Granger Smith arrives on the 54th annual Academy of Nation Music Awards on the MGM Grand Backyard Area on Sunday, April 7, 2019, in Las Vegas. Jordan Strauss/Invision/Related Press
Granger Smith arrives on the 53rd annual Academy of Nation Music Awards on the MGM Grand Backyard Area on Sunday, April 15, 2018, in Las Vegas. Jordan Strauss/Invision/Related Press
It’s not daily that a nation music star leaves music manufacturing to spend extra time at their native church, however that’s precisely what Granger Smith introduced he’s doing.
Smith, born in Dallas, Texas, has been singing nation music since he was 19 years outdated. A few of his most well-known songs are “Backroad Tune,” “If the Boot Suits” and “Occurs Like That.” With a transparent voice and a traditional nation model, Smith’s music has themes of religion, household and the great, sluggish life working all through it.
On Tuesday, Smith introduced his determination on social media. He began by studying a Bible verse from Mark 8, which he mentioned modified his life: “Jesus says if anybody would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and comply with me.” Smith mentioned he and his household determined that, after a prolonged music profession, it was time for him to enter ministry.
He mentioned he has no plans to begin a church or a revival. He added that he feels he has extra to study earlier than he might take into consideration that step. “We’re going to pour into that church as members, and have my pastors and elders pour into me and disciple me and train me, as I sit beneath their smart instructing,” he mentioned. “Hopefully someday they will affirm me into the subsequent steps of what that may appear to be, to glorify God greatest from my platform.”
Regardless that he’s a rustic music star, Smith has talked brazenly about his religion for a very long time. “Sinner saved by Grace” seems in his social media bios and it’s not unusual for him to share Bible verses on social media.
Since 2017, the star has additionally had a podcast, “The Granger Smith Podcast.” Broadly talking, it’s one thing of a way of life podcast, however he steadily brings up his religion and household. For Smith, each religion and household are essential.
His spouse, Amber Smith, is lively on social media, with a following of 279,000 on Instagram. She additionally has a podcast known as “Come up with Amber,” the place she discusses her religion, marriage, therapeutic and different associated matters.
On Instagram, Granger Smith mentioned his entire household will spend extra time giving to their native church and that he and Amber got here to this determination collectively.
Whereas he’s been making ready for his now closing summer time tour, Smith has been hitting the books. In his video posted on Instagram, he revealed he’s been working towards incomes a grasp’s diploma from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary — a seminary which prepares Baptist church members to turn into pastors and lively in ministry.
Granger Smith arrives on the 53rd annual Academy of Nation Music Awards on the MGM Grand Backyard Area on Sunday, April 15, 2018, in Las Vegas.
Jordan Strauss/Invision/Related Press
Behind the choice to pursue ministry was him feeling like he was exalting himself by way of music, per “Good Morning America.” He mentioned, “I can’t go to seminary and pursue ministry and be poured in by my pastors and elders after which exit on weekends and attempt to be exalting myself. I believe that’s a contradiction and it’s nothing towards anybody else that may do music and achieve denying themselves, I simply — I’m not excellent at it.”
Smith additionally mentioned in an interview with Folks he’s releasing his memoir “Like a River: Discovering the Religion and Energy to Transfer Ahead After Loss and Heartache” on Aug. 1. River Smith was Granger Smith’s 3-year-old son who died in a drowning accident.
River’s dying was the darkest time of Smith’s life. In a 2020 interview with Folks, he mentioned he nonetheless struggles with guilt over his little one’s dying — which was dominated an accident. He mentioned his solely supply of energy throughout this time was his religion. “For me, that’s just about all I’ve had. My mind shouldn't be able to calculating that magnitude of a loss, after which I've to understand that I don’t must. I can lean on a better energy for that and know that my little boy is in a greater place.”
In his quickly to be launched memoir, Smith discusses the impression of River’s dying on him. After River died, Smith mentioned he struggled to carry out on stage and replayed the occasion over and over in his thoughts. He mentioned a non secular expertise modified him and was formative in his testimony, which is included within the memoir.
“There’s issues in right here which can be extraordinarily weak. It’s very private. However the overwhelming feeling was that if my story might assist others, then it’s value it, then it issues,” he mentioned to Folks. His final tour can be named after his memoir — a transfer he mentioned that was purposeful.
Smith’s plan going ahead is to complete the tour after which spend his days at his native church. When he was asserting his determination, he mentioned, “I simply wish to glorify God the easiest way that I can.”