Photo Credit: pitpony.photography, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
As Sam Smith celebrates another year around the sun, we&rsquo;re revisiting the hits, highlights, and headline moments that made them one of the most iconic voices in modern music.
&nbsp;
Breakout and Ballads: The Rise to Fame
&nbsp;<iframe title="Disclosure - Latch ft. Sam Smith" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/93ASUImTedo" width="785" height="442" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Sam Smith first turned heads in 2012 with Latch, their breakout collaboration with 'Disclosure'. But it was 2014&rsquo;s Stay With Me that truly catapulted them to global fame. The ballad soared to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won them four Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year and Best New Artist.
&nbsp;<iframe title="Sam Smith - Stay With Me (Official Music Video)" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pB-5XG-DbAA" width="785" height="442" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Their debut album In the Lonely Hour (2014) was a commercial and emotional knockout&mdash;filled with chart-toppers like I'm Not the Only One, Lay Me Down, and Like I Can. Vulnerable, raw, and vocally unmatched, Smith made heartbreak a genre of its own.
&nbsp;<iframe title="Sam Smith - Lay Me Down (Official Music Video)" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HaMq2nn5ac0" width="785" height="442" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Global Charts and Grammy Gold
&nbsp;
By 2017, Sam Smith had cemented their place on both sides of the Atlantic with The Thrill of It All, which debuted at No. 1 in the US and UK. The album featured Too Good at Goodbyes and Pray, once again balancing gospel-like emotion with radio-ready production.
&nbsp;
As their fame grew, so did their musical range&mdash;and their ability to connect with fans across genres and generations.
&nbsp;
Genre Shift and Dancefloor Energy
&nbsp;
With Love Goes (2020), Sam Smith stepped outside their comfort zone. Tracks like How Do You Sleep?, Promises (with Calvin Harris), and Diamonds introduced a slick, dance-driven sound while still rooted in lyrical intimacy.
&nbsp;<iframe title="Sam Smith &amp; Labrinth - Love Goes (Live At Abbey Road Studios)" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0TpfF9_lk_g" width="785" height="442" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
This sonic evolution allowed Smith to explore new themes&mdash;self-love, freedom, and unapologetic expression&mdash;all while keeping their signature vocal depth intact.
&nbsp;
The &ldquo;Unholy&rdquo; Era: Bold, Queer, and Unforgettable
&nbsp;
In 2023, Smith&rsquo;s album Gloria marked a bold, genre-defying moment. The lead single Unholy, featuring Kim Petras, became a cultural phenomenon&mdash;earning both artists a Grammy and topping charts globally.
&nbsp;<iframe title="Sam Smith, Kim Petras - Unholy (Official Music Video)" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Uq9gPaIzbe8" width="785" height="442" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
It was provocative, unapologetic, and historic&mdash;making Kim the first openly transgender woman to win in that Grammy category, and further proving Smith&rsquo;s ability to shape pop culture conversations through music.
&nbsp;
What&rsquo;s New: &ldquo;Beautiful&rdquo; and a Return to Emotion
&nbsp;
Earlier this year, Sam Smith released Beautiful, a soulful return to their ballad roots. The track speaks to themes of self-worth and healing, with minimalist production that puts their voice front and center.
&nbsp;<iframe title="Sam Smith - Beautiful (Lyric Video)" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DDcRZbf7RkI" width="785" height="442" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
It&rsquo;s a quiet moment of reflection after a loud and fearless few years&mdash;reminding fans that no one does emotional honesty like Sam Smith.
&nbsp;
Happy Birthday, Sam!
&nbsp;
From soul-crushing ballads to dancefloor anthems, Sam Smith&rsquo;s journey has been one of evolution, authenticity, and vocal brilliance. On their birthday, we celebrate not just the hits&mdash;but the way they continue to reshape pop music on their own terms.

On Air Now

Non-Stop Music

You May like

Schedule

Non-Stop Music