Country Singer Nate Smith Drops Over 70 Lbs. — See His Transformation Photos

"I knew I was hurting myself, but I couldn't stop." Nate Smith once admitted.

Nate Smith has come a long way since reaching that painful realization. The country singer has now lost more than 70 pounds, and photos showing his dramatic transformation have fans praising his new look.

The change followed a difficult period for Smith, whose rising career placed increasing demands on his body. After a severe upper respiratory infection in November 2024, he began confronting his overeating, drinking, and how "rough" he felt at his heaviest.

"It was like looking at this mountain and wondering, 'How do I get up there?' I didn't even know where to start," Smith recalled in an interview with PEOPLE. But Smith did start. By cutting back on alcohol, increasing his protein intake, and reducing his daily calories, he went from 280 pounds to 225 pounds within four months — and his progress did not stop there.

For Smith, getting healthier also became closely tied to the demands of his music career. The singer's road to country stardom had been a long one, and after finally finding success, he wanted the stamina to make the most of it.

According to Billboard, Smith learned to play guitar at 13 and became a worship leader at 16 in his hometown of Paradise, California. He later worked as a certified nursing assistant before moving to Nashville at 23 to pursue music. His first attempt to build a music career did not unfold as he had hoped, and Smith eventually returned to Paradise in 2011.

Seven years later, the devastating Camp Fire destroyed his home and nearly cost him his life. "If I had stayed in that apartment another hour, I wouldn't have lived," he said. The disaster eventually helped inspire "Wildfire," the song that changed his career.

After returning to Nashville in 2020, Smith saw the track go viral on TikTok, helping him secure management, publishing, and record deals. His career soon took off. Smith released his self-titled debut album in 2023, launched his biggest headlining tour at the time in early 2024, and scored major success on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.

Yet, amid that momentum, Smith was already thinking about his health. He told Billboard that he had started eating more protein and had stopped drinking at the time, recognizing how physically demanding his work had become.

"The name of the game is don't get sick and have endurance and be in shape," he explained. "This is an athletic thing, and I didn't realize that… I love to party, but it's just slowing me down."

The respiratory illness later became a major turning point. A post shared on PEOPLE Magazine's Facebook page explained that Smith decided to take control of his health in 2024 after a serious illness prompted him to embrace a healthier lifestyle following years of struggling with his body image.

Smith has been candid about the fact that his journey has not required complete perfection. While discussing his progress, he acknowledged that he still struggles with binge eating and is learning to treat certain foods as occasional indulgences rather than everyday habits. "I still struggle with some binge eating," he told PEOPLE. "And if I want to have it, I'm going to have it."

"But I want to find a way to make it a treat versus a lifestyle thing. If I decide I'm going to have mac and cheese, it's okay," he continued. As the pounds came off, Smith began documenting major milestones. In a Facebook update, he revealed that he had lost 71 pounds, writing, "Another milestone reached today."

Fans quickly filled the comments with reactions, with some focusing on Smith’s slimmer appearance and others noting that they could still recognize the singer they had always known. "His facial features didn't change as hard as some," one person observed.

"So handsome and an amazing singer," another commenter wrote. "He looks fantastic and healthy!!" one fan exclaimed. "Still handsome!" another person added.

Smith, now 40, has no plans to stop at his latest milestone. While attending Sports Illustrated and Tight End University’s Tight Ends & Friends Concert at The Pinnacle in Nashville on June 23, he told PEOPLE that he already had another number in mind.

"I think I want to get under 200 lbs.," Smith revealed. "So I was like 275 lbs., somewhere in that world. But I want to get down to like 185 lbs. again."

The number on the scale is only one part of his motivation. Smith said his ability to perform with more energy is also driving him to continue. "Keeping the energy on stage and making sure I do that, because I think that takes care of the fans," he explained.

"I just feel better. It's nice to be able to wear clothes that I like," Smith said. At the June event, he proudly pointed to the size of his outfit as another sign of his progress.

"This is a large," Smith said. "I've been double X for the last five or six years, so I'm feeling really good." Some of the changes he has noticed are even more practical. Smith said he no longer sweats as much and can now move around with far greater ease than before.

"I don't sweat anymore, which is amazing," he shared. "I used to be totally out of breath tying my shoes," Smith added. "I can jump around a lot more." Even before reaching his latest milestone, Smith acknowledged that he still had a way to go. At the same time, he recognized how much better he already felt than when he started.

"I'm not even close to my goal," he told PEOPLE at the time. "But I'm way happier where I'm at, and I feel like better about the way I look."

See how the country singer's appearance has transformed in the images below:

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