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In an April 11, 2023, Instagram post, country music star, Granger Smith, announced he will be leaving the entertainment industry to work in full time ministry at the church he attends near Austin, Texas.
Smith, 43, will finish off his current singing tour, “Like a River”, on August 26, 2023, before entering full time ministry. Smith added that he has been taking classes at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary located in Wake Forest, North Carolina in preparation for this move.
“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,” Smith explained on Instagram.
Smith’s final tour was named after his three-year-old son, who died in a pool accident in 2019.
Smith has released 11 albums in his 24-year country-singing career that included one number-one hit in 2016, entitled “Backroad Song” and a second song, “If the Boot Fits” that reached the top ten in 2017.
He was also nominated for the best new country artist award by iHeartRadio Music Awards in 2017 and also won the 2020 CMT Music Awards for the ‘Best Quarantine Song’ with “Don’t Cough on me.”
In an interview with Fox News host Trey Gowdy, Smith spoke of his decision to leave the entertainment industry. It wasn’t an easy decision to leave a successful country music career, but added that he now had a higher calling and a sense of purpose.
Smith also shared how God transformed his heart after the heartbreaking loss of his son. It would have been easy to become bitter and angry at God, but instead, it strengthened his faith.
“I have a purpose to go out and share this message about what happened to me for other people who are probably going through the same thing,” Smith said.
He has written a book, entitled Like a River: Finding the Faith and Strength to Move Forward after Loss and Heartache, scheduled for release this summer, where he shares how people can connect with God through difficult times.
READ: Country Star Granger Smith Leaving Music Industry for Ministry ‘to Glorify God the Best Way I Can’ AND Granger Smith surrenders life of fame to glorify God through ministry work: ‘I have a purpose’
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