Country music star Conner Smith opens up about dark time after crash that left woman dead

Country music star Conner Smith returned to the stage at the Grand Ole Opry on Wednesday, playing for the first time since a tragic crash in Nashville last month left an elderly woman dead.

And, before heading out onstage, the 24-year-old country music star authored a heartfelt post that he linked to on Instagram.

“Tonight, I am going to perform again, and the truth is, in the very first months of tragedy, I found it hard to imagine ever stepping on a stage again,” he wrote. “The moment tragedy came, I knew that my heart had no way to process it.”

Smith credited his incredible community, wife, family, friends and pastors for helping to guide him after the incident. The singer was given a misdemeanor citation by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department on Thursday after he struck and killed 77-year-old Dorothy Dobbins at around 7:30 p.m. on June 8.

Billboard reported that Dobbins was in a marked crosswalk when she was hit.

The outlet reported that Smith was determined to not be under the influence or distracted by his phone during the incident. Also, a tree that “substantially obstructed the view of the crosswalk” has since been removed.

Smith wrote that he “stayed isolated from the world,” in the days that followed the incident.

“I spent most of my time with friends who had stopped by the house, or just me and Jesus,” he wrote. “I turned off my phone, and the world, and simply guarded my mind, processing the pain with people around me.”

“Four weeks ago, I was involved in a tragic vehicle accident that resulted in the loss of a life,” Smith wrote on Instagram earlier this month. “Not a day has gone by that I haven’t grieved, prayed, and mourned for Ms. Dobbins and her family. My heart is broken in a way I’ve never experienced, and I still struggle to fully process the weight of it all. I ask that you continue to lift the Dobbins family up in prayer by name, asking for God’s peace to surround them each day.

“Out of respect for everyone involved and to give space for grieving, I made the decision to step away from shows these past few weeks,” he added. “I have always found that making music and playing shows is a place of healing for me — but for this moment, it was important for me to take time away.

“I’m thankful to serve a God who is near to the brokenhearted, and I have leaned on him every step of the way,” he added. “Through tragedy, I have learned that God is more faithful than I could have ever known before.”

That came a day after his attorney issued a statement after the citation was issued.

“Conner is incredibly grateful to the MNPD for their time and efforts to carefully investigate this tragic accident and has continued to cooperate at all times,” the singer’s attorney, Worrick G. Robinson IV said in a statement, per Billboard. “His thoughts remain with Ms. Dobbins’ family, and he remains committed to honoring her memory with compassion by supporting efforts to improve pedestrian safety and help prevent future tragedies.”

Billboard reported that Smith scored his breakthrough in 2021 with the song “I Hate Alabama.” The site said that Smith made his first appearance on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 last year when his song “Creek Will Rise,” made it to 89th.