Photo: Wayne Mills / Facebook

A US country and western singer has been shot dead by a bar owner in a row over the musician smoking in a Nashville bar.

Singer Wayne Mills was reportedly shot dead by Chris Ferrell, owner of the Pit and Barrel bar in downtown Nashville. Ferrell claims he shot Mills in self defence. There have been no arrests over the incident and Ferrell is not in police custody.

"We’re investigating Chris Ferrell’s claims of self-defence," said police spokeswoman, Kris Mumford.

The two men are believed to have become involved in an argument over Mills' smoking in the bar.

Mills was the frontman of The Wayne Mills Band, who, in their time, had had the likes of Jamey Johnson, Blake Shelton and Taylor Hicks support them on tour. Following the news of Mills' death, Blake Shelton tweeted: "Extremely sad to hear about the death of my old friend Wayne Mills."