Gary’s Musings
Here's What We Know
Country Music Prodigy Conner Smith
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Country Music Prodigy Conner Smith

This week's guest is Conner Smith, a Country Music prodigy. At just 22 years old, he's experienced things people who have been chasing their dreams in Nashville for decades haven't been able to experience. He talked about buying a ticket to every one of Thomas Rhett's headlining concerts, and about how he doesn't have to do that -- because he's performing at them!

He also has a song called "I Hate Alabama." You're going to want to hear the story behind that one.

Also in this episode:

  • Living out childhood dreams

  • Telling stories through song

  • What he has in common with Michael Jackson

  • Meeting your heroes

  • Being a new artist on the radio

  • College Football

  • “Take it slow” song with Ryan Hurd

  • The example of older stars

  • The impact of social media

This episode is sponsored by:
Reed Animal Clinic

About Conner:
Just 22 years old and already a seasoned veteran of Nashville’s elite songwriting community, Conner Smith has become one of Country’s most hotly-anticipated new artists – an uncommon talent mixing prime-of-life passion with old-soul perspective. After penning his first song at 6 and scoring a publishing deal at 16, the Country prodigy wrote five of the six songs on his Zach Crowell-produced 2022 debut collection DIDN’T GO TOO FAR (The Valory Music Co.). The charismatic effort laid an artistic foundation that earned Smith 2022 Artist to Watch status from Spotify, Amazon Music, and Opry NextStage, while also making him the only Country artist on Pandora’s Ten List 2022 and securing 2023 recognition from MusicRow Next Big Thing, CMT Listen Up, and more. Often hiding deep-thinking themes in plain sight, Smith scored his first Top 40 hit with the young-at-heart “Learn From It” and followed up with love-savoring “Take It Slow,” which quickly racked up nearly 100 million global streams to date. Tracks like “I Hate Alabama,” “Orange and White,” and “Summer On Your Lips” are my unexpected insight from vivid everyday stories. As Smith grows up in full view of his fans – both on the page and the stage – CMT calls him “an unstoppable force to be reckoned with.” That momentum will keep building in 2023. Smith follows a year of touring alongside Thomas Rhett, Parker McCollum, and Ryan Hurd with upcoming select dates opening for Chase Rice and promises a new batch of “next level” music, further mixing in-the-moment energy with timeless meaning. Smith is currently on the road for his first-ever headline IF I WENT TO COLLEGE TOUR with special guests Mackenzie Carpenter and Jonathan Hutcherson, presented by the Monster Energy Outbreak tour, and joins Luke Bryan’s COUNTRY ON TOUR this summer.

https://www.connersmithmusic.com/

www.GaryScottThomas.com

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Gary’s Musings
Here's What We Know
As the morning show host for KRTY.com (Country Music radio) and the host of the podcast Here's What We Know, Gary brings entertainment, insightful and touching interviews, and invites to into the community.