Robert Ellis "Bobby" Smith III (born February 16, 1995) is the first child and only son of Robert Smith, Jr. and Sheri Smith.
He is the brother of Catherine Kenney and Amanda Smith.
He is the husband of Tori Smith and the father of their children, Kade, Kolter, Charlotte, Cambree and Weston.
Early life[]
Robert Ellis Smith III was born on February 16, 1995, in Florida, to Robert Smith, Jr. and Sheri Smith. He was the couple's first child, and they went on to have two more children after him.
Along with his siblings, Bobby was homeschooled growing up.
Personal life[]
Courting
Courtship[]
Bobby asked Tori Bates to begin dating on February 14, 2016, at her family's "I Love You Day" party.
On February 9, 2017, an episode of the UpTV show Bringing Up Bates, which focuses on Tori's family, featured Bobby asking Tori to enter an official courtship with him. The two met through a mutual friend in 2015 and officially began courting in November 2016.
Engaged
Engagement[]
On September 21, 2017, Bobby and Tori announced that they were engaged. Bobby proposed at Wiseman's View, a scenic overlook in North Carolina.
Just married
Marriage[]
On December 16, 2017, Bobby married Tori Layne Bates at Calvary Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. The wedding was officiated by Tori's father Gil Bates. Bobby's best man was his best friend Kelton Balka. His groomsmen were Tori's brothers Zach, Lawson, Nathan, and Trace, Tori's brother-in-law Chad, and his friends Samuel Fuller, Johnathan Rasmussen, Dillon Richards, and Evan Stewart. The ring bearers were Tori's brothers Judson and Jeb and Bobby's cousin Cole Renner. Tori's matron of honor was her sister Erin and her maid of honor was her sister Carlin. Her bridesmaids were her sisters Michaela, Alyssa, Josie, and Katie, her sister-in-law Whitney, Bobby's sister Catherine, and her friends Abigail Paine and Devonna Killin. The flower girls were Tori's sister Callie, Tori's cousin Charlotte Bates, and Bobby's cousin Grace Renner. Tori's brother Lawson wrote a song titled "One Plus One" for the wedding.
For their honeymoon, Bobby and Tori spent two nights in Gatlinburg before flying out to California. While there, they drove down the Pacific Coast Highway, visited Monterey Bay, and stayed in a Cabin at Yosemite National Park.
Baby Kade
Fatherhood[]
On May 10, 2018, Bobby and Tori announced that they were expecting their first child, due November 2018. On June 21, 2018, they revealed that they were expecting a boy to be named Robert Ellis Smith IV and called Kade. Robert "Kade" Ellis IV was born at 7:45 a.m. on November 9, 2018, at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. He weighed 6 pounds and 1 ounce, and was 18 inches long.
Baby Kolter
On October 18, 2019, Bobby and Tori announced that they were expecting their second child, a boy to be named Kolter Grey Smith, due April 2020. Kolter Gray was born at 4:17 p.m. on March 25, 2020, in Knoxville, Tennessee. He weighed 6 pounds and 6 ounces, and was 20 inches long. They decided to change the spelling of his middle name from "Grey" to "Gray" when filling out his birth certificate.
Baby Charlotte
On January 19, 2021, Bobby and Tori announced that they were expecting their third child, a girl to be named Charlotte Raine Smith, due June 2021. Charlotte Raine was born at 5:35 a.m. on June 24, 2021, in Knoxville, Tennessee. She weighed 5 pounds and 11 ounces, and was 19 inches long.
Baby Cambree
On May 8, 2022, Bobby and Tori announced that they were expecting their fourth child, a girl, due August 2022. Cambree Layne was born at 5:54 p.m. on August 2, 2022, in Knoxville, Tennessee. She weighed 5 pounds and 2 ounces.
On October 12, 2023, Kelly Bates announced that Tori and Bobby were expecting their fifth child. Their oldest son Kade had made a drawing of his family in which his mother was pregnant. Their son, Weston Slade, was born on May 29, 2024, at 5:55 p.m., weighing 6 pounds and 9 ounces, and was 19.75 inches long.
Career[]
Education[]
In 2013, Bobby began attending Pensacola Christian College. While in school, he roomed with Kelton Balka. On May 10, 2017, Bobby graduated with his Bachelor's Degree in Bible and Youth Ministry.
Youth Pastor[]
On May 20, 2018, Bobby began working as the Youth Pastor at Bible Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee. He left this position in early 2019.
Plumbing[]
In early 2019, Bobby began working for The Plumbing Authority in Knoxville, Tennessee.
In January 2020, he started a plumbing service company, Tennessee Standard in Knoxville, Tennessee, alongside his best friend and brother-in-law Kelton Balka.
Television[]
Bobby was regularly featured on the UpTV show Bringing Up Bates, which chronicles the life of his wife Tori's family.
Wedding involvement[]
Bobby was the best man at his best friend Kelton's wedding to Josie Bates on October 5, 2018.
He was a groomsman at his sister-in-law Carlin's wedding to Evan Stewart on May 25, 2019.
He was a groomsman at his sister Catherine's wedding to Aaron Kenney on June 6, 2020.
He was the pianist at his brother-in-law Lawson's wedding to Tiffany Espensen on May 12, 2022.
He was a pianist at his brother-in-law Trace's wedding to Lydia Romeike on October 1, 2022.
