For the last 24 years, Granger Smith has been a touring country artists with hits like “Backroad Song,” “Buy a Boy a Ball,” and “Happens Like That.”
Smith even recently found a photo of him on his very first tour 24 years ago and posted it to social media.
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The last several years have brought a lot of change to Smith and his family. On June 6, 2019, Smith’s three-year-old son, River, passed away following a drowning accident at their home. River appears in the music video for “Happens Like That.” A little over two years after River’s passing, Granger and his wife, Amber, welcomed a son named Maverick. They have been open about their grief and their relationship with Christ getting them through the toughest moments of their lives.
In a new social media post on Tuesday (April 11), Granger announced that he will be stepping away from his career as a country music singer, by revealing that his upcoming Like A River Tour (named after his late son), will be his last.
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Instead of touring the country as a singer, Granger will now be shifting to ministry. He will be serving at the local church he and his family attends in Texas, with hopes that one day, he will be ordained and be part of the ministry staff.
“This summer is my last ever tour. I have felt a strong desire to pursue ministry. This doesn’t mean I’m going to start a church or a crusade, or a revival,” he shared. “This means me and my family are going to serve our local church. We’re going to pour into that church as members and have my pastors and elders pour into me and disciple me and teach me as I sit under their wise teaching. Then Lord willing, one day they can affirm me into the next steps of what that might look like to glorify God best from my platform.”
According to PEOPLE, his is also getting his masters degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Smith has already spoken God’s word many times, and often shares these on his social media.
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Watch Granger’s announcement below. We wish him nothing but the best.