Ep. 51 Elaina Smith

EPISODE SUMMARY: Elaina Smith is the Gracie award-winning host of Nights with Elaina, heard on over 150 radio stations. She shares how she became a radio host, her transition from local radio to a syndicated national show, and the challenges and excitement that came with her career.

On this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody, Chachi talks to Elaina Smith about:

1. Getting started in entertainment through internships at Entertainment Tonight and The Insider and doing red carpets while attending SDSU
2. Starting in radio by representing JACK-FM at events and then joining Chainsaw and Dave on-air
3. Getting her name on the Timmy and Elaina show on A1A in Florida and becoming a local celebrity
4. Moving to Nashville to host a syndicated country show
5. The challenging transition from a local to a national radio show and the mentors and supporters who helped her succeed
6. Becoming a solo host after Shawn Parr left the show
7. Launching the Nashville Show in the UK
8. Becoming the voice of the ACM Awards, People Choice Country Awards, the Gracie Awards, and more
9. The importance of building relationships and adapting and innovating in the radio industry, and other advice for younger generations

And more!

ABOUT THIS EPISODE'S GUEST: Every night you can hear Elaina D. Smith interviewing the biggest stars in country music & sharing the inside scoop on what’s happening in Nashville on Nights with Elaina!

While working at Entertainment Tonight & The Insider in Los Angeles, Elaina found her true passion when she got an opportunity to join a morning radio show in San Diego, and never looked back. After a year on a morning show in Florida, Elaina made the move to Nashville and began her long-running syndicated night show, which is nearing a decade on-air!

Elaina is now an ACM & CMA Award-nominated, Gracie Award-winning radio host, heard on Nights with Elaina on 150+ stations internationally!

Outside of her radio show, you might have seen Elaina hosting the Official Red Carpet at the 57th Annual ACM Awards in Las Vegas, playing herself on CMT’s Nashville, introducing artists on some of the biggest stages in the country, or heard her on the award winning Breaking Thru with Elaina podcast, where she has in-depth conversations with artists like Carrie Underwood, Dolly Parton, Trisha Yearwood & Maren Morris about equality in Country Music.

Be sure to follow all of Elaina’s adventures on social media @elainadsmith!

 

ABOUT THE PODCAST: Chachi Loves Everybody is brought to you by Benztown and hosted by the President of Benztown, Dave “Chachi” Denes. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the myths and legends of the radio industry.

PEOPLE MENTIONED:

• Dave, Shelley, and Chainsaw 
• Rick Dees
• Ryan Seacrest
• Jon Bon Jovi
• Marissa Edwards
• Mary Steenburgen
• Ted Danson
• Mike Reilly
• Mike McVay
• Timmy Vee
• Kix Brooks
• Gary Kline
• Ty Bentli
• Shawn Parr
• R Dub!
• John Shomby
• Jason Adams
• Ryan Tedder
• Guy Raz
• Malcolm Gladwell
• Vin Scully
• Paul Williams
• Becky Bennett
• Ellen K
• Randy Thomas
• Lisa Konicki

ABOUT BENZTOWN: Benztown is a leading international audio imaging, production library, voiceover, programming, podcasting, and jingle production company with over 3,000 affiliations on six different continents. Benztown provides audio brands and radio stations of all formats with end-to-end imaging and production, making high-quality sound and world-class audio branding a reality for radio stations of all market sizes and budgets. Benztown was named to the prestigious Inc. 5000 by Inc. magazine for five consecutive years as one of America’s Fastest-Growing Privately Held