Ernest Keith Smith (born January 11, 1992), known mononymously as Ernest (stylized as ERNEST), is an American country music singer-songwriter. He has released three studio albums: Locals Only (2019), Flower Shops (The Album) (2022), and Nashville, Tennessee (2024). He has also written songs recorded by Morgan Wallen, Jake Owen, Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, Chris Lane, and Jelly Roll. His songs are produced by Joey Moi.
Biography Ernest was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee and attended Lipscomb Academy there. He took an interest in hip hop music at an early age, citing the Space Jam soundtrack that he listened to in sixth grade as well as Eminem, John Mayer, and George Strait as his main influences. At age 19, he suffered a heart attack brought on by a viral infection. He developed a drug addiction while in college playing baseball in the National Junior College Athletic Association. 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. The following year, recording under the mononym Ernest, he released country rap singles: "Dopeman" and "Bad Boy".
After writing songs for Chris Lane and Jake Owen, in September 2019, Ernest signed a recording contract and management agreement with Big Loud, the label to which both Owen and Lane are signed.
In April 2020, Ernest launched a podcast, Just Being Ernest, in which he talks to other musicians about the music industry. He recorded 50 episodes, mostly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ernest had further success as a songwriter in 2020 with Lane's "Big, Big Plans", Morgan Wallen's "More Than My Hometown", and Sam Hunt's "Breaking Up Was Easy in the 90s". He also released his first single for Big Loud, titled "Cheers".
Ernest was a co-writer on labelmate Dallas Smith's single "Hide from a Broken Heart", released in November 2021.
He released "Flower Shops", a duet with Wallen, in December 2021.
In April 2024, he performed at Stagecoach Festival, also appearing in songs with Morgan Wallen and Willie Nelson.
Personal life Ernest is married to Delaney Royer and they have a son, Ryman, named after Ryman Auditorium. In 2022, they bought a farm with a greenhouse and chicken coop on 5 acres near Nashville. He frequently posts to TikTok and his wife handles his digital content. He is interested in fashion and has been friends with Mookie Betts since he was 8 years old; they often competed playing baseball. He attended Freed–Hardeman University but later dropped out to pursue music.
Discography Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions USPeaks on the Billboard 200: Flower Shops: The Album: Nashville, Tennessee: USCountryPeaks on the Top Country Albums: Locals Only Release date: October 11, 2019 Label: Big Loud Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming — — Flower Shops (The Album) Release date: March 11, 2022 Label: Big Loud Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 150 12 Nashville, Tennessee Release date: April 12, 2024 Label: Big Loud Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 170 34 Deep Blue Release date: May 1, 2026 Label: Big Loud Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart
Reissues Title Album details Flower Shops (The Album): Two Dozen Roses Released: February 10, 2023 Label: Big Loud Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
Singles Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications Album US US Country US Country AirplayPeaks on the Country Airplay chart: "Flower Shops" and "Cowgirls": "Would If I Could": CAN CAN Country "Would If I Could": WW 2017 "Doperman" — — — — — — rowspan="2" "Bad Boy" — — — — — — 2019 "I Think I Love You" — — — — — — Locals Only 2020 "Cheers" — — — — — — rowspan="2" 2021 "American Rust" — — — — — — 2022 "Flower Shops" 64 13 18 62 16 192 RIAA: 2× Platinum RMNZ: Gold Flower Shops (The Album) 2024 "Cowgirls" 12 3 1 21 1 47 RIAA: 6× Platinum RMNZ: 2× Platinum One Thing at a Time "Would If I Could" — — 26 — 54 — Nashville, Tennessee 2025 "Blessed" — — — — — — Live from the South "—" denotes releases that did not chart
Other charted songs Year Title Peak chart positions Album USPeaks of other charted songs on the Billboard Hot 100: "Devil I've Been": "The Dealer": US Country NZHot "Boat Named After You": 2024 "Hangin' On" — 37 38 Nashville, Tennessee "I Went to College / I Went to Jail" — — — "Why Dallas" — — — "Devil I've Been" 66 — — F-1 Trillion 2025 "The Dealer" 69 35 — I'm the Problem "Gettin' Gone" — — — Cadillac Sessions 2026 "Boat Named After You" — — 38
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