Country music stars Connie Smith and Marty Stuart have a love story that started in a very unusual way but grew into a strong and lasting bond. Their story began with music, which played a key role in bringing them together.
When Stuart was just 12 years old, his mother took him to see Smith perform in his hometown of Philadelphia, Mississippi. Even though he was 17 years younger than Smith, he immediately knew she was special.
“She was my mother’s favorite singer,” Stuart tells The Boot. “We had a record of her at our house called Miss Smith Goes to Nashville. It had a beautiful photograph of her on the cover. I thought she was the prettiest girl in the world, so I had my mama take me to buy me a yellow shirt, so Connie would notice me that night.”
The connection was instant.
“After the concert, me and my sister got our picture made with her, and I got her autograph,” Stuart continued.
“On the way home, I told my mama that I was going to marry her,” he added. “It took 25 years to figure it out, but it worked!”
Years later, music would bring them together again. Stuart had started his own career in music, and Smith began to notice him.
“We met and started talking about music,” Smith told CountryThangDaily. “Musically I was really impressed with what he knew and what he talked about. So when I saw him at the Opry after that, I asked him if he’d be interested in working with me.”
Marty Stuart accepted the offer without hesitation.
Smith explained, “after that, we’ve probably written 40 or 50 songs.”
Building a Life Together
While working together, Stuart realized he had deep feelings for Smith. He spoke with his mother for advice, and she encouraged him to follow his heart. Later, Stuart ran into Smith at a grocery store, where they shared their first kiss.
Even with their 17-year age difference and Smith’s previous marriages, the couple dated for three years before marrying in 1997. Together, they have learned the importance of love, trust, and commitment.
Smith told The Boot, “Make the Lord the center … and commit.”
Stuart agreed, saying, “You have to get up every day and go to work on it.”
The couple follows this advice daily, balancing their marriage, family, and music careers. They have a son together, Jesse Scott Stuart, and Stuart has also become a loving stepfather to Smith’s five children from earlier marriages. He treats all of the children equally, showing care and dedication to the whole family.
“With Connie, I have learned about balancing love and music,” Stuart shared with The Boot. “She puts a whole lot more emphasis on family life than I ever did, and she’s been a great sense of balance to me.”
Despite the usual stereotypes about marriage, Connie Smith and Marty Stuart have kept their love strong. The Grand Ole Opry stars focus on what truly matters, proving that love, family, and music can all thrive together.
