Growing up in Nashville with an entertainment-journalist mother gave Conner Smith a very early and valuable education in the art and craft of country music. A songwriter since he was six, Smith was still in school when he signed his first publishing deal and found mentors in Ashley Gorley and Zach Crowell. It’s no wonder Smith demonstrated a warmth and wisdom far beyond his years on “Learn From It”, which became the then-21-year-old singer/songwriter’s debut single in 2021. The rollicking “I Hate Alabama” and the winsome “Why I Can’t Leave” further demonstrate his depth and versatility, along with an ability to create country songs that are steeped in tradition yet still feel fresh. Tours and appearances with Sam Hunt, Thomas Rhett and Ryan Hurd have given Smith many more opportunities to hone his skills.