Canaan Smith Talks Life on the Road With ‘Class Act’ Duo Sugarland

Each day, newcomers in Nashville dream about what it would be like to land that sweet gig opening shows for a country music superstar on a major tour. For Mercury Records' Canaan Smith, that dream became a reality earlier this year when Sugarland asked the charming and handsome singer-songwriter to be the opener on their 2012 In Your Hands Tour.

The trek launched in April, and the run has been nothing short of amazing for Smith. "It's just a perfect fit for my music," Smith tells Taste of Country. "The music that they make is very suited to what I do and the audiences that they draw. It’s perfect, I think. They are such class-act people, and those are the kind of people I want to be around."

The 45-date tour with the famed 'Stay' duo has also been a great tool for the young star on the rise to learn from and apply to his own career, which is still in the making. "I’m just going to soak it all up," Smith says with a smile. "I really am, because they’re pros. Kristian's a good friend of mine. We’ve written songs together. He’s just such a nice guy."

Smith already had the opportunity to open for Sugarland once in 2011, just two days after the heartbreaking tragedy in Indiana. "What was so impressive was they were still so gracious and they cared about me," Smith recalls. "They wanted to make sure I was comfortable out there. They wanted to be sure to take care of us. Not a lot of people would be able to pull that off or even care. They were just pros, so I’m super grateful for the invitation to be out there on the road with them. I’m really excited."

Smith is putting the finishing touches on his very first album, slated for release later this year. The record's first release, 'We Got Us,' is at radio now.