instagram, and the story behind the snap is so sweet.

Rhett and his wife, Lauren Akins, adopted the toddler from Uganda in May 2017. On Dec. 7, Rhett shared a photo of daddy and daughter in matching pink bonnets. He wrote a tongue-in-cheek caption on the super-cute photo: “Just a little night cap.”

Some commenters pointed out that the photo was all the more endearing because it demonstrated Rhett’s commitment to embracing his daughter’s culture. The types of bonnets the two sported are typically worn at night to protect black hair from becoming damaged by friction against a pillowcase while the wearer sleeps.

“That is absolutely adorable! Thank you for sharing and understanding the need for that bonnet!! It is a necessary tool for black hair care,” wrote one commenter.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrG9Fk9g7AU/

“This is so awesome! Good on you for embracing your baby girl’s culture, therefore, making sure she can embrace herself too,” wrote another.

Rhett previously spoke out about how his daughter’s Ugandan roots have influenced her burgeoning personality. Just like her dad, she’s also showing a proclivity for music.

“In Uganda, family and religion are super important and music is gigantic,” Rhett told People in August 2018. “If I just pick up a guitar, Willa starts dancing. It’s in her blood.”

Rhett is also dad to 1-year-old Ada James, and says both of his children are “outdoor kids.”

“There really is something special when you connect your kids with nature,” he told the magazine. “It teaches them a sense of just how big the world is and how beautiful the world is.”

Check out this photo, posted to Instagram by Lauren, of the whole family out together for a hike in Colorado:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BksoklfFpA5/?utm_source=ig_embed

What a beautiful family!