In 2020, Nate Smith uploaded his song “Wildfire” to TikTok, and it spread like… well, you know. The viral hit inked him a deal with Sony. There, he has continued that success with songs like “World on Fire” and the Avril Lavigne collab “Bulletproof.” Landing a spot on Jason Aldean’s Full Throttle tour, the California native, 39, was looking forward to a summer packed with live performances. Unfortunately, Smith must hit pause on that for now.
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In a social media post Wednesday (June 4), the “Whiskey On You” crooner announced he is canceling the rest of his scheduled June shows amid vocal struggles. Per doctor’s orders, Smith is on “strict vocal rest” through the end of June.
“We’ve all come to the decision that the best way to get my voice fully back is to rest it for the first time in almost five years,” he wrote.
This includes Sunday’s (June 8) show at Michigan International Speedway. There, Smith was slated to lead a concert ahead of the FireKeepers Casino 400 NASCAR race as part of the Busch Light Summer Music Series.
Bailey Zimmerman, Dierks Bentley, and Others Show Support for Nate Smith
Clearly, Nate Smith did not make this decision lightly. The country crooner had “multiple bucket list shows” coming up this month, including a CMA Fest appearance.
“[It] breaks my heart knowing that I won’t be there to see all of you!” Smith wrote. “My commitment to everyone is to truly rest so I can get back out to do what I love more than anything.
Promising “absolute” recovery, he concluded, “I’ll be dreaming of the road until then.”
After Smith broke the disappointing news, support rolled in on his social media accounts. “Health is wealth,” wrote Bailey Zimmerman. “Get better bro.”
Added Dierks Bentley, “Sorry to hear dude. Hang in there.”
Christian crooner Brandon Lake, who recently scored a chart-topping hit with Jelly Roll, wrote that he is “praying for complete healing.”
According to his website, Smith will return to the stage July 3 at the Schuyler County Fair in Russellville, Illinois.
Featured image by Ozzie B/imageSPACE/Shutterstock
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