Ernest Keith Smith, known mononymously as Ernest (stylized in ERNEST), is an American country music singer. After writing songs for

Morgan Wallen Morgan Cole Wallen (born May 13, 1993) is an American country singer and songwriter. He competed in the sixth season of ''The Voice'', originally as a member of Usher's team, but later as a member of Adam Levine's team. After being eliminated ...

, Jake Owen, Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett and

Chris Lane Christopher Eric Lane (born November 9, 1984) is an American country music singer and songwriter. He has released one album as frontman of the Chris Lane Band, a second album, ''Girl Problems'', and a third album, '' Laps Around the Sun''. via Big ...

, he signed a recording contract with

Big Loud Big Loud is an American independent multi-sector entertainment company located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. It consists of a record label also known as Big Loud, along with music publishing and talent management divisions. Big Loud wa ...

in 2019.

Biography

Ernest Keith Smith was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. He took an interest in hip hop music at an early age, citing the ''Space Jam'' soundtrack and a compact disc of

Eminem Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (; often stylized as EMINƎM), is an American rapper and record producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America and is critically acclai ...

songs given to him by a friend as his main influences. At age 19, he suffered a heart attack brought on by a viral infection, and developed a drug addiction while in college playing JUCO baseball. After recovering, he moved back to Nashville and began writing and recording songs, in the Bro Country style with Matt Royer, the brother of his now wife, who owned a recording studio. This association led to him co-writing the title track of Florida Georgia Line's 2016 album ''

Dig Your Roots ''Dig Your Roots'' is the third studio album by American country music duo Florida Georgia Line. The album was released on August 26, 2016, by Big Machine and Big Loud Mountain. As with their first two albums, it is produced by Joey Moi. The tw ...

''. The following year, recording under the mononym Ernest, he began to cut country rap singles: "Dopeman" and "Bad Boy". In addition, Ernest began writing songs for

and Jake Owen. This led to him signing a recording contract with

, the label to which both Owen and Lane are signed, in 2019. Concurrently, he began touring with Lane and Mason Ramsey later in the year. Ernest had further success as a songwriter in 2020 with Lane's "

Big, Big Plans "Big, Big Plans" is a song recorded by American country music singer Chris Lane. It was released in June 2019 as the lead single from his upcoming third studio album. Lane co-wrote the song with Ernest Keith Smith Ernest Keith Smith, known mon ...

's " More Than My Hometown", and Sam Hunt's "

Breaking Up Was Easy in the 90s "Breaking Up Was Easy in the 90s" is a song by American country music singer Sam Hunt. It was released on October 12, 2020 as the fifth single from his second studio album ''Southside''. Hunt wrote the song with Zach Crowell, Chris LaCorte, Ernes ...

". He also released his first single for Big Loud, titled "Cheers". This was followed in 2021 by two more singles; the first was "American Rust", issued in June. It was followed in December by " Flower Shops", a duet with Wallen. Ernest also host his own podcast titled ''Just Being Ernest'', in which he talks to other musicians about the music industry. The podcast first started April 19, 2020.

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

References

{{reflist American country singer-songwriters Big Loud artists Country musicians from Tennessee Country rap musicians Living people People from Nashville, Tennessee Year of birth missing (living people)