Canaan Smith

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Canaan Smith
Birth nameCanaan Lee Smith[1]
Born (1982-08-24) August 24, 1982 (age 41)
Dillsboro, Indiana, U.S.
OriginNashville, Tennessee, U.S.
GenresCountry
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active2009–present
LabelsRound Here, AWAL, Mercury Nashville
Websitecanaansmith.com

Canaan Lee Smith (born August 24, 1982) is an American country music singer and songwriter signed with Round Here Records, an independent label founded by Florida Georgia Line. He has released two albums, Bronco in 2015 and High Country Sound in 2021. His second single, "Love You Like That", was a Number One hit on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. He was also a reality television contestant on the 15th season of The Amazing Race.[2]

Career[edit]

2009-2017: Mercury Nashville and Bronco[edit]

In 2009, Smith moved to Nashville, Tennessee, aspiring for a musical career and co-wrote the hit "Runaway" by country band Love and Theft[3] that made it to number 10 in the Billboard Hot Country Songs and 65 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2009.[4][5]

His debut single, "We Got Us", was released in January 2012 after being made available on iTunes starting December 24, 2011. The song was written by Stephen Barker Liles, Tommy Lee James, and Canaan Smith himself and produced by Brett Beavers and Luke Wooten.[6] It debuted at number 53 on the country music charts.[7] The music video, directed by Brian Lazarro, was broadcast on GAC making it to the "GAC Top 20 Ballot". Country Weekly magazine featured him in "Ones to Watch in 2012",[8] as did Roughstock.[6]

Smith returned to the studio in February 2012 to finish his debut album.[4] On July 21, 2014, Canaan Smith released his second single, titled "Love You Like That". The music video was released on Vevo on September 10, 2014.

In October 2014, Smith was featured as one of the "10 New Artists You Need To Know: Fall 2014" in Rolling Stone Country.[9]

On March 24, 2015, Smith released his self-titled EP.[10] The EP debuted at No. 16 on the Top Country Albums chart and at No. 97 on the Billboard 200, with 2,900 copies sold in the US for the week.[11][12] On June 23, Smith released his first full-length studio album, titled Bronco.[13] "Love You Like That" reached number one on the Country Airplay chart in July 2015,[14] and number 46 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single from the album, "Hole in a Bottle," was released in August.[15] In September, Smith announced his first headlining concert tour, the Stompin' Grounds Tour, with support from Russell Dickerson.[16]

In 2016, Smith appeared in the season four finale of Bar Rescue where he performed during the grand re-opening of The Gallopin' Goose.

2018-present: Round Here Records and Tree Vibez Music[edit]

In March 2018, Smith parted ways with his label Mercury Nashville. In May 2018, Smith then signed as a songwriter with publishing company Tree Vibez Music,[17] founded by Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley of Florida Georgia Line.

In February 2019, it was announced Smith would join Florida Georgia Line on their Can’t Say I Ain’t Country Tour on select dates alongside Dan + Shay, Morgan Wallen, and HARDY.[18] In August 2019, Smith signed with Round Here Records as their flagship artist,[19] and released a new track titled “Beer Drinking Weather”. The label was founded the same day by Hubbard and Kelley who also co-wrote the new track.

In June 2020, Smith released his first single to country radio in three years, "Colder Than You".[20] His second studio album, High Country Sound, was released on April 2, 2021.[21]

Personal life[edit]

Smith graduated from Lafayette High School in Williamsburg, Virginia[22] and then attended Belmont University in Nashville.[23]

Smith and his then-girlfriend, Mika Combs, were the sixth team to be eliminated in the 15th season of The Amazing Race.[24]

In March 2014, Smith became engaged to his girlfriend Christy Hardesty, and they married in August 2014. On September 27, 2019 they announced they are expecting their first child in November 2019. On October 31, 2019 they welcomed daughter Virginia Rose Smith.[25][26]

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

Title Album details Peak chart
positions
Sales
US Country
[27]
US
[28]
Bronco 4 29
High Country Sound
  • Release date: April 2, 2021
  • Label: Round Here Records / AWAL

Extended plays[edit]

Title Album details Peak chart
positions
Sales
US Country
[27]
US
[28]
Canaan Smith
  • Release date: March 24, 2015
  • Label: Mercury Nashville
16 97

Singles[edit]

Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications Sales Album
US Country Songs
[31]
US Country Airplay
[32]
US
[33]
CAN Country
[34]
CAN
[35]
2012 "We Got Us" 44 Non-album single
2014 "Love You Like That" 2 1 46 15 84 Bronco
2015 "Hole in a Bottle" 30 23 45
2017 "Like You That Way" 50 Non-album singles
"This Night Back"[39]
2020 "Colder Than You"[40] High Country Sound
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos[edit]

Year Video Director
2012 "We Got Us"[41]
2014 "Love You Like That"[42] Marc Klasfeld
2015 "Hole in a Bottle"[43] Chris Hicky
2019 "Beer Drinkin’ Weather"[44] Thomas Heney / Adam Romaine
"Country Boy Things"[45]
2020 "Colder Than You"[46] Kurt Ozan

References[edit]

  1. ^ Smith, Canaan Lee. "Songwriter/Composer: SMITH CANAAN LEE". Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI). Retrieved May 6, 2015.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ Dukes, Billy (December 12, 2011). "Canaan Smith, 'We Got Us' – Song Review". Taste of Country. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  3. ^ "Maniac Exchange "Nashville's Breakout Star- Canaan Smith"". Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  4. ^ a b "WZTV Fox 17: Artist to Watch - Canaan Smith". Archived from the original on February 19, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  5. ^ Billboard magazine: Page for "Runaway" by Love and Theft
  6. ^ a b Bjorke, Matt. "Single Review: Canaan Smith - We Got Us". Roughstock. Archived from the original on April 27, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  7. ^ "Billboard Country Music Charts". Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  8. ^ "Canaan Smith: News: Universal Music Nashville". Umgnashville.com.
  9. ^ "10 New Artists You Need To Know". Rollingstone.com. 2014. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  10. ^ Rebekah Bell (February 23, 2015). "Canaan Smith Announces Self-Titled EP". Taste of Country.
  11. ^ Bjorke, Matt (April 1, 2015). "Country Album Chart Report For April 1, 2015". Roughstock.
  12. ^ [1][permanent dead link]
  13. ^ "Canaan Smith Announces Debut Album, 'Bronco'". Radio.com. April 29, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  14. ^ "Country Charts: Canaan Smith Lands At No. 1, Video Spurs Steven Tyler Gain". Billboard. July 14, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  15. ^ "Canaan Smith, 'Hole in a Bottle' [Listen]". Taste of Country. August 31, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  16. ^ "Canaan Smith Embarking on First Headlining Tour". Taste of Country. September 18, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  17. ^ "Rising country hitmaker Canaan Smith signs to Tree Vibez Music". NashVegas.com. May 25, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
  18. ^ Konc, Riane. "Everything We Know About Florida Georgia Line's New Album, 'Can't Say I Ain't Country'". The Boot. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  19. ^ Reuter, Annie (August 15, 2019). "Florida Georgia Line Launch Round Here Records With Flagship Artist Canaan Smith: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
  20. ^ Ellwood-Hughes, Pip (June 9, 2020). "Canaan Smith debuts new track Colder Than You". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  21. ^ Ellwood-Hughes, Pip (March 19, 2021). "Canaan Smith To Release New Album 'High Country Sound' In April". Entertainment Focus.
  22. ^ "Canaan Smith, 'Love You Like That' [Listen]". Taste of Country. October 16, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  23. ^ "Canaan Smith Goes Way Back With FGL". Country 92.9. June 17, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  24. ^ Parks, Tim (October 26, 2009). "Mika Combs, Canaan Smith ('Amazing Race')". Digital Spy. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  25. ^ Krol, Jacklyn. "Canaan Smith and Wife Welcome First Child — a Surprise Baby Girl!". Taste of Country.
  26. ^ "Country Singer Canaan Smith and Wife Christy Expecting First Child: 'Best Moment of My Life'". PEOPLE.com.
  27. ^ a b "Canaan Smith - Country Albums". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
  28. ^ a b "Canaan Smith - Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
  29. ^ Bjorke, Matt (March 7, 2016). "The Country Albums Sales Chart: March 7, 2016". Roughstock.
  30. ^ Matt Bjorke (May 20, 2015). "Country Album Chart Report For May 20, 2015". Roughstock. Sales figure given here
  31. ^ "Canaan Smith - Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
  32. ^ "Canaan Smith - Country Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
  33. ^ "Canaan Smith - Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
  34. ^ "Canaan Smith - Canada Country". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
  35. ^ "Canaan Smith - Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
  36. ^ "American single certifications – Canaan Smith – Love You Like That". Recording Industry Association of America.
  37. ^ Matt Bjorke (August 18, 2015). "The Top 30 Digital Country Singles: August 18, 2015". Sales figure given here
  38. ^ Bjorke, Matt (May 18, 2016). "Top 30 Digital Country Singles Report: May 18, 2016". Roughstock.
  39. ^ "This Night Back". iTunes Store. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  40. ^ "CANAAN SMITH – COLDER THAN YOU". Daily PlayMPE. May 19, 2020.
  41. ^ "'We Got Us' video". YouTube. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  42. ^ "'Love You Like That' video". CMT. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  43. ^ "CMT : Videos : Canaan Smith : Hole in a Bottle". Country Music Television. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  44. ^ Bonaguro, Alison (August 17, 2019). "Drinking Games and Bus Hangs Star in Canaan Smith's New Video". Country Music Television.
  45. ^ "Country Boy Things". YouTube. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  46. ^ Parton, Chris (October 2, 2020). "Canaan Smith Turns Tears Into Beers in 'Colder Than You' Video". Sounds Like Nashville. Retrieved October 4, 2020.

External links[edit]