Country music, meet your newest game-changer. Nick Smith is officially making his mark on the scene with the release of his debut album New South, and trust us when we say – this one’s about to be on repeat.
Officially out today (March 7), New South is more than just an album title. It’s a whole lifestyle, a movement, and a genre-bending revolution led by Nick himself, who’s redefining what it means to be a modern-day country artist. “‘New South’ means everything to me as a brand and subgenre in country music,” Nick tells Celeb Secrets exclusively. “It allows me to express my artistry without parameters. It allows me to make country music however the hell I want – and that’s country.”
Blending his rural Virginia roots with the sounds of Jason Aldean, Usher, Sam Hunt, and Eric Church, New South is 17 tracks of unapologetic self-expression. It’s a sonic intersection of country, pop, and R&B – all served with a side of Nick’s infectious positivity and real-life grit. Think sexy slow jams like “FM Waves,” heartfelt love notes like “Tellin’ You Now,” and emotional tributes like “To The Sky” and “Down The Road.”
“My past made me who I am. A past like mine makes a hard man with a big heart,” Nick reflects on his journey from cutting trees at 14, to a life-changing six months in jail, to cutting records in Nashville. “Close calls with death have made me appreciate life and health on a daily basis. Loss of freedom made me appreciate the small things, like even being able to work, eat when you want, sleep when you want, live how you want. All of these past experiences have helped shape the music and lyrics on my New South album.”
And when it comes to love? Yeah, that’s all over this record too. “My wife is a solid 50% of the inspiration for this album,” Nick gushes. “’FM Waves’ is because she’s so damn sexy, and ‘Tellin’ You Now’ is to make sure she knows how much I love her every day.”
From humble beginnings throwing hometown bonfire festivals (yes, using trees he cut himself) to having millions of streams and hundreds of thousands of social media fans, Nick’s career has been anything but ordinary.
“The most surreal moment so far was about a month ago when I was able to listen to my New South album for the first time as a finished product,” he shares. “I spent the last 18 years getting ripped off by music industry crooks, breakin’ my back, swinging through trees, doing my best not to die or cut my hand off – then all of a sudden, I’ve got my New South dreams right in my hands. It’s still hard to believe.”
But if you think Nick’s slowing down after New South, think again. “I’ve been putting together a show and plan to announce some venue dates real soon,” he teases. “I’d love to tour with some of my favorite artists too. We have several songs already finished for the next album, which I’m pretty excited about.”
And because we are Celeb Secrets, of course we had to get Nick to spill some fun facts:
- He wears a brand-new white Hanes T-shirt every single day and buys them in bulk.
- He used $14K in crumpled ones and fives from tip jar money to help buy his first home at 22.
- His favorite boots? Carolina boots. Same style for over 20 years – on stage and in the trees.
- His truck? A 2002 Silverado with 425K miles that’s still hauling tractors and leaking oil like it’s 2005.
- Oh, and New South? Fully produced in a little basement studio in Antioch, TN.
Honestly, it’s this authenticity and “work hard, dream big” attitude that make Nick Smith exactly what country music needs right now. Or, as he puts it, “New South’s mission is to bring positive, open-minded people together to promote the progressiveness of country music while maintaining the integrity of the culture. I hope listeners learn that no matter how big or small, all dreams are worth chasing.”
Consider us inspired – and obsessed.
Listen to New South below and don’t forget to let us know if you’re loving Nick Smith’s album by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecretscountry.
To learn more about Nick Smith, visit nicksmithcountry.com, and follow Smith on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
