Conner Smith Returns To The Stage For The First Time Since Fatal Nashville Accident

Conner Smith returned to the stage last night for the first time since his involvement in a tragic accident.

Smith, who is signed to Big Machine Records, is most prominently known as an artist who rose in the country music ranks thanks to TikTok. His song “I Hate Alabama” went viral a couple of years ago, and fans might also recognize his hit song “Creek Will Rise,” or his Tennessee anthem “Orange and White.” He also released his debut album Smoky Mountains in January 2024, and he’s since made plenty of appearances at various country music festivals.

On the last day of CMA Fest, a day after he played at the event’s Riverfront Stage, Conner Smith was involved in a tragic accident that took the life of a 77-year-old woman. Initial reports from TMZ suggested that country music singer Conner Smith was behind the wheel of a truck that struck and killed an elderly woman in Nashville. According to law enforcement, Smith was heading north on 3rd Avenue in his Chevy Silverado as 77-year-old Dorothy Dobbins was attempting to cross the street.

Nashville authorities reported that Dobbins – who was a local resident of Nashville – was in a marked crosswalk when she was tragically hit around 7:30 PM. First responders rushed to the scene following the incident, and the 77-year-old Nashvillian was transported to the nearby Vanderbilt Medical Center. She unfortunately succumbed to her injuries and was officially pronounced dead at the hospital.

Early reports suggested that Dorothy Dobbins had the right of way in the crosswalk, and that Smith failed to yield to her. The police say that Conner Smith did not show any signs of impairment immediately after the crash, nor was he using his cell phone as he was driving.

Over a month after the accident, Smith was issued a misdemeanor citation for failure to yield the right of way resulting in death. The charge is a Class A misdemeanor in Tennessee, meaning Smith could face up to a year in jail, a fine of up to $2,500, or both, though jail time in this case seems unlikely.

In a statement after the charges, Smith’s attorney Worrick Robinson IV (who, coincidentally, also represented Morgan Wallen in his chair-throwing charges last year), said that the country star remains cooperative and hopes to use the tragic accident as an opportunity to improve pedestrian safety:

“Conner is incredibly grateful to the MNPD for their time and efforts to carefully investigate this tragic accident and has continued to cooperate at all times. His thoughts remain with Ms. Dobbins’ family, and he remains committed to honoring her memory by supporting pedestrian safety efforts.”

Following the accident, Conner Smith dropped out of multiple shows that he was scheduled to play, including one at an Ohio music festival. Until last night, he hadn’t played since CMA Fest. But after taking the time he needed to get back in the right head space, the 24-year-old artist returned to music with a performance at the Grand Ole Opry.

Prior to stepping inside the circle, he released his thoughts in a message titled “The First Step,” which was posted onto a Conner Smith Storyteller’s Club page. As to why he titled his writing as “The First Step,” the young country artist explained that it felt like performing again was a move towards regaining normalcy:

“Back and forth. I write. I delete. I write again. I delete again. A man journeys to the top of a mountain. He comes back to the ground, and a man asks him, ‘What was the hardest part?’ ‘The first step,’ he speaks softly.

I guess that’s how I feel as I try to write to you in this moment. Every emotion in one swells within my mind. Knowing all attempts at words will fail, I set my expectations on simply taking that first step.”

Smith went on to say that he wasn’t sure if he’d ever play again following his involvement in the tragic accident that took the life of a Nashville resident. Nearly two months of soul searching – and prayer – led him to the decision to return to music.

He understandably isolated himself to get through and process what had happened:

“What was once routine is now a great contrast to the two months of hiddenness my heart has needed. Tonight, I am going to perform again, and the truth is, in the very first moments of tragedy, I found it hard to imagine ever stepping on a stage again.

The moment tragedy came, I knew that my heart had no way to process it. Surrounded by an incredible community, my wife, family, friends, pastors, for the first 30 days, I stayed isolated from the world. I spent most of my time with friends who had stopped by the house, or just me and Jesus. I turned off my phone, and the world, and simply guarded my mind, processing the pain with the people around me.”

Elsewhere in his open letter, the “Take It Slow” singer revealed that he was only able to work his way through the tragedy by getting closer to Jesus, and he states that the outpouring of kindness from the community that he felt was critical to him stepping on stage again.

Now, looking at life through a different lens, Conner Smith says he feels equipped to return to performing and making music:

“I’m grateful to get back to work, to rebuild a sense of normalcy, and to connect with each one of you on the road again. This feels like a new beginning in every way tonight. A restart, a second chance, an opportunity for purpose through the trials I’ve now known. My heart is filled with thankfulness because of that truth. The truth that I now get a chance to begin again, having seen the things that truly matter in life.”

And when it came time to play again, Conner Smith cued up the hymn “How Deep The Father’s Love For Us” during his time on the Grand Ole Opry Stage:

@tylerkohrsmusic #connersmith #stevencurtischapman #howdeepthefathersloveforus #countrymusic #worship #opry #opry100 #grandoleopry #nashville #fyp #foryou ♬ original sound – tylerkohrsmusic

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