Conner Smith returned to the stage for the first time since he was involved in a fatal accident. Smith performed at the Grand Ole Opry for the first time since June 8, when Smith accidentally ran over 77-year-old Dorothy Dobbins, with Dobbins succumbing to her injuries.

Smith stepped away from performing until July 30, when he sang at the Grand Ole Opry. The 24-year-old became emotional as he shared, joined on stage by Opry member, Steven Curtis Chapman. Chapman tragically lost his own daughter, Marie Sue, in 2008, when his son accidentally ran over her at their family’s home.

“Yesterday, I got together with Steven. We sat for probably two hours at his home. We just talked. We prayed together, and talked about the Lord. He told me about a verse that when he had experienced the greatest tragedy of his life, it kind of carried him and his family through it, and it was prophesied over his wife initially, and just over their family. And it said, ‘The God of peace soon will crush the enemy under your foot.’ And that God will give us opportunities to actually crush the enemy, and crush the devil with our actions. He’ll give us participation in that.

“This morning, I woke up, and there was a sense of weight I felt over this moment, that I was going to get to step on a stage tonight,” he continues. “And I was reading the Word. I opened it up, and I said, ‘God, what would You have me read this morning?’ I don’t always do that. Most of the time, when I do, I’ll get a random thing in my head, and it’s something about some random war with words I can’t pronounce. But this morning, I felt Romans 16. I flip open to Romans 16, and it turns out that Romans 16:20 says that, ‘The God of peace will soon crush the enemy under your foot.’ And so tonight, we pray that we would just embarrass the enemy tonight. That’s all. So I’m just gonna sing some worship for three songs.”

 

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What Happened In The Accident

Smith was driving in downtown Nashville on June 8, when he accidentally struck Dobbins, who was walking her dog in the crosswalk. Dobbins passed away later that day. Smith was charged with failure to yield the right of way, resulting in death, which is a Class A misdemeanor. Smith was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or otherwise impaired.

Smith canceled numerous appearances while he dealt with his grief.

“The moment tragedy came, I knew that my heart had no way to process it,” Smith says (via Taste of Country). “I stayed isolated from the world. I spent most of my time with friends who had stopped by the house, or just me and Jesus.”

What Conner Smith Said about The Accident

In the immediate aftermath, Smith canceled several shows, while he processed the tragic accident. After the charges were filed, Smith shared a statement on social media.

“Four weeks ago, I was involved in a tragic vehicle accident that resulted in the loss of a life,” Smith writes. “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 continues. “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.”

Smith’s next show is scheduled for August 2 in Carey, Ohio.

Find all of Smith’s music and upcoming shows at ConnerSmithMusic.com.