Brent Smith

This article is about the singer. For the football player, see Brent Smith (American football).

Brent Smith
Smith performing with Shinedown in 2022
Born
Brently Stephen Smith

(1978-01-10) January 10, 1978
Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Children1
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Years active2001–present
LabelAtlantic
Member of
Websiteshinedown.com

Brent Smith (born January 10, 1978) is an American singer and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist and one of the main songwriters of the rock band Shinedown.

Early life

Brently Stephen Smith[7] was born January 10, 1978, in Knoxville, Tennessee.[8] Interview-based reporting from Noisecreep in 2010 states that Smith was an only child.[9]

Career

Prior to fronting the rock band Shinedown, Smith was the lead singer in a band called Dreve.[10] Eventually, Dreve got signed to Atlantic Records,[10][11][12] with Smith and his bandmates traveling to Los Angeles, California, to record with well-known producer Desmond Child.[11] Shortly after returning home to Knoxville, Atlantic dropped the band but retained Smith.[11][13] Atlantic signed Smith to a developmental contract, with Smith needing to either find another band or lose his record deal.[13] He put together Shinedown shortly after, moving to Jacksonville, Florida to begin working on the project in 2001.[14][15]

Brad Stewart, the band's bassist, was the first member Smith recruited, through local Jacksonville music producer Pete Thornton.[14] Smith and Stewart began recording demos together in a small local studio, whose owner recommended they meet with her fiancé, guitarist Jasin Todd, who Smith brought in as the third member.[14] The original lineup was rounded out by drummer Barry Kerch, who was the seventh drummer the band had auditioned for the spot.[14] The four worked together on creating demos, and submitted their work-in-progress material to Atlantic, who approved of the material and green-lighted a full-length album.[14] The band's debut album, Leave a Whisper was released May 27, 2003.[1] The album was eventually certified platinum, indicating sales of over one million copies.[16] In 2010, Smith was featured on the Apocalyptica song, "Not Strong Enough" from the album 7th Symphony.[17] In 2013, Smith was featured on the Halestorm "Here's to Us (Guest Version)".[18] In 2014, Smith collaborated with In This Moment on the song, "Sexual Hallucination", from the album, Black Widow.[19] In 2014, Smith and Zach Myers started an acoustic side project called Smith & Myers. As a duo they have released three EPs: Acoustic Sessions (2014), Volume I (2020), and Volume II (2020).[6] On August 28, 2022, Brent was presented with a key to Knox County at a concert in Knoxville, Tennessee, by former wrestler and current Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs.[20] Shinedown has since released six more studio albums: Us and Them (2005),[21] The Sound of Madness (2008),[22] Amaryllis (2012),[23] Threat to Survival (2015),[24] Attention Attention (2018),[25] Planet Zero (2022),[26] On August 28, 2022, Smith was presented with a key to Knox County at a concert in Knoxville, Tennessee, by former wrestler and current Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs.[27] Shinedown's eighth studio album, Eight, is set to be released in May 2026.[28] In 2014, Smith and Zach Myers started an acoustic side project called Smith & Myers.[6]

Personal life

In 2008, Smith had a son with his then fiancée, Ashley.[29] Smith struggled with drugs and alcohol[30][31] managing his weight.[31] Following an intervention from his then-girlfriend, "Theresa", Smith states, in interview, that he quit drinking, and lost weight through a healthier diet and exercise.[31] Smith says that his former girlfriend, his son, and his fans inspired him to lose weight and become healthier.[31][32]

Discography

Shinedown

Main article: Shinedown discography

Smith & Myers

Guest appearances

Artist Song Album Year Ref.
Daughtry "There and Back Again"[a] Daughtry 2006 [33]
Theory of a Deadman "So Happy (feat. Brent Smith)" Scars & Souvenirs 2008 [34]
Saliva "Don't Question My Heart (feat. Brent Smith)" WWE The Music, Vol. 8 2008 [35]
Saliva "My Own Worst Enemy (feat. Brent Smith)" Cinco Diablo 2008 [36]
Apocalyptica "Not Strong Enough (feat. Brent Smith)" 7th Symphony 2010 [17]
Halestorm "Here's to Us (Guest Version)"[b] The Strange Case Of... (Reissue Version) 2013 [18]
In This Moment "Sexual Hallucination (feat. Brent Smith)" Black Widow 2014 [19]
Multiple Artists "Mustang Sally" Muscle Shoals: Small Town, Big Sound 2018 [37]
Lynyrd Skynyrd "Simple Man (feat. Brent Smith) (live)" Celebrating 50 Years - Live at the Ryman 2025 [38]

Notes

  1. ^ (Smith is credited as a writer on this song.)[33]
  2. ^ (feat. Brent Smith, Slash, Wolfgang Van Halen, Myles Kennedy, James Michael, Tyler Connolly, David Draiman, and Maria Brink)"[18]

References

  1. ^ a b c Loftus, Johnny. "Leave a Whisper Review". AllMusic. Retrieved May 12, 2026. Styles—Post-Grunge, Hard Rock... The layered harmonies of [related group] Alice in Chains dominate the set, which musically is cousin to post-grunge types like [the groups] Saliva and Puddle of Mudd...
  2. ^ "Shinedown Bringing Acoustic Tour to Tampa's Straz Center". Kerrang!. December 17, 2019. Archived from the original on November 8, 2025. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  3. ^ Cridlin, Jay (September 14, 2010). "Shinedown Bringing Acoustic Tour to Tampa's Straz Center". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  4. ^ Leep, Joshua (May 4, 2018). "Review: Shinedown is about to get heavy on 'Attention Attention'". Salute Magazine. Archived from the original on July 28, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  5. ^ "Shinedown – 'Attention Attention' Album Review". Sonic Abuse. May 13, 2018. Archived from the original on July 21, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c Monger, Timothy. "Smith & Myers Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  7. ^ "Shinedown's Brent Smith, Steven Tyler and Kid Rock Featured on Muscle Shoals Tribute Album". August 30, 2018. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  8. ^ Porche, Brent (January 10, 2023). "Happy Birthday Brent Smith of Shinedown!". WMMR. Archived from the original on September 8, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  9. ^ Allyson B. Crawford (May 4, 2010). "Shinedown Singer Reflects on Being Only Child and [the Song] 'Second Chance'". Noisecreep. Archived from the original on May 17, 2026. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  10. ^ a b Hester, James (November 23, 2016). Rock Scars. iUniverse. ISBN 9781440127731 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ a b c Brown, Tasha (May 27, 2023). "Heavy Music History – Leave A Whisper – Shinedown". Distorted Sound Magazine. Archived from the original on July 25, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  12. ^ "Songwriting and Second Chances with Brent Smith of Shinedown". Atlantic Records. How to Get Signed. May 9, 2014. Archived from the original (interview, with very brief intro) on July 27, 2014. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  13. ^ a b Shotwell, James (April 11, 2018). "Your Attention Please: Brent Smith on Shinedown's bold new album". Substream Magazine. Archived from the original on June 14, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  14. ^ a b c d e Stewart, Brad (May 2004). "Shinedown Bassist Brad Stewart". Metal-Rules.com (Interview). Interviewed by McDonald, Keith. Archived from the original on July 8, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  15. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo (January 26, 2022). "Shinedown - Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  16. ^ Wildsmith, Steve (February 6, 2013). "Shinedown Front Man Finds a New Way of Life During Making of 'Amaryllis'". The Daily Times. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  17. ^ a b "Apocalyptica Pulls Shinedown Frontman's Vocals Off New Single". Blabbermouth.net. January 5, 2011. Archived from the original on July 14, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  18. ^ a b c "Halestorm: New Version Of 'Here's To Us' Featuring Slash, Shinedown, Disturbed Members". Blabbermouth.net. May 4, 2013. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  19. ^ a b Bowar, Chad. "In This Moment – Black Widow Review". About.com. Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  20. ^ Childers, Chad (August 30, 2022). "Shinedown's Brent Smith Presented With Key to Hometown by WWE Legend Kane". Loudwire. Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  21. ^ Loftus, Johnny. "Shinedown Us and Them AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  22. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Shinedown The Sound of Madness AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  23. ^ Heaney, Gregory. "Shinedown Amaryllis AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  24. ^ Kaufman, Spencer (August 7, 2015). "Shinedown Announce New Album 'Threat to Survival'". Loudwire. Archived from the original on June 15, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  25. ^ "Video Premiere: Shinedown's 'The Human Radio'". Blabbermouth.net. April 6, 2018. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  26. ^ Brannigan, Paul (January 26, 2022). "Shinedown tease new album Planet Zero with the release of its title track". Metal Hammer. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  27. ^ Childers, Chad (August 30, 2022). "Shinedown's Brent Smith Presented With Key to Hometown by WWE Legend Kane". Loudwire. Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  28. ^ Adams, Gregory (April 3, 2026). "Hear Shinedown's rootsy new anthem "Outlaw"". Revolver. Archived from the original on April 7, 2026. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  29. ^ Triplett, Gene (August 1, 2008). "Inspiring woman leads Shinedown to love song". The Oklahoman. Archived from the original on May 17, 2026. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  30. ^ "Shinedown's Brent Smith Says His 13-Year-Old Son Is 'Already Almost A Foot Taller' Than Him". Blabbermouth.net. October 27, 2021. Archived from the original on March 8, 2026. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  31. ^ a b c d Fell, James (January 12, 2013). "Brent Smith of Shinedown Cleans Up and Slims Down". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 3, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  32. ^ Karki, Ashmita (September 11, 2016). "Brent Smith reveals how his girlfriend Teresa and his son Lyric Santana Smith changed his life". Archived from the original on October 21, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  33. ^ a b "Daughtry – There and Back Again (2006) Track profile". Dork. Archived from the original on May 17, 2026. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  34. ^ "Theory of a Deadman: Scars & Souvenirs - Vinyl LP". Archived from the original on May 17, 2026. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  35. ^ "WWE: The Music, vol. 8 (Audio CD)". Archived from the original on March 19, 2008. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  36. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Saliva - Cinco Diablo Review". AllMusic. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  37. ^ Liptak, Carena (September 28, 2018). "Interview: Muscle Shoals Tribute Album Connects Today's Stars to Iconic Tracks". The Boot. Archived from the original on March 13, 2026. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  38. ^ "Lynyrd Skynyrd Releases Video Of "Simple Man" Feat. Brent Smith Of Shindown From Live At The Ryman". June 9, 2025. Archived from the original on July 20, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2026.

Further reading

  • Schaffer, Sarah & Smith, Brent (May 13, 2004). "Q&A with Shinedown's Brent Smith". The Baltimore Sun (BaltimoreSun.com). Archived from the original (very brief interview and intro) on April 9, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) Note, this work contains no DOB, and is > 20-years old.
  • Hester, James (2009). Rock Scars. Bloomington, IN. pp. 17–22, 73–75, 88f, 96. ISBN 9781440127731. Retrieved May 12, 2026.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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