Nate Smith.Photo: Chris Ashlee01of 07Nate and the CORE Entertainment Management TeamNate Smith.Chris Ashlee"My management team signed me right when I got to Nashville when I literally had nothing going on, so they were there along with people from my record label and my publishing team. And then, some of the Opry staff were there and believe me when I say they are absolutely world-class human beings. They truly made me feel comfortable in every single way. I’m just glad that everybody was there in those moments leading up to my Opry debut. It really put me at ease.“02of 07Smiling From AboveNate Smith.Chris Ashlee"It truly meant the world to me to walk under that awning. I wouldn’t even have known much about country music if it wasn’t for my grandparents. They passed a few years back, but they really showed me what country music was all about. I really felt like they were smiling down on me at that exact moment.“03of 07An Emotional MomentNate Smith.Chris Ashlee"When you’re back there getting ready to do soundcheck, they bring you out, so you have an opportunity to step into the circle or not step into the circle before your performance. Well, I listened to my heart, and I decided to step in and get comfortable. And I’m glad I did. There’s a creak that I heard when I stepped in the circle, and it was just a really emotional moment. It definitely brought tears to my eyes.“04of 07In Good CompanyNate Smith.Chris Ashlee"I was so nervous. I don’t even know if nervous is the right word. I was scared to death. But as soon as I walked out there, I saw my mom and dad and I thought to myself, ‘OK, I’m good. I’m in good company.’ And then I started singing, and it just meant so much that my family was there. It was like a family reunion. That’s what meant the most…to see the people I love all in one place.“05of 07Good FriendsNate Smith and Tenille Townes.Chris Ashlee"Tenille Townes brought me back up on stage to do the duet version we put out of ‘I Don’t Wanna Go to Heaven.’ I was really nervous before I came out, so she ended up using some reverse psychology on me, where she was telling me it was just a normal stage and there was nothing to be worried about. So, I went out there, I came back, and she was like, ‘That is not just a stage. I had to trick to make you think it was going to be OK.’ (Laughs.) She’s a good friend. She really is.“06of 07For Loved OnesNate Smith.Chris Ashlee"I dedicated my entire set to my grandparents. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have known about the Grand Ole Opry. Performing on that stage was the biggest honor of my entire life. I can’t even begin to describe how thankful I am.“07of 07A SouvenirNate Smith.Chris Ashlee"I’m looking at that sign right now. (Laughs.) Actually, I’m going to hang it up in my recording studio, so I have something special to look at to remind me of that night.”
Nate Smith.Photo: Chris Ashlee
01of 07Nate and the CORE Entertainment Management TeamNate Smith.Chris Ashlee"My management team signed me right when I got to Nashville when I literally had nothing going on, so they were there along with people from my record label and my publishing team. And then, some of the Opry staff were there and believe me when I say they are absolutely world-class human beings. They truly made me feel comfortable in every single way. I’m just glad that everybody was there in those moments leading up to my Opry debut. It really put me at ease.“02of 07Smiling From AboveNate Smith.Chris Ashlee"It truly meant the world to me to walk under that awning. I wouldn’t even have known much about country music if it wasn’t for my grandparents. They passed a few years back, but they really showed me what country music was all about. I really felt like they were smiling down on me at that exact moment.“03of 07An Emotional MomentNate Smith.Chris Ashlee"When you’re back there getting ready to do soundcheck, they bring you out, so you have an opportunity to step into the circle or not step into the circle before your performance. Well, I listened to my heart, and I decided to step in and get comfortable. And I’m glad I did. There’s a creak that I heard when I stepped in the circle, and it was just a really emotional moment. It definitely brought tears to my eyes.“04of 07In Good CompanyNate Smith.Chris Ashlee"I was so nervous. I don’t even know if nervous is the right word. I was scared to death. But as soon as I walked out there, I saw my mom and dad and I thought to myself, ‘OK, I’m good. I’m in good company.’ And then I started singing, and it just meant so much that my family was there. It was like a family reunion. That’s what meant the most…to see the people I love all in one place.“05of 07Good FriendsNate Smith and Tenille Townes.Chris Ashlee"Tenille Townes brought me back up on stage to do the duet version we put out of ‘I Don’t Wanna Go to Heaven.’ I was really nervous before I came out, so she ended up using some reverse psychology on me, where she was telling me it was just a normal stage and there was nothing to be worried about. So, I went out there, I came back, and she was like, ‘That is not just a stage. I had to trick to make you think it was going to be OK.’ (Laughs.) She’s a good friend. She really is.“06of 07For Loved OnesNate Smith.Chris Ashlee"I dedicated my entire set to my grandparents. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have known about the Grand Ole Opry. Performing on that stage was the biggest honor of my entire life. I can’t even begin to describe how thankful I am.“07of 07A SouvenirNate Smith.Chris Ashlee"I’m looking at that sign right now. (Laughs.) Actually, I’m going to hang it up in my recording studio, so I have something special to look at to remind me of that night.”
01of 07Nate and the CORE Entertainment Management TeamNate Smith.Chris Ashlee"My management team signed me right when I got to Nashville when I literally had nothing going on, so they were there along with people from my record label and my publishing team. And then, some of the Opry staff were there and believe me when I say they are absolutely world-class human beings. They truly made me feel comfortable in every single way. I’m just glad that everybody was there in those moments leading up to my Opry debut. It really put me at ease.”
01of 07
Nate and the CORE Entertainment Management Team
Nate Smith.Chris Ashlee
“My management team signed me right when I got to Nashville when I literally had nothing going on, so they were there along with people from my record label and my publishing team. And then, some of the Opry staff were there and believe me when I say they are absolutely world-class human beings. They truly made me feel comfortable in every single way. I’m just glad that everybody was there in those moments leading up to my Opry debut. It really put me at ease.”
02of 07Smiling From AboveNate Smith.Chris Ashlee"It truly meant the world to me to walk under that awning. I wouldn’t even have known much about country music if it wasn’t for my grandparents. They passed a few years back, but they really showed me what country music was all about. I really felt like they were smiling down on me at that exact moment.”
02of 07
Smiling From Above
“It truly meant the world to me to walk under that awning. I wouldn’t even have known much about country music if it wasn’t for my grandparents. They passed a few years back, but they really showed me what country music was all about. I really felt like they were smiling down on me at that exact moment.”
03of 07An Emotional MomentNate Smith.Chris Ashlee"When you’re back there getting ready to do soundcheck, they bring you out, so you have an opportunity to step into the circle or not step into the circle before your performance. Well, I listened to my heart, and I decided to step in and get comfortable. And I’m glad I did. There’s a creak that I heard when I stepped in the circle, and it was just a really emotional moment. It definitely brought tears to my eyes.”
03of 07
An Emotional Moment
“When you’re back there getting ready to do soundcheck, they bring you out, so you have an opportunity to step into the circle or not step into the circle before your performance. Well, I listened to my heart, and I decided to step in and get comfortable. And I’m glad I did. There’s a creak that I heard when I stepped in the circle, and it was just a really emotional moment. It definitely brought tears to my eyes.”
04of 07In Good CompanyNate Smith.Chris Ashlee"I was so nervous. I don’t even know if nervous is the right word. I was scared to death. But as soon as I walked out there, I saw my mom and dad and I thought to myself, ‘OK, I’m good. I’m in good company.’ And then I started singing, and it just meant so much that my family was there. It was like a family reunion. That’s what meant the most…to see the people I love all in one place.”
04of 07
In Good Company
“I was so nervous. I don’t even know if nervous is the right word. I was scared to death. But as soon as I walked out there, I saw my mom and dad and I thought to myself, ‘OK, I’m good. I’m in good company.’ And then I started singing, and it just meant so much that my family was there. It was like a family reunion. That’s what meant the most…to see the people I love all in one place.”
05of 07Good FriendsNate Smith and Tenille Townes.Chris Ashlee"Tenille Townes brought me back up on stage to do the duet version we put out of ‘I Don’t Wanna Go to Heaven.’ I was really nervous before I came out, so she ended up using some reverse psychology on me, where she was telling me it was just a normal stage and there was nothing to be worried about. So, I went out there, I came back, and she was like, ‘That is not just a stage. I had to trick to make you think it was going to be OK.’ (Laughs.) She’s a good friend. She really is.”
05of 07
Good Friends
Nate Smith and Tenille Townes.Chris Ashlee
“Tenille Townes brought me back up on stage to do the duet version we put out of ‘I Don’t Wanna Go to Heaven.’ I was really nervous before I came out, so she ended up using some reverse psychology on me, where she was telling me it was just a normal stage and there was nothing to be worried about. So, I went out there, I came back, and she was like, ‘That is not just a stage. I had to trick to make you think it was going to be OK.’ (Laughs.) She’s a good friend. She really is.”
06of 07For Loved OnesNate Smith.Chris Ashlee"I dedicated my entire set to my grandparents. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have known about the Grand Ole Opry. Performing on that stage was the biggest honor of my entire life. I can’t even begin to describe how thankful I am.”
06of 07
For Loved Ones
“I dedicated my entire set to my grandparents. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have known about the Grand Ole Opry. Performing on that stage was the biggest honor of my entire life. I can’t even begin to describe how thankful I am.”
07of 07A SouvenirNate Smith.Chris Ashlee"I’m looking at that sign right now. (Laughs.) Actually, I’m going to hang it up in my recording studio, so I have something special to look at to remind me of that night.”
07of 07
A Souvenir
“I’m looking at that sign right now. (Laughs.) Actually, I’m going to hang it up in my recording studio, so I have something special to look at to remind me of that night.”
source: people.com
