The song is the lead-off single from his seventh studio album, American Saturday Night, which was released via Arista Nashville on June 30, 2009.

It is one of Paisley's four songs certified 2× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, the others being "She's Everything", "Whiskey Lullaby", and "Remind Me".

[2] Leeann Ward of Country Universe gave it a B− rating, saying that it was largely cliché but adding that it was "an admirable enough sentiment with an inoffensive production, but it’s not at all impressive coming from an artist with so many years of songwriting experience behind him.

Thanki's review criticized the song for lacking lyrical depth, and called it "a bland collection of memories and observations about an anonymous girl who is now Paisley’s whole life and world.

"[4] As listed in liner notes[5] "Then" debuted at number 26 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts dated for the week of April 4, 2009.