Country Singer Conner Smith Breaks Silence After Fatal Crash Arrest

Country musicrising star Conner Smith is facing legal repercussions following a tragic car accident that claimed the life of a 77-year-old woman in Nashville.

According to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, Smith has been charged with Failure to Yield the Right of Way Resulting in Death, a Class A misdemeanor, after he struck Dorothy Dobbins in a marked crosswalk on the evening of Sunday, June 8.

The 24-year-old singer, best known for his viral hit “I Hate Alabama,” was driving his Chevrolet Silverado near Riverfront Park, the site of the 2025 CMA Fest, where he had performed the day prior, when the accident occurred.

Dobbins, a nearby resident, was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she died from her injuries.

Smith was issued a misdemeanor citation and is expected to appear for booking on August 7. Police confirmed he was not under the influence and showed no signs of impairment or distraction at the time of the crash.

As a misdemeanor, the charge implies no criminal intent, according to a source who spoke to TMZ.

In a statement released to the outlet, Smith’s attorney Worrick G. Robinson IV said:

“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. 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.”

Smith also posted a personal message to Instagram, addressing the heartbreak caused by the incident.

"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. 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. Through tragedy, I have learned that God is more faithful than I could have ever known before."

Since the crash, new safety measures have reportedly been implemented at the intersection where Dobbins was hit, including enhanced signage and the removal of a tree that obstructed drivers’ views of the crosswalk.

Smith, who is signed to Valory, a subsidiary of Big Machine Records, rose to fame in 2021 after his college football-themed heartbreak anthem “I Hate Alabama” became a viral sensation on TikTok.

"I can work as hard as I can, I can play every show someone asks me to, I can build all the relationships and write as many songs as possible, and put out four EPs in a year with an album, but unless the Lord brings the rain, and there's a certain amount of favor on it, it doesn't matter," he told Entertainment Focus in 2024.

He added, "That's what this song means to me, big picture. Small picture, I just love the song and I think it's really going to connect with people in a personal way and really have an impact.

Smith has since seen commercial success with singles like “Take It Slow," which has been certified Gold by the RIAA.

“What I love about this song is it’s so intimate, but it’s so innocent at the same time,” Smith told Country Now in 2022. “I think there’s a cool balance to that where it’s like, you know, the song has a level of toughness, but at the same time, it holds this level of intimacy and youth in the song, which I think really kind of captures who I am a lot.”

The investigation into the crash is ongoing.