Just 23 years old and already a seasoned veteran of Nashville’s elite songwriting community, Conner Smith has emerged as one of Country’s most hotly-anticipated new artists. An uncommon talent mixing prime-of-life passion with old-soul perspective, the young singer-songwriter has spent 15 years matching a honeyed vocal to propulsive hints of bluegrass and the warmth of ‘90s Country, an instant-classic sound infused with riveting modern appeal.
After a fateful night at the Grand Ole Opry, a six-year-old Smith set out to tell stories in their image – down to Earth and relatable, but intelligent, too. Smith went on to sign as a BMI songwriter at 9 and inked his first publishing deal at 16. Eventually he caught the attention of a neighbor – who happened to be GRAMMY® Award-winning producer/songwriter Zach Crowell (Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Sam Hunt, Jelly Roll) – and together the pair began honing Smith’s unique style: Rooted in the simple-yet-sophisticated writing he was drawn to as a kid … but with the energy driving Country’s cutting edge.
2021 brought Smith a Top 40 breakout in “Learn From It,” with the viral hit “I Hate Alabama” and GOLD-certified “Take It Slow” close behind, capturing his creative spirit – and helping move him into the foothills of his SMOKY MOUNTAINS destination. Hailed as an Artist to Watch by Spotify, Amazon Music, the Grand Ole Opry and more, he hit the road with Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell and more, and began headlining his own eclectic shows as well. Then in 2023, “Creek Will Rise” hit like a flash flood – all fiddle and forward momentum – becoming the “trigger” for things to come. The track set the tone for what SMOKY MOUNTAINS became, as Smith found his modern-traditional mark.
Meanwhile, heartfelt lyrics find a natural habitat within Smith’s easy vocal – crisp and satisfying as an untouched mountain spring, yet laid back and featuring a delicate rasp. To him, the album represents years of creative patience (and persistence), and “Smoky Mountains” is its pulse. True to life and beginning with the serene sounds of nature, it’s a title track invoking the front-porch jam sessions of days gone by – and the tension at Smith’s core. Old versus new. Comforting but charismatic. The call of adventure, and a longing for home.
