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“It’s Taken Its Toll On Me” – Country Singer Ernest Announces Short Hiatus

“It’s Taken Its Toll On Me” - Country Singer Ernest Announces Short Hiatus
by
  • Riley is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, known for her engaging storytelling and insightful coverage of the genre.
  • Before joining Country Thang Daily, Riley developed her expertise at Billboard and People magazine, focusing on feature stories and music reviews.
  • Riley has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Belmont University, with a minor in Cultural Studies.

On July 10, 2024, rising country singer Ernest posted on his Instagram that he would be taking a brief hiatus to spend time with his family. 

Ernest Keith Smith, better known by his stage name Ernest, made his debut in 2019 with the release of his first studio album, Locals Only. Despite being a relatively new figure in the industry, the young country singer has proved that he can be successful as long as he puts in the work and stays true to himself. However, although playing for his fans has been his dream, it has “taken a toll on him,” as he stated in his Instagram post

Since he welcomed his son Ryman in 2021 with his wife, Delaney Royer, Ernest wasn’t able to spend quality time with his family due to his busy schedule. Despite being thankful for the love and support his fans have been pouring over him lately, Ernest finally decided to take a month off to reset and spend some time at home with his family. 

In his post, he explained that his son Ryman is now at the age where every time he gets home, the little kiddo always asks him if he is leaving, and as a father, Ernest couldn’t stand hearing his son beg for his attention. 

After hearing this, some fans were a bit sad about the news. However, they also extended their support and understanding to the country singer’s tough situation. In the comments, fans left comments like, “Family should always come first. You’re absolutely doing the right thing. You won’t regret it!” “You will never regret being home with that baby! Good for you!” and many more. 

RELATED: Morgan Wallen Sets Country Music Record in the UK 

Some of Ernest’s peers, like Uncle Kracker, also assured the young artists with a comment stating, “Go fill that back up Ern! This mess will still be here when you get back.” Shane Profitt added, “The crowds will wait. Time with little man won’t.”

Despite this hard decision, Ernest’s choice of his family above all shows that he is more than just a great singer but also a good father. 

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