Follows Smith’s Three-Week No. 1 “Creek Will Rise,” Marking the First-Ever Song to Top
the UK Country Radio Airplay Chart
Rising Singer/Songwriter Earns His first ACM Awards Nomination for
New Male Artist of the Year – Watch Smith’s Reaction Here
NASHVILLE, TN (April 9, 2024) – Showcasing his skill with song craft, ACM Awards New Male Artist of the Yearnominee CONNER SMITH enlists reigning ACM Awards New Female Artist of the Year HAILEY WHITTERS for new single “Roulette On the Heart” (The Valory Music Co.). Co-written by Smith with Jessi Alexander, Chase McGill and Mark Trussell, the tune features a weary Dobro and woozy sway as the pair sings of a gamble they know could end in devastation but is still worth the risk. Directed by his brother and creative director Cooper Smith, watch the official music video for “Roulette On The Heart” here.
“From the moment I wrote ‘Roulette On The Heart,’ it felt like finding a new level as a songwriter and having Hailey Whitters believe in this song alongside me only took it to another level,” shared Smith. “This song feels like it could live for a long time.”
Whitters added, “I first heard ‘Roulette On The Heart’ while playing radio shows with Conner Smith, and was so honored when he asked me to sing on the song. I love how realistically the song captures the intoxicating and sometimes toxic feelings of being in a complicated relationship.”
“Roulette On The Heart” is Smith’s latest offering from his critically-acclaimed album SMOKY MOUNTAINS (The Valory Music Co.) released earlier this year. His full-length debut effort has already garnered a viral smash “I Hate Alabama,” GOLD-certified hit “Take It Slow” and three-week chart-topper “Creek Will Rise” – becoming the first-ever song to claim the No. 1 spot on the UK Country Radio Airplay chart and Smith’s first ascend to the top of the charts. These milestones and more, helped pave the way for Smith to earn his first ACM Awards nomination for New Male Artist of the Year this morning (4/9), just days before he weds his fiancé, Leah Thompson. Amid wedding festivities, Smith took a moment to share his excitement and gratitude on social media, watch his reaction here.
Recently touring alongside some of Country’s biggest artists including Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell, Chase Rice and Jordan Davis, plus wrapping his own headline CREEK WILL RISE TOUR, the “future entertainer of the year” (Morning Hangover) brings his signature “high energy fan forward show” (All Country News) to fairs and festivals this summer. For a full list of tour dates and more, visit ConnerSmithMusic.com.
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ABOUT CONNER SMITH: Just 23 years old and already a seasoned veteran of Nashville’s elite songwriting community, Conner Smith has emerged as one of Country’s most hotly-anticipated artists – one knows the past can still inspire the present, and good things come to those who wait. An uncommon talent mixing prime-of-life passion with old-soul perspective, the rising singer/songwriter has spent 15 years matching a honeyed vocal to propulsive hints of bluegrass and the warmth of ‘90s Country, an instant-classic sound infused with riveting modern appeal. Moving Country forward while remembering its all-natural roots, Smith’s critically-acclaimed full-length debut album SMOKY MOUNTAINS (The Valory Music Co.) is meant to stand the test of time. Featuring GOLD-certified “Take It Slow,” viral hit “I Hate Alabama,” multi-week UK chart-topper “Creek Will Rise” and new single “Roulette On The Heart” featuring Hailey Whitters, his deeply personal 12-song project is one of classic style and contemporary spirit, and a reflection of the artist himself. These songs, among others, laid an artistic foundation that earned Smith 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 secured 2023 recognition from MusicRow Next Big Thing and CMT Listen Up as well as joining the CRS New Faces Class of 2024. These milestones led Smith to earn his first-ever ACM Awards nomination for New Male Artist of the Year ahead of the 59th Annual show streaming live Thursday, May 16 at 8:00P ET/7:00P CT/5:00P PT on Prime Video. Deemed “an unstoppable force to be reckoned with” by CMT, Smith’s authentic storytelling and rich, soulful voice has resonated with audiences nationwide, earning him a dedicated and passionate following. Recently touring alongside some of Country’s biggest artists including Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell, Chase Rice and Jordan Davis, plus wrapping his own headline CREEK WILL RISE TOUR, the “future entertainer of the year” (Morning Hangover) brings his signature “high energy fan forward show” (All Country News) to fairs and festivals this summer. For a full list of tour dates and more, visit ConnerSmithMusic.com.
ABOUT HAILEY WHITTERS: Over the past year, Hailey Whitters’ career has continued to skyrocket as she took home the ACM Award for New Female Artist of the Year and was nominated for New Artist of the Year at CMA Awards. Last year alone, she made her night TV debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, soon followed by performances on The Kelly Clarkson Show, NBC’s Today, and a performance of her hit single “Everything She Ain’t” at the ACM Awards. The breakthrough single appeared on her album Raised, which, like her 2020 album The Dream, appeared on over 15 year-end best-of lists, and was named Rolling Stone’s #1 country album of the year. “Everything She Ain’t” marked multiple firsts for the Iowa-born artist including her first-ever top 20 single at country radio, appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 and RIAA Platinum certification. The song has been played over 175 million times on TikTok, inspiring multiple trends on the platform. Last year, Whitters mounted a headline tour in support of Raised, followed by tours with Shania Twain, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church and Luke Bryan. Last summer, Whitters followed her critically-acclaimed album Raised with a brand new-six song EP I’m In Love, tapping into her ‘90s country influences while exploring relationships, heartbreak and finding love. In 2024, Whitters will hit the road for her headline Cant Tie’r Down Tour before tours with Dan + Shay and Luke Combs. As in years past, Whitters will perform at a slew of music festivals throughout the year including Stagecoach, Railbird Music Festival, Carolina Country Music Festival, Barefoot Country Music Festival and Golden Sky Music Festival.
