Conner Smith Shares How Debut Album “Smoky Mountains” Was A Lesson In Patience (Exclusive)

January 26, 2024

Photo Credit: Luke Hutcherson

Conner Smith has come a long way, and he’s proving to be country music’s next big thing with the release of his long-awaited debut album today (January 26th).

Smoky Mountains conjures up the Nashville-born singer/songwriter’s life up until now for his introductory project. His roots are explored, his love life, and everything in between during his 23 years of life. When listening to this record top to bottom, Smith recalls one memory. He describes this one particular day as the perfect “setting” for the debut project.

“One of my best friends from high school – still one of my best friends today – we were up in the Smoky Mountains, one time up in Townsend, Tennessee, up riding in my truck and we were driving around one afternoon, and we turned on Kip Moore’s Up All Night record, and we listened to it top to bottom,” Smith tells Celeb Secrets writer Brianna Vacca in a media session.

He continues, “It’s become one of my favorite records of all time. We were driving around listening to this album in the Smoky Mountains and every song just hit. So me and him have this inside joke and I was like, ‘Man, I gotta make a Kip Moore Up All Night, Townsend, TN record. So I have that memory in the Smoky Mountains and obviously that correlates with this record. So getting in my truck, grabbing a couple buddies, and listening with the windows down. Brings me back to that feeling.”

My debut record, "Smoky Mountains”, is out now 🏔️

This album is a journey through my roots and a tribute to the place that shaped me. I've poured my soul into these tracks, and I hope they resonate with you as much as they do with me.https://t.co/oj34fj4yrV pic.twitter.com/keboeItCQP

— Conner Smith (@ConnerVSmith) January 26, 2024

The album features a number of previously released songs from Smith including viral hit “I Hate Alabama”, “Take It Slow”, “Smoky Mountains”, “Creek Will Rise” and “Meanwhile In Carolina”. He’s listed as a songwriter on all but one of the twelve tracks, and the album enlists the help of some other prominent songwriters including Zach Crowell, Jessi Alexander, Ryan Hurd, Devin Dawson, Drew Green, Mark Trussell, Hunter Phelps and more.

One of the biggest lessons that Smith has learned along the way? Good things take time.

“I’ve learned that some things just take time,” spills Smith. “You can’t rush that process. You can’t rush figuring out what you’re supposed to say, what you’re supposed to write. There was very much a journey over the last few years figuring out who I am as a songwriter and as an artist.”

He continues, “Like, ‘When an album comes out by Conner Smith, what does that sound like?’ And how do I do that that’s honest and not trying to chase what is current. It’s very honest to how I write country music. I think the patience of that is a thing that I learned. I know the work that went into it, and how many bad songs that I wrote and how many roads I chased down that we’re just terrible. The patience of creativity was a big thing for me.”

The “Creek Will Rise” singer has a few more dates on the books with singer + songwriter Eli Winders, and a few solo dates, including Toronto, ON and North Myrtle Beach, SC. For a full list of tour dates and more, check out ConnerSmithMusic.com.

To keep up with Conner Smith, follow @connersmithmusic on Instagram, @connervsmith on X and @connersmith on TikTok.

Don’t forget to let us know what you think of Conner’s new album by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sending us a DM at @celebsecrets on Instagram.