Nate Smith: He Drove to Nashville With $14… Now He Has 4 #1 Songs | DSH #1812

Summary

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Digital Social Hour with Nate Smith: "He Drove to Nashville With $14… Now He Has 4 #1 Songs" | DSH #1812

Date: February 5, 2026
Host: Sean Kelly
Guest: Nate Smith, country music artist

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Episode Overview

This episode features country music star Nate Smith, known for his humble beginnings and recent meteoric rise, boasting four #1 songs. Host Sean Kelly and Nate discuss the remarkable journey from working as a CNA and losing everything in the Paradise fire, to betting it all on a second shot in Nashville with only $14 in his bank account. The conversation traverses music, family, mental health, authenticity, and the risks and rewards of speaking boldly in the public sphere.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nate’s Humble Beginnings & Family Support

• Nate recounts his journey from working as a certified nurse assistant to making music, underscoring how his family's support kept him going when others doubted his dreams.
  • "My family's been really like, you got this the whole way." (01:07 – Nate Smith)

2. The Turning Point: Paradise Fire and a New Purpose

• Nate explains how losing everything in the Paradise, CA fire forced a life reset, inspiring the song "One of These Days" and shifting his perspective on music as service, not self.
  • "I lost my apartment and everything that I've owned... Wrote a song called ‘One of These Days’ for Paradise and just posted it online... It ended up touching a lot of people and gave me kind of a new focus of why I would ever want to make music again and not make it about me." (01:52–02:46 – Nate Smith)

3. The Cross-country Leap: $14 and a Dream

• Sharing the dramatic details of his move to Nashville in his mid-30s, funded by GoFundMe, Nate describes hitting town with just $14 left, relentless perseverance, and how things quickly turned around with a manager and publishing deal.
  • "I got in my Honda Civic, and I drove all over America... got to Nashville, paid my rent, paid my car payment, and I had $14 left in my checking account." (02:51–03:13 – Nate Smith)

4. Breakout Success: Four #1 Songs & "After Midnight"

• Nate discusses his recent chart-topping run and collaboration with Tyler Hubbard (FGL) on "After Midnight," revealing the influence of anthem country bands and the thrill of working with his heroes.
  • "We got another song called After Midnight... with Tyler Hubbard, so from FGL... it's already 34 on Billboard country airplay. So it's flying up the charts right now." (04:28 – Nate Smith)

5. Songwriting & Creative Process

• Nate opens up about his collaborative writing process, the impact of real-world events, and the necessity of making music that inspires both himself and others.
  • "When I'm creating, it is different every single time... I want to make music that inspires me so that way I can inspire other people." (06:15–06:39 – Nate Smith)

6. Mental Health, Diet, and Self-Improvement

• The conversation turns candid as both host and guest discuss struggles with depression, the importance of therapy, and breaking the taboo around mental health, especially among men.
  • "I ate, you know, because it was a comfort thing for me and stuff with stress and everything like that. So I think kind of figuring out, like, hey, man, like, I don't— I don't want to look like this. I don't want to feel like this. So I just made some changes." (03:51–04:06 – Nate Smith)
  • "Growing up, I was ashamed to talk about it... Even admitting I had anxiety or depression?" (06:48–06:57 – Sean Kelly)

7. Relationships and Vulnerability

• Nate gets real about dating, admitting to falling quickly and setting unrealistic expectations, while also poking fun at “icks” in relationships and the memes surrounding dating culture.
  • "I think I have had this, like, idea of, like, the perfect person or something... and then when it's real and the breath stinks in the morning... you get the icks. I get the ick. Pretty, pretty easy." (08:43–09:15 – Nate Smith)

8. Faith, Politics, and Speaking Out

• Nate describes being invited by Turning Point USA and the experience of standing his ground courageously—even at the cost of losing fans—revealing how authenticity helped him connect more deeply with audiences.
  • "This guy threw me a MAGA hat... I picked it up, and I was getting ready to sign it, and I was like, nah, like, I'm putting this thing on. I'll let everybody know. And they were just like... it was the most freeing feeling that I felt in five years." (13:13–13:49 – Nate Smith)
  • "I noticed I lost a lot of fans, and I gained way more. Way more. Because people were kind of going, now we know who you are, Nate." (13:51–14:17 – Nate Smith)

9. Rejecting Cancel Culture

• Nate and Sean discuss the erosion of cancel culture in favor of authenticity and resilience, with Nate even marketing “Cancel Culture is Dead” hats.
  • "I have these hats that I'm starting to sell... say cancel culture is dead... the fear of being able to be yourself. What are you going to do to me?" (14:43–15:03 – Nate Smith)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On his Nashville leap:
  "I drove all over America. I slept in my car, and I got to Nashville, paid my rent, paid my car payment, and I had $14 left in my checking account."
  (02:51–03:13 – Nate Smith)

• On authenticity in country music:
  "They want to know who the hell you are. They want to know what you believe and, like, what you stand for. And I think the ones that aren't taking a stance, the ones that aren't standing up for one way or another... I feel like that's how you connect with people."
  (13:51–14:31 – Nate Smith)

• On overcoming shame and mental health:
  "Growing up, I was ashamed to talk about it... Even admitting I had anxiety or depression? Because you didn't want anybody to think you're like psycho or weird."
  (06:48–06:59 – Sean Kelly & Nate Smith)

• On losing and gaining fans by being outspoken:
  "I noticed I lost a lot of fans, and I gained way more. Way more. Because people were kind of going, now we know who you are, Nate."
  (13:51–14:17 – Nate Smith)

• On cancel culture:
  "Cancel culture is dead... the fear of being able to be yourself. What are you going to do to me?"
  (14:43–15:03 – Nate Smith)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• (01:07) – Nate on family support for his music dreams
• (01:52–02:46) – Paradise fire and birth of new musical purpose
• (02:51–03:13) – The leap to Nashville with just $14
• (04:28) – Fourth #1 song and collaboration with Tyler Hubbard
• (06:15–06:39) – Songwriting process and creative inspiration
• (06:48–06:59) – Candid talk about mental health struggles
• (08:43–09:15) – Real talk about love, expectations, and “icks”
• (13:13–13:49) – Putting on the MAGA hat at a Jason Aldean show: the risk and reward of being unapologetically yourself
• (14:43–15:03) – Discussion on cancel culture and authenticity

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Tone & Style

The episode maintains a raw, conversational, and approachable tone—sometimes humorous and self-deprecating, yet always authentic.

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Final Thoughts

This episode offers listeners deep insight into the grit and integrity behind Nate Smith’s music career. Beyond industry success stories, it’s a reflection on personal growth, authenticity, and the courage to be real in a world quick to judge. The candid interplay between Nate and Sean will resonate with anyone who’s ever doubted themselves, faced adversity, or sought to live a more honest life—regardless of their medium.

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Transcript

[A]

If somebody said that they had, you know, bipolar or they had depression, it was like, yeah, you just kind of. You just felt uncomfortable. But now it's like, me, too, bro.

[B]

Like, what's going on?

[A]

Join the club, you know? And it's. It's. It's. I don't know. Things have changed in that way. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. I think it's about acknowledging it and embracing it. Right. Like, we have it, but let's. Let's build upon it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Not playing the victim card to it, I think.

[A]

Foreign.

[B]

Guys here with Nate Smith.

[A]

What's up, Sean?

[B]

Performing all week out America Fest.

[A]

Dude, what up?

[B]

Good to meet you in person, man.

[A]

Good to see that watch in person, man. That AP right there is out of control.

[B]

Was doing well this year.

[A]

Yes, sir. How you been, though, man?

[B]

You've been busy?

[A]

I've been busy, man. We're starting to slow down a little bit with the holidays and stuff like that, but there's a few more things we're doing. But it's. It's good. Everything's good. I've been getting to see my family, and Great hang. I hosted Thanksgiving this year. Nice. For the first time.

[B]

So you did the cooking yourself or.

[A]

No, I had somebody come in and do that.

[B]

You cheated.

[A]

I did cheat, man.

[B]

I did.

[A]

But it was. It was good to have everyone over there, you know?

[B]

That's great, man. Family's important to you. Yeah, family and friends, huge. Is that a big purpose for why you make music?

[A]

I mean, they definitely encourage me along the way. You know, it's like. It's. It's definitely one of those. It's one of those gigs that everybody tells you to do something else. Probably it'll never happen for you, you know, so. But my family's been really like, you got this the whole way.

[B]

So, I mean, what a different lifestyle to see where you are now to five years ago, right? It's just unreal, dude.

[A]

I was working. I was working as a certified nurse assistant in the hospital. So crazy. I mean, that's what I've done since I was 18 years old.

[B]

That's all you knew?

[A]

It's all I knew. That's all I did. And, dude, I was happy doing it, taking care of people, man. Like, I love bringing light into a dark situation. So I would come in the room, see the patient, and be like, what's going on, man? Just kind of bring that, like, enthusiasm to the table.

[B]

So, yeah, hats off to all nurses and people in the medical industry, man. You guys save lives.

[A]

Pretty sure, bro. For sure.

[B]

And Then how did this come about? Like, was it a specific moment that inspired you to start making music?

[A]

Yeah, no, I've. I've always made music. I. I mean, I have experience, like, leading worship in church. And then also I moved to Nashville when I was 23 and got a record deal. It sort of fell apart. Well, it did fall apart. Not sort of gone zipped and went back home kind of with my tail between my legs. And that was sort of it for my music career. Um, but I'm from Paradise. I don't know where you're from. Where are you from? Jersey. Okay. I don't know if you're familiar with Paradise. It's in California. It's like an hour and a half north of Chico or of Sacramento. We had a bad fire there about seven years ago, and it's still weird to say seven years, because it. Like, it feels like it just happened, but we had a horrible fire there, and I lost my apartment and everything that I've owned and, like, I mean, stuff that my grandparents handed down to me and stuff, and, you know, kind of had to start over. And I wrote a song called One of these Days for Paradise and just posted it online just to kind of bring a little bit of hope and stuff. And. And it ended up touching a lot of. A lot of people and gave me kind of a new focus of why I would ever want to make music again and not make it about me, you know? So it sort of re. Completely shifted my entire life. And then the next thing you know, my friends are like, nate, what if you go to Nashville again in your mid-30s on a GoFundMe and see what happens, you know? And. And I got in my Honda Civic, and I drove all over America. I slept in my car, and I got to Nashville, paid my rent, paid my car payment, and I had 14 left in my checking account.

[B]

Man, when you got there. Wow.

[A]

Yes, sir. And. And that's basically kind of the situation I was in. And then I got a meeting with the manager, like, right away. I don't know how. And I met with Sony Music, and they gave me a publishing deal. A year and a half later, I got a record deal, and we're on our fourth number one right now. It's crazy, bro.

[B]

What a story.

[A]

It's insane.

[B]

Oh, my God. It's 14.

[A]

14, bro. I haven't written that song yet, and.

[B]

I need to write.

[C]

Yeah, right.

[A]

Dollars.

[B]

$14. So you had about one or two meals, bro.

[A]

I had. Yeah, definitely one. At that time, you know, I was probably 70 pounds heavier. 60 pounds heavier. Yeah.

[B]

You're down. And I saw this. 55 pounds.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

The past year.

[A]

Yeah. It feels good, dude.

[B]

Well done.

[A]

Just diet change or diet change and just. I don't know, like, I think I. I ate, you know, because it was a comfort thing for me and stuff with stress and everything like that. So I think kind of figuring out, like, hey, man, like, I don't. I don't want to look like this. I don't want to feel like this. So I just made some changes. Yeah.

[B]

I also think your lifestyle, living on the road, it's hard to eat healthy, you know, it is.

[A]

If you're not, like. It'd be easy not to. Let's put it that way. Yeah, it'd be easy not to eat healthy.

[B]

Yeah. Because you're working late nights, you're performing until like, midnight. Right. So all the good stuff, Take the bun off.

[A]

Take the bun off. Maybe do the sugar free vanilla.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Iced coffee, you know, but it's working, man.

[B]

Crazy. Fourth number one, huh?

[A]

Fourth number one.

[B]

Insane.

[A]

We got another song called After Midnight. We'll probably talk about it too, later and stuff, but with Tyler Hubard, so. From fgl. And he. He and I just put this one out, but it's already 34 on Billboard country airplay. We just. We just dropped it to radio, so it's flying up the charts right now. And I'm so excited about. It's such a fun song.

[B]

Wow. What was inspiration for that one?

[A]

Honestly, like, I'm. I'm a big Florida Georgia Line fan. For. For those people out there that listen to your podcast that, like country music, FGL is like the ultimate, like, anthem country band. I mean, everything they sing is just like a sing along festival kind of thing. And so I wanted a song that was kind of like that, and Tyler wrote one and he sent it to me and he was like, dude, I'll sing it with you. I'm like, oh, my gosh, let's do it. So it's kind of like a full circle, amazing moment for me.

[B]

Dude, that's incredible. Is your creative process pretty similar for each song, or do you kind of, for different moments, do different methods?

[C]

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[A]

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[C]

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[A]

I haven't. The truth is, bro, I haven't had a lot of time to be super creative. You know, I've been, I've been kind of pretty much on the road touring full time right now. But when I am, when I am home and when I'm creating, it is different every single time. You know, sometimes it starts with the melody, sometimes it starts with a title. But I just want to make music that inspires me so that way I can inspire other people. Like, I gotta, I gotta write something. I'm like, oh my gosh, this is, this is something special, you know? Yeah.

[B]

And I know mental health is big for you. Depression runs in your family. So writing about those huge resonates with.

[A]

Oh, absolutely, man.

[B]

So thank you for doing that, bro.

[A]

Yeah, of course, of course.

[B]

Yeah. No, I feel like it's. Growing up, I was ashamed to talk about it. You were mental health. Yeah.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Even admitting I had anxiety or depression? Yeah.

[A]

Because you didn't want anybody to think you're like psycho or weird.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. Because it wasn't, it wasn't, it was actually kind of a weird thing. I mean, if somebody said they, that they had, you know, bipolar or they had depression, it was like. Yeah. Just kind of. You kind of, you just felt uncomfortable. Me too, bro. Join the club. And it's. I don't know, things have changed in that way.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah. I think it's about acknowledging it and embracing it. Right. Like we have it, but let's, let's build upon it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Not playing the victim card to it.

[A]

I think.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I think if you can, if you can, you know, but for me it's just like, I don't know, I just always want to better myself. But it's, you know, it's a, it's a day by day thing. I'm in therapy and I do the.

[B]

Whole thing just started.

[A]

You did?

[B]

Yeah. Five sessions in now.

[A]

You'll know pretty soon if that's the right person for you. You should know.

[B]

I think I know.

[A]

Okay.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Well, I just got married, so I. Congratulations. Yeah, I know it's important.

[A]

That's a big, big deal.

[B]

Yeah, but that's not, like, the final goal, right? I want to still be better and have kids and everything. And our lifestyle, we're out of the house a lot, you know, we get stressed dealing with, so.

[A]

Oh, my gosh, bro. How long you guys been together?

[B]

Eight years.

[A]

Eight years.

[B]

Eight years.

[A]

So you knew?

[B]

Yeah, I knew. Like, you've had seasons. Yeah, we had seasons. I knew, like, probably two years in.

[A]

So you'll skip the honeymoon phase. Yeah, I think that's important. That's kind of what I'm trying to do in my life, you know, is skip it. Skip the honeymoon. Because it's so fleeting. Yeah, it's so fleeting. It's like all those, like, crazy, you know? You want real?

[B]

Yeah. I think, you know, quick, right? If it's the one, I. I've thought.

[A]

It was the one. Every single person I've ever dated, I'm like, that's definitely it. That's the girl, man. Holy crap. And then, like, three weeks later, like, things get real. I'm like, maybe not. Maybe not. I think I'm. I think I'm going to just bow out here, you know?

[B]

You fall easily, huh?

[A]

I. I have. Yeah. In the past.

[B]

Is it looks.

[A]

What.

[B]

What draws you to it? Personality.

[A]

Personality. And I guess, you know, like. I think I have had this, like, idea of, like, the perfect person or something, you know, instead of trying to become the perfect person, which none of that really exists, you know, but, you know, I don't know. I think I just. Yeah, I just tried to create this. This idea of what I think that they might be or something. And then when it's real and the breath stinks in the morning and you got, you know, I don't know. Whatever it is. I don't know. But you kind of go, oh, X. Yeah, you get the icks. I get the ick. Pretty, pretty easy. It sucks. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

There's memes about that. How girls have, like a list of, like, hundred icks in a guy.

[A]

Have you seen tiktoks of, like, new ick unlocked?

[B]

Yeah, bro.

[A]

I die.

[B]

Even walking weird is an ick.

[A]

Men, like, splashing in the water. A guy like, men who are cold like this. Like this ick, you know?

[B]

Yeah. Standing on your tippy. Toes is a nick.

[A]

Oh, that one's so funny.

[B]

There's so many, like you can't do anything.

[A]

Eating an ice cream cone's a new one for me.

[B]

Ice cream?

[A]

Yeah, people eating an ice cream cone, like, wow, disgusting.

[B]

That's a turn off for you.

[A]

It's pretty gross. Yeah. Just sitting there licking the thing and just.

[B]

You know, some people bite ice cream though. That to me is like psychopathic.

[A]

Is that serial killer.

[B]

That gives me serial killer vibes. Cuz. How do your teeth not get so sensitive?

[A]

I don't know. And I've got like fillings and stuff, so that would.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You know, I.

[B]

You gotta. Did we talk about your new song, Praya?

[A]

No, no, no, no. So I just. One of the ways I write is I write with a group of guys. Ashley Gourley, he's. He's kind of like in a lot of ways I'd say he's like the biggest.

[B]

He is.

[A]

He's the biggest songwriter in country music. 100. Not even a question. He's. I'm gonna say he's got 80 number ones. I don't know, it's nothing like that. Something in that world and me, him, Taylor Phillips, Hunter Phelps and Casey Brown wrote this song. And we were just talking about everything that was going on in the world right now and stuff. And we weren't like overtly political with it or anything like that. But like there's lines in there like what I saw on that screen I can't get out of my mind. And we all know what we're talking about with that, you know, so it's like, I think it's something that we need. And when I think about Charlie and everything that, you know, he stood for and everything, you know, I think the biggest, the biggest point that I think he was trying to make was just to find Jesus, you know, and so. So pray, I think is a universal big thing. So I think it could touch a lot of lives. I really believe in this song.

[B]

Man, look at what he's built, man.

[A]

This.

[B]

Look at what Charlie's built. This conference is insane. There's like a two hour line just to watch people speak.

[C]

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[A]

Sean, it's, it's crazy getting to be here. I never got to meet him, you know, but it's, it's so humbling to be a part of what he's built, you know, and, and hopefully make a difference. And my whole goal for today, like, because we're playing here in a little bit, you know, my goal is just to instill boldness. Just to instill boldness and just kind of put it all on the line, man. You can do it in love, you can do it in love, but you can confidently walk into who you are and, and, and just own that, no matter what the consequences.

[B]

Beautiful.

[A]

It feels good, man.

[B]

Did Turning Point reach out to you like years ago or what? What's the relationship there?

[A]

They reached out over, actually, Charlie Kirk's Instagram DM'd me. I was like, oh my gosh, that's crazy. So we talked on there and they originally asked if I wanted to speak.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And, and then I said whatever I can do, I'll, I'll be, I'll be involved. And then somehow, some way, they got in touch with my management, my booking agencies to book the actual show. But my turning point. Sorry, my turning point was right after Charlie passed, I had a show. I've been on tour with Jason Aldean and obviously Jason's really outspoken and courageous. But I ended up, we were playing in Chicago, like right after it happened. So we did Detroit and we did Chicago, like two of the most dangerous cities in America, you know, and it was kind of like, like I was nervous. I was nervous to get on stage, man. I was, I was Scared that, like, this could happen to us, too, and that there was going to be this crazy thing. I didn't know. You know, we were all kind of uncertain. And when you think about, like, a Jason Aldean show, that's a massive conservative, for sure.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So I was kind of like, I don't know, but, like, I went up there and just kind of was like, I don't really care anymore. I don't really care. And this guy threw me a MAGA hat, and from. From the. The crowd, and I picked it up, and I was getting ready to sign it, and I was like, nah, like, I'm putting this thing on. I'll let everybody know. And they were just like. Like, it was just like, the most insane thing, but it was the most freeing feeling that I felt in five years. In five years, bro. Because it was like everyone said, you can't talk about it. Everybody said, don't get political. Everybody said, you can't make a stand for something like that. And it's like, that was a moment where I was just. I kind of went on my own, and I noticed I lost a lot of fans, and I gained way more. Way more. Because people were kind of going, now we know who you are, Nate. Like, because that's. That's in country music. They want to know who the hell you are. They want to know what you believe and, like, what you stand for. And I think the ones that aren't taking a stance, the ones that aren't standing up for one way or another, I don't know. I don't know. You know what I mean? I feel like that's how you connect with people.

[B]

That's a hell of a story, you know? That's a hell of a story. And I think it's so relatable for people that have a following, whether it's music industry or podcasts. They were scared to speak out about their political stance, especially for Trump, I.

[A]

Feel like, because there has been consequences and there still can be consequences for speaking out and stuff like that, but in a lot of ways, I kind of joke. I have these hats that I'm starting to sell for my say, cancel culture is dead.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because I kind of feel in some ways, it sort of is like, the fear of being able to be yourself. What are you going to do to me?

[B]

I think it is we sort of.

[A]

Like, we're standing up to the bully kind of, in a way, and we've been gracious for too long in a lot of ways, you know, and it just feels good to be able to just be like, this is who the heck I am. I'm Sean, and this is what I stand for.

[B]

You know, I think it's dead, bro, because I've had on the most canceled people on the Internet on my show, and now they are the biggest people, bro. They have the biggest voices.

[A]

Of course, man, because we know who you are.

[B]

Absolutely, man. Well, dude, thanks for your time. I can't wait to follow your journey. I want to come to one of your shows one day, too.

[A]

You're welcome anytime, bro.

[B]

If you're ever in Vegas or west coast, I'll be there.

[A]

You live out that way.

[B]

Yeah, I'm in Vegas.

[A]

Okay. Also, just want to say thanks for what you do, man. Thanks for being bold. Thanks for sharing with what you do and making the stances you did. There was a time where this wasn't cool and. But you did it anyways, so thanks, man. Congrats. And congrats on your. On your.

[B]

Your wedding and best of luck on your journey, brother. Thank you. See you guys.