Nate Smith was originally set to headline the Country Under the Stars concert on June 5, but unfortunately was forced to cancel due to a vocal health emergency. Luckily a last-minute phone call was put in to Chris Janson, who ended up saving the day and delivering a performance to remember.
Just hours before showtime, the Boys and Girls Club of Northeastern Nevada was suddenly faced with a big challenge. They had little to no time to find a new act to perform for over 4,100 fans who were expecting to hear Smith deliver his catalog of hits or risk mass disappointment.
Without any sign of hesitation, Janson stepped up to the plate when he generously took time away from his own tour schedule with less than 24-hour notice. He ended up giving the show at the Elko Country Fairgrounds all he had with a set list featuring No. 1 multi-platinum hits — from “Buy Me A Boat” and “All I Need Is You” to “Good Vibes” and more.
His generosity and showmanship turned a potential crisis into a night to remember, extending his set by over 30 minutes longer than contracted and igniting the crowd with an infectious energy. Fans even went as far as to call the set “the best Country Under the Stars yet.”
His performance kept the event a hugely successful fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club of Northeastern Nevada, proving once again the power of country music to bring a community together when it matters most.
One day prior to the event, Nate Smith took to social media to give fans an update on the status of his health and an explanation for his recent string of canceled shows.
“I have some news to share, and this one is tough for me,” he began. “2025 has already been such a blast, I hope you know how seeing you all at my shows gives me so much life! While I’m currently on a dream tour with [Jason] Aldean (still can’t believe I’m on this tour!), I recently had to cancel a few appearances after struggling with some vocal issues.”
Smith goes on to say that he attempted to do everything he could to make sure his shows still went on, however he ultimately received a doctor order to be on “strict vocal rest” through the end of June.
“We’ve all come to the decision that the best way to get my voice fully back is to rest it for the first time in almost five years. This is the part that is so hard for me, because I have multiple bucket list shows coming up this month.”
He admitted that his broke his heart knowing that he will be taking some time away from the stage and his fans, but he knows that putting his health first will help him to come back bigger and better than ever.
“My commitment to everyone is to truly rest so I can get back out to do what I love more than anything. My voice will absolutely recover, and I’ll be dreaming of the road until then. Promise I’ll make it up to you,” Smith concluded.
Next month when Smith returns to the road, he will make his way to various festivals including Summerfest, Country Thunder Saskatchewan, Country Boom Festival and more before rejoining Aldean on July 17.
As for Chris Janson, he just released his patriotic anthem, “This Flag,” and has performances scheduled through October.
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