California native Elaina D. Smith has become one of the strongest presences in Country Radio. While working at Entertainment Tonight and The Insider in Los Angeles, Elaina found her true passion when she got an opportunity to work with a popular morning show in San Diego. She caught the bug and never looked back. Since then, Elaina has hosted shows in San Diego, Florida, and is now on over 150 stations here in the states and internationally on NIGHTS with Elaina.
Though her radio career has yet to hit the decade mark, she has already interviewed more artists and performers than most broadcasters do in their entire career and she’s often caught hosting huge country music events around the nation. Also, if there is a Country Music red carpet, she’s on it. Elaina focuses on bringing her listeners as close as possible to Nashville and their favorite stars.
Elaina is a three-time Gracie Award winning, CMA and ACM nominated broadcaster, who also hosts the award winning podcast, “Breaking Thru with Elaina” a female-focused podcast that has featured in-depth conversations with artists like Carrie Underwood, Dolly Parton, Miranda Lambert, Trisha Yearwood, and Maren Morris. She has become one of the strongest voices
leading the conversation within the industry, about the lack of females in Country Music.
In 2019, she launched a brand new syndicated weekend show on the Westwood One Network, “With Elaina”. With the genre becoming more mainstream, Elaina chats with the biggest stars in Country Music about their life, pop culture, nostalgia, and so much more. She also highlights her own life and gives real perspective on whatever is happening in the world. Some of her
celebrity co-hosts have included Garth Brooks, Thomas Rhett, and Keith Urban.
Elaina is also incredibly passionate about giving back to the industry. Some highlights from this past year include becoming a Lifting Lives board member, working on Diversity and Inclusion Task Forces, co-hosting the Gracie Awards with the Alliance for Women in Media, and working closely with the Country Radio Seminar, moderating panels and hosting.
Elaina kicked off the new decade by being named one of RadioInk’s 30 and under Superstars, launching her own syndicated show “Nights with Elaina”, getting married, and becoming a first time homeowner. She has taken her listeners with her every step of the way, and they have been able to hear her grow up right on the airwaves.
Find her @ElainaDSmith across social media!
