Country singer Ernest Keith Smith, who goes by ERNEST, and his wife Delaney Royer welcomed their new baby boy, Ryman Saint Smith, on April 27. Their son was born in Nashville, Tennessee at 12:08pm weighing 6 lbs., 10oz.
“We are SO thrilled to welcome him into this world and watch him grow,” the singer told People. “He has an awful lot of ‘uncles’ here in the country music community and several ‘cousins’ and playmates to grow up with, too. All the clichés you hear about what it feels like holding your baby for the first time are spot on. It was the best day of our lives.”
ERNEST also shared that he and his wife thoughtfully chose their son’s name based on two places they both love.
“Delaney and I have always loved the name Saint, having spent a lot of time in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands,” ERNEST said. “We were married there in January 2017, and frequent the island regularly. We also plan on the little man spending a lot of time there in the future, as well.”
“As for Ryman, the Ryman Auditorium is a staple in Nashville, where Delaney and I were born and raised,” he added. “It’s unique, and having the last name Smith kind of forced us to think outside the box for names.”
The singer, who also hosts a podcast, posted a sweet selfie of himself and their new addition on social media this week. The photo shows Ryman resting on the singer’s chest with the caption, “Young Ryman = new best friend.”
ERNEST also seems to already be introducing his son to music, as he recently posted a video of himself playing piano while holding his son.
The singer and his wife announced their pregnancy news and the baby’s gender in October with a photo of two positive pregnancy tests.
“Well, we tested positive…. (it’s a boy),” ERNEST wrote at the time.