Granger Smith is stepping away from country music.
In a lengthy video he shared to social media earlier today, he announced that his last tour run will be this summer, ending around Labor Day weekend in August.
He explained that he feels called to step away from the music industry and pursue ministry full-time, as he and his family will be pouring into their local church as he also takes seminary classes:
“I have felt a strong desire to pursue ministry, and this doesn’t mean I’m going to start a church or a crusade or a revival, this means that me and my family are going to serve our local church.
We’re going to pour into that church as members, and my pastors and elders pour into me and disciple me and teach me as I sit under their wise teachings.
And then Lord willing, one day, they will affirm me into the next steps of what that might look like to glorify God best from my platform.”
Granger added that he’s also been attending seminary school and also has a book titled Like A River coming out on August 1st.
The book will be about the tragic way he and his wife Amber lost their son River in June of 2019 after a horrific drowning accident, and his faith journey in the wake of that and how God has opened is eyes to so much since then.
He also shared a detailed explanation in the caption, saying it’s been a great 24 years and that he’s looking forward to the next chapter of his life:
“This message is so difficult to post. The words for this caption are so hard to find. Not because I don’t believe in the truth of them, but because this marks the end of the longest era in my life! Touring… 24 years of it.
This summer will be my last tour. I am so encouraged and hopeful and excited and joyful about the next chapter, but to a large extent, I have no idea what it will look like. I just want to glorify God the best way that I can.
I want to learn and grow and serve my local church and allow my pastors to equip and affirm those next steps. Lord willing, I want to be used to help people find their purpose.”
Granger also has a funny after ego named Earl Dibbles Jr. you may have heard of before (or seen on social media), and the Texas native has put out 11 studio albums over the last 20-plus years, the most recent one being his 2022 Moonrise record.
He also shared that it’s become impossible for him to reconcile certain parts of his faith and the way he views the music industry, and you can check out his full video here:
Granger’s song “Backroad Song” reached #1 on the country charts back in 2015:
