View source for Smoke Break

{{Infobox song
| name       = Smoke Break
| cover      = Carrie Underwood - Smoke Break (Official Single Cover).png
| alt        =
| border     = yes
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Carrie Underwood]]
| album      = [[Storyteller (Carrie Underwood album)|Storyteller]]
| released   = {{Start date|mf=yes|2015|08|21}}
| recorded   = 2015
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      = [[Country rock]]
| length     = {{duration|m=3|s=18}}
| label      = [[Arista Nashville]]
| writer     = {{hlist|Carrie Underwood|[[Chris DeStefano]]|[[Hillary Lindsey]]}}
| producer   = [[Jay Joyce]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/carrie-underwood-smoke-break/|title=Carrie Underwood, 'Smoke Break' [Listen]|date=August 20, 2015|work=Taste of Country|accessdate=August 25, 2015}}</ref>
| prev_title = [[Little Toy Guns]]
| prev_year  = 2015
| next_title = [[Heartbeat (Carrie Underwood song)|Heartbeat]]
| next_year  = 2015
| misc       = {{External music video|{{YouTube|3ealNayCkaU|"Smoke Break"}}
 | type   = single
 | header = Music videos
}}
}}

"'''Smoke Break'''" is a song recorded by American [[country music]] artist [[Carrie Underwood]] from her fifth studio album, ''[[Storyteller (Carrie Underwood album)|Storyteller]]''. It was released on August 21, 2015, through [[Sony Music Nashville]], as the album's lead single. It was written by Underwood, [[Chris DeStefano]], and [[Hillary Lindsey]], and was produced by [[Jay Joyce]]. Musically, it has lyrics about escaping life's many stresses.

"Smoke Break" was met with critical acclaim, with music critics describing it as "a homage to hard working people in need of a breather". It quickly became a commercial success, setting an all-time record for the largest first-week adds at [[country radio]]. It went on to reach number one on the ''Billboard'' [[Canada Country]] chart and number two on the ''Billboard'' [[Country Airplay]] chart in the US, becoming her 20th top-two single on the chart.

The song's accompanying music video was directed by Randee St. Nicholas and won the 2016 [[CMT Music Award]] for Female Video of the Year. The song received its first televised performance at ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon]]'', on September 10, 2015.

== Composition ==
"Smoke Break" is a [[country rock]] song that critics have described as "a homage to hard working people in need of a breather".<ref name="Rolling Stone">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/see-carrie-underwoods-smoldering-smoke-break-video-20150825 |title=See Carrie Underwood's Smoldering 'Smoke Break' Video |author=Denise Quan |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=August 25, 2015}}</ref> It has lyrics about escaping life's many stresses.<ref name="Smoke Break lyrics">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/carrie-underwood-announces-new-album-storyteller-20150820 |title=Carrie Underwood Announces New Album 'Storyteller' |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=August 21, 2015}}</ref> About the writing process, Underwood stated that she, Chris DeStefano and Hillary Lindsey "were writing and kept taking breaks to go outside because we were getting a little stuck on a song we were already working on. It was so beautiful outside that we had a hard time focusing, so we decided to write a song about taking breaks! 'Smoke Break' seemed like a great title, so we ran with it!"<ref name="Smoke Break lyrics" />

== Critical reception ==
"Smoke Break" has received rave reviews from music critics. Grady Smith of UK's ''[[The Guardian]]'' acclaimed it, by stating "among all the great music we've been treated to this summer, no song has carried more significance than Carrie Underwood’s excellent new single 'Smoke Break'. Here we have an [[A-list]] star releasing an unabashed [[country rock]] song that isn't trying to chase any sonic trends". He also added that Underwood "has emerged as the leader of country music".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/sep/01/dry-summer-country-music-carrie-underwood-sizzles?CMP=share_btn_tw |title=Carrie Underwood's 'Smoke Break' sizzles in dry summer for country music |author=Grady Smith |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=September 1, 2015}}</ref> Denise Quan of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' praised the song, saying that the singer "pays homage to hard working people in need of a breather" and adding that Underwood puts "a bit more twang in her vocals than usual — a welcome dose of laid-back country cool after a string of glossy, high-octane arena rockers and soaring ballads".<ref name="Rolling Stone" /> Jason Lipshutz of ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' awarded it 3.5 starts out of a possible five, noting Underwood's departure from previous material and stating that "the normally overpolished ''American Idol'' winner wears the song's blue-collar country-rock vibe well".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/6677680/carrie-underwood-smoke-break-nick-jonas-jojo-gorgon-city |title=Is Carrie Underwood's 'Smoke Break' a Smash Hit? Plus More of the Week's Best and Worst Singles |author=Jason Lipshutz |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=August 26, 2015}}</ref> Hugh McIntyre of ''[[Forbes]]'' praised it, saying its lines evokes "some pretty sentimental themes that likely connect with a lot of people" and the song "has the makings of another runaway hit on radio".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2015/08/21/carrie-underwood-releases-surprise-new-single-announces-new-album-storyteller/ |title=Carrie Underwood Releases Surprise New Single, Announces New Album 'Storyteller' |author=Hugh McIntyre |work=[[Forbes]] |date=August 21, 2015}}</ref>

Dee Lockett of ''[[Vulture.com|Vulture]]'' praised it, pointing out that "just as songs about getting trashed will remain a rite of passage in country music, its superstars like Carrie Underwood will continue to find ways to keep them meaningful".<ref name="Vulture">{{cite web|url=http://www.vulture.com/2015/08/listen-to-carrie-underwoods-new-song.html |title=Carrie Underwood's New Song Ruffles Feathers With Supposed Pro-Smoking Message, But That Misses the Point |author=Dee Lockett |work=[[Vulture.com|Vulture]] |date=August 21, 2015}}</ref> Kevin John of ''Country Universe'' praised Underwood's songwriting by saying that "she has the finest singing voice of her generation, but her greatest gift is her ability to express empathy for others through song".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.countryuniverse.net/2015/08/21/single-review-carrie-underwood-smoke-break/ |title=Single Review: Carrie Underwood, 'Smoke Break' |author=Kevin John |work=Country Universe |date=August 21, 2015}}</ref> ''[[Taste of Country]]'' praised the song as well, stating that "it's a song everyone can relate to" and "is easy to wear, and adaptable to life's changing circumstances", and praised Underwood's delivery, saying "she starts soft before soaring into the chorus".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/carrie-underwood-smoke-break |title=Carrie Underwood, 'Smoke Break' [Listen] |work=Taste of Country |date=August 20, 2015}}</ref> [[Robert Christgau]] deemed it as ''Storyteller''{{'}}s most impressive song, "cross-regional, cross-gender, class-conscious ... in which neither the mother of four working three jobs nor the farm family's first college man can do without the occasional drag or drink, sincere Christians though they be".<ref name="Christgau">{{cite web|last=Christgau|first=Robert|authorlink=Robert Christgau|date=July 1, 2016|url=http://noisey.vice.com/blog/expert-witness-brandy-clark-carrie-underwood|title=Tall Tales and Big Country Expert Witness with Robert Christgau|work=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]|accessdate=July 15, 2016}}</ref>

[[WSM-FM]] and [[WKDF]] Nashville Program Director Charlie Cook praised the song as well, saying "the lyrics
address the hectic lives everyone now lives, and the production stands out as a testament that she is willing to take chances, yet play within what her fans expect". [[iHeartMedia]] Senior VP of Programming Gator Harrison said the song is “an anthem for the overwhelmed, something we can all relate to, and amen. It's a smash".<ref name="Billboard">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6685147/carrie-underwood-smoke-break-country-charts-sam-hunt |title=Carrie Underwood's 'Smoke' Rises, Sam Hunt Parties His Way to Another No. 1 |author=Jim Asker |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=September 2, 2015}}</ref>

=== Controversy ===
"Smoke Break" garnered some controversy upon its release, after some listeners accused the song of "trying to promote [[smoking]]".<ref name="Vulture" /> Journalists for vehicles such as ''Vulture'' and ''[[USA Today]]'' went on to defend the song. Dee Lockett of ''Vulture'' stated that the accusation "misses the point" and defended it by saying that "like many of Carrie's narrative-driven songs, though, she's making a larger point. A 'stiff drink' and a 'long drag' are just [[placeholder name|placeholders]] for any vice the overworked might depend on to survive. The concern isn't how Americans cope with their blue-collar lives (though she's by no means undermining the severity of addiction); it's the culture of stress that suffocates everyone that should piss people off".<ref name="Vulture" /> Maeve McDermott of ''USA Today'' says "the song is less a pro-cigarette anthem as it is a tribute to sneaking away from your responsibilities and taking a minute to breathe".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://entertainthis.usatoday.com/2015/08/21/carrie-underwood-smoke-break/ |title=Carrie Underwood tries to make smoking cool again on 'Smoke Break' |author=Maeve McDermott |work=[[USA Today]] |date=August 21, 2015}}</ref>

== Commercial performance ==
"Smoke Break" set, according to ''Taste of Country''{{'}}s Sterling Whitaker, "an all-time record for the largest first-week radio adds in the history of ''Country Aircheck'', with 145 [[Mediabase]] adds and 159 total ''[[Billboard charts|Billboard]]'' and ''Country Aircheck'' reporting stations lined up for the song’s official airplay impact date".<ref name="Rolling Stone" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/carrie-underwood-smoke-break-radio-adds/ |title=Carrie Underwood's 'Smoke Break' Makes History at Country Radio |author=Sterling Whitaker |work=[[Taste of Country]] |date=August 25, 2015}}</ref> Additionally, the single had opening week sales of 56,000 in the United States, debuting at the top of the ''Billboard'' Country Digital Singles chart – her fifth leader on the chart – and moving from number 36 to number five on the ''Billboard'' [[Hot Country Songs]] in its second week on the chart; it eventually peaked on ''Billboard'' [[Hot Country Songs]] at number four on November 24, 2015. It peaked at number one on ''Billboard'' [[Canada Country]] chart, becoming her second single to top that chart, the other being "[[Blown Away (Carrie Underwood song)|Blown Away]]". The song peaked at number two on the ''Billboard'' [[Country Airplay]] chart and both debuted and peaked at number 43 on the ''Billboard'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]] chart.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/country-airplay|title=Country Radio Music Chart – Billboard|magazine=Billboard}}</ref>

As of May 2016, it sold 447,000 copies in the United States.<ref name="us sales">{{cite news |url=http://roughstock.com/news/2016/05/40235-top-30-digital-singles-report-may-5-2016 |title=Top 30 Digital Singles Report: May 5, 2016|first= Matt |last=Bjorke |date=May 5, 2016 |work=Roughstock }}</ref> The song was certified Platinum by the RIAA on January 23, 2020.{{Certification Cite Ref |region=United States |artist=Carrie Underwood |type=single |title=Smoke Break}}

== Music video ==
The accompanying music video was directed by Randee St. Nicholas, who directed Underwood's "[[Blown Away (Carrie Underwood song)|Blown Away]]" music video in 2012, and was shot over two days.<ref name="music video">{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/691812/carrie-underwood-takes-fans-behind-the-scenes-of-her-smoke-break-music-video-watch-the-exclusive-video-now |title=Carrie Underwood Takes Fans Behind the Scenes of Her "Smoke Break" Music Video: Watch the Exclusive Video Now" |author=Zach Johnson |work=E! Online |date=September 1, 2015}}</ref> It premiered on ''[[Entertainment Tonight]]'' on August 24, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.etonline.com/music/170567_exclusive_watch_carrie_underwood_brand_new_smoke_break_video/ |title=EXCLUSIVE: Watch Carrie Underwood's Brand New 'Smoke Break' Video |author=Sophie Schillaci |work=[[Entertainment Tonight]] |date=August 24, 2015}}</ref> Underwood cast "gorgeous, strong women" to play a horse trainer, a truck driver and a waitress. "It just tells a story," Underwood said of featuring blue collar characters. "These are everyday jobs, and we need a break."<ref name="music video" />

The video begins with Underwood driving through the dusty, [[Sepia (color)|sepia]]-washed desert in a vintage [[Ford trucks|Ford truck]]. She passes a busy waitress in a [[diner]], and a businessman struggling with his responsibilities. Then her truck overheats, and she has to hoof it, while a patient [[horse trainer]] and weary welder toil nearby. Underwood hitchhikes the rest of the way to her gig at a neighborhood bar. She takes the stage in front of a small crowd of patrons that includes all the local characters met earlier who were working hard and could use a break. She sings their life story, then moves on to the next dusty town, "like an angel of mercy in [[Daisy Dukes (clothing)|Daisy Dukes]]", ''Rolling Stone'' describes.<ref name="Rolling Stone" />

The video won Female Video of the Year at the 2016 [[CMT Music Awards]], and was also nominated for Video of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.carrieunderwoodofficial.com/carrie-underwood-owned-the-night-at-2016-cmt-music-awards/ |title=Carrie Underwood owned the night at 2016 CMT Music Awards |publisher=carrieunderwoodofficial.com |date=2016-06-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Hudak|first1=Joseph|title=Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Cam Lead CMT Awards Nominees|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/carrie-underwood-chris-stapleton-cam-lead-cmt-awards-nominations-20160509|website=rollingstone.com|publisher=Rolling Stone|accessdate=10 May 2016}}</ref>

== Track listing ==
*'''Digital download'''<ref name="US Release" />
#"Smoke Break" – 3:19

== Live performances ==
Underwood performed the song on television for the first time at ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon]]'', on September 10, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://carrieunderwoodofficial.com/carrie-underwood-to-debut-smoke-break-on-the-tonight-show-starring-jimmy-fallon/ |title=Carrie Underwood to Debut "Smoke Break" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon |work=Carrie Underwood Official Website |date=August 20, 2015}}</ref> Underwood also performed the song at the 2015 [[CMA Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=McClellan|first1=Laura|title=Carrie Underwood Gives Audience A "Smoke Break" At 2015 CMA Awards|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/carrie-underwood-smoke-break-2015-cma-awards/|website=tasteofcountry.com|publisher=Taste of Country|accessdate=17 November 2015}}</ref> She included the song for her performance on [[Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve|''Dick Clark's New Year's Eve'']] special on December 31, 2015.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Angermiller |first=Michele Amabile |date=2016-01-01 |title=Carrie Underwood, Demi Lovato, Luke Bryan and More Ring in 2016 in Times Square for 'New Year's Rockin' Eve' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/carrie-underwood-demi-lovato-luke-bryan-new-years-rockin-eve-times-square-6828860/ |access-date=2022-07-07 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref>

Underwood's live performance at [[CMT (U.S. TV channel)|CMT]]'s ''Instant Jam'' won the 2016 [[CMT Music Award]] for CMT Performance of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.carrieunderwoodofficial.com/carrie-underwood-owned-the-night-at-2016-cmt-music-awards/ |title=Carrie Underwood owned the night at 2016 CMT Music Awards |publisher=carrieunderwoodofficial.com |date=2016-06-10}}</ref>

It was included as one of the encore songs on Underwood's [[Storyteller Tour: Stories in the Round|Storyteller Tour]] alongside "[[Something in the Water (Carrie Underwood song)|Something in the Water]]". Underwood also performed it as part of her set at the [[Glastonbury Festival 2019]].

== Charts ==
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Chart (2015–2016)
!Peak<br />position
|-
{{singlechart|Canada|53|artist=Carrie Underwood}}
|-
{{singlechart|Billboardcanadacountry|1|artist=Carrie Underwood}}
|-
{{singlechart|Billboardhot100|43|artist=Carrie Underwood}}
|-
{{singlechart|Billboardcountryairplay|2|artist=Carrie Underwood}}
|-
{{singlechart|Billboardcountrysongs|4|artist=Carrie Underwood}}
|}
{{col-2}}

=== Year-end charts ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!scope="col"|Chart (2015)
!scope="col"|Position
|-
| US [[Country Airplay]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{Cite magazine | url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2015/country-airplay-songs | title=Best of 2015: Country Airplay | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]] | date=2015 | accessdate=December 9, 2015}}</ref>
| align="center" | 52
|-
| US [[Hot Country Songs]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{Cite magazine | url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2015/hot-country-songs | title=Best of 2015: Hot Country Songs | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]] | date=2015 | accessdate=December 9, 2015}}</ref>
| align="center" | 53
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!scope="col"|Chart (2016)
!scope="col"|Position
|-
| US [[Hot Country Songs]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/hot-country-songs|title=Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2016|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=April 24, 2020}}</ref>
| align="center" | 83
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Carrie Underwood|award=Platinum|type=single|title=Smoke Break|certyear=2020|salesamount=447,000|salesref=<ref name="us sales"/>|digital=true}}
{{Table end}}

== Release history ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ List of release dates, showing region, formats, label and reference
|-
! scope="col"| Region
! scope="col"| Date
! scope="col"| Format(s)
! scope="col"| Label
! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
! scope="row" | Australia
| rowspan="3" | August 21, 2015
| rowspan="3" | [[Music download|Digital download]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Sony Music Nashville]]
| style="text-align:center;" | <ref name="Australian Release">{{cite web|title=iTunes – Music – Smoke Break by Carrie Underwood|url=https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/smoke-break-single/id1031328445|website=[[iTunes Store]]|publisher=[[Apple Inc.]]|location=Australia|date=August 21, 2015}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | United Kingdom
| style="text-align:center;" | <ref name="UK Release">{{cite web|title=iTunes – Music – Smoke Break by Carrie Underwood|url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/smoke-break-single/id1031328445|website=[[iTunes Store]]|publisher=[[Apple Inc.]]|location=United Kingdom|date=August 21, 2015}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" | United States
| rowspan="2"|[[Arista Nashville]]
| style="text-align:center;" | <ref name="US Release">{{cite web|title=iTunes – Music – Smoke Break by Carrie Underwood|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/smoke-break-single/id1031328445|website=[[iTunes Store]]|publisher=[[Apple Inc.]]|location=United States|date=August 21, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| August 24, 2015
| [[Country radio]]
| style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{cite web|title=Future Releases for Country Radio Stations|url=http://www.allaccess.com/country/future-releases|website=Allaccess.com|publisher=All Access Music Group|access-date=August 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150822003545/http://www.allaccess.com/country/future-releases|archive-date=August 22, 2015|location=United States|date=August 24, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=PlayMPE :: Going For Adds :: Country|date=20 August 2015 |url=http://daily.plaympe.com/carrie-underwood-smoke-break|accessdate=August 20, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Rolling Stone new single">{{cite magazine|title=New Single: Carrie Underwood's "Smoke Break"|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/carrie-underwood-announces-new-album-storyteller-20150820|accessdate=20 August 2015|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=20 August 2015}}</ref>
|}

== Awards and nominations ==
=== [[CMT Music Awards]] ===
{{Awards table}}
|-
| align="center"|2016 ||align="center"| "Smoke Break" ||align="center"| Video of the Year<ref>{{cite web|author=Billboard Staff|title=CMT Music Awards 2016: See the Full Winners List|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/7400243/cmt-music-awards-2016-winners-list|website=billboard.com|publisher=Billboard|accessdate=16 June 2016}}</ref>|| {{nominated}}
|-
| align="center"|2016 ||align="center"| "Smoke Break" ||align="center"| Female Video of the Year || {{won}}
{{End}}

=== British Country Music Awards ===
{{Awards table}}
|-
| align="center"|[[British Country Music Awards Awards|2016]] ||align="center"| "Smoke Break" ||align="center"| International  Song of the Year<ref>http://countrymusictattletale.com/2016/07/11/2016-british-country-music-awards-nominees-announced/{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> || {{Nominated}}
{{End}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Carrie Underwood singles}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2015 songs]]
[[Category:2015 singles]]
[[Category:Carrie Underwood songs]]
[[Category:Arista Nashville singles]]
[[Category:Music videos directed by Randee St. Nicholas]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Jay Joyce]]
[[Category:Songs written by Chris DeStefano]]
[[Category:Songs written by Hillary Lindsey]]
[[Category:Songs written by Carrie Underwood]]
[[Category:Songs about tobacco]]