[2] Born and raised in Paradise, California, Smith was introduced to performing music by his church youth leader and cites Garth Brooks, Tom Petty, and Fleetwood Mac as his early influences.
During this time, he opened for artists including Brett Eldredge, Eli Young Band, and X Ambassadors.
[4] After returning to Paradise, California, in 2018, Smith's home burned down in the Butte County Camp Fire.
News of the release was reported by local press and several national outlets including NPR, which encouraged Smith to return to Nashville and continue pursuing music.
A clip of the performer singing his track went viral on the social media platform TikTok, gaining over 3 million views.