• 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.

Comments

More Songfacts:

What's Love Got To Do With ItTina Turner

Tina Turner hated "What's Love Got To Do With It" but when her manager convinced her to record it anyway, it became her big comeback hit.

Breakin'... There's No Stopping UsOllie & Jerry

Jean-Claude Van Damme was an extra in the video for Ollie & Jerry's "Breakin'... There's No Stopping Us." He can be seen at point dancing in the background.

Thinking Out LoudEd Sheeran

Ed Sheeran wrote the 2014 love song "Thinking Out Loud" about his girlfriend at the time, Athina Andrelos. They split the following year, and Ed started seeing Cherry Seaborn, whom he married in 2019; songs like "Perfect" and "No Strings" are about her.

ToxicBritney Spears

"Toxic" was the most-searched song on Google in 2004 and helped Spears become the most-searched artist that year, a title she held from 1999-2001.

Rocket ManElton John

Elton John's "Rocket Man" is based on a Ray Bradbury story called The Rocket Man published in 1951.

Theme From ShaftIsaac Hayes

When "Theme From Shaft" won an Oscar in 1972, Isaac Hayes became the first African American to win in the Best Song category.

Editor's Picks

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

Did They Really Sing In That Movie?Fact or Fiction

Bradley Cooper, Michael J. Fox, Rami Malek, Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow and George Clooney: Which actors really sang in their movies?

Linda PerrySongwriter Interviews

Songwriting Hall of Famer Linda Perry talks about her songs "What's Up" and "Beautiful," her songwriting process, and her move into film music.

Martin PageSongwriter Interviews

With Bernie Taupin, Martin co-wrote the #1 hits "We Built This City" and "These Dreams." After writing the Pretty Woman song for Go West, he had his own hit with "In the House of Stone and Light."

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)Songwriter Interviews

The former Metallica bassist talks about his first time writing a song with James Hetfield, and how a hand-me-down iPad has changed his songwriting.