Payton Smith is a 24-year-old American singer-songwriter from Houma, Louisiana, who has gained recognition for his eclectic brand of country music. Smith began releasing music in 2019, quickly amassing over 50 million streams on his debut single, "Like I Knew You Would." He is known for his high-energy guitar slinging and smooth vocals, having composed and played every string instrument on each track of his debut project. Smith's musical influences include Keith Urban, John Mayer, Pearl Jam, and Clint Black, and he has cited Keith Urban's performance at the CMA Awards as an early influence on his decision to pursue a career in music.

Smith's debut EP reached the top 20 of the Apple Music charts on its first day after being released and was selected by CMT as one of 17 promising new artists to watch for 2020. He has shared the stage with Danielle Bradbery and has opened for artists like Dwight Yoakam and Brad Paisley. Smith's debut album, "What Colors Your Wild," was released on March 19, 2023, and has gained significant playlisting features on various platforms, including Apple's "New in Country," Spotify's "New Music Friday Country," and Tidal's "Country Waves, Rising: Country."