Conner Smith Artistfacts

September 6, 2000
Born and raised in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee, Conner Smith blends classic country storytelling with hints of bluegrass and '90s country influences.
His mother, Jennifer Vickery Smith, has worked as an entertainment reporter. Her exposure to the industry opened his eyes to the power of songwriting. "Most of her interviews were long-form discussion with songwriters," he told Billboard. "I remember sitting in her office as she edited her interviews, listening to people like Neil Thrasher, Craig Wiseman, Kelley Lovelace and Tom Douglas talk about how they wrote what they wrote, and how they got to where they were. That's where I really decided, 'All right - I want to do that.'"
Smith's parents gave him a pawn shop guitar for his fourth birthday, and he was soon performing for his 4-year-old friends. By the age of 6, he was already writing songs, and at 9, Smith signed with BMI as a writer.
He balanced high school life with baseball and honing his songwriting skills. In 2013, Smith's South Nashville team reached the Little League World Series. When he was asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, he said, "I want to be a songwriter."
In 2022, Smith's song "I Hate Alabama" became a viral sensation on TikTok, garnering millions of views and propelling him into the spotlight. His talent caught the attention of Big Machine Records' Valory label, leading to a record deal in late 2021.
He released his debut EP, Didn't Go Too Far, in 2022. It includes the hit singles "Learn from It," which broke into the top 40 of Billboard Country Airplay, and his first Gold single, "Take It Slow."
Conner Smith was involved in a tragic accident in Nashville on June 8, 2025. While driving a pickup truck, he struck and killed a 77-year-old woman, Dorothy Dobbins, who was crossing at a marked pedestrian crosswalk. Investigators determined that Smith failed to yield the right-of-way, though there were no signs of impairment.

Prosecutors in Davidson County, Tennessee, said in February 2026 that the failure-to-yield–resulting-in-fatality citation was dropped at the request of the family of Dorothy Dobbin.

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