More than two years after announcing his transition from the music industry to ministry, Granger Smith appears to have no regrets about his decision.
“I think I became less interested in entertaining people and more interested in helping people,” Smith, 46, told Fox News Digital in an interview published on Thursday, May 14. “That has given me so much joy. I sleep so much better at night knowing that today’s work was enough — it’s not about the next single, the next album, the next tour. That’s an incredibly freeing feeling.”
At the height of his fame, Smith endured the tragic accidental drowning death of his 3-year-old son, River, in 2019. The loss led to a shift in the singer’s priorities, ultimately prompting him to pursue a life and career in Christian ministry.
While Smith still loves the gift of music, he discovered the job took too much time away from his true passions.
“The problem with music for me was never writing songs, singing songs or releasing songs. What became problematic for me was performing on tour for a lot of reasons,” he explained in the interview. “It took me away from my family. It took me away from my local church. I was missing all of that because I was always touring on Saturday nights. It became an idol for me.”
Smith said he also felt uncomfortable being “worshipped” by fans.
“In music, it was usually about trying to get adoration from the crowd, needing applause. It means you’re succeeding in the thing that you’re trying to do, which is dangerous. It’s dangerous for a human,” he argued. “Your heart just breaks for these megastars. The goal of all the touring, all the concerts and all the music releases is ultimate stardom. … The result is a man or a woman who’s lost all sense of who they are.”
As Granger and his wife, Amber Smith, continue raising three additional children, the musician hopes to share more about his faith journey in his upcoming book, Poison in the Well, which is set for release on September 8.
He also hopes to pass along his faith to his own kids: daughter London, 14, and sons Lincoln, 12, and Maverick, 4.
Granger and his family start every day with a Bible story, prayer and a few minutes to sing together. The moments are one the Texas resident cherishes.
“People often ask, ‘Are you done with music? Will there ever be more music from you?’ And the answer was always ‘I don’t know,’” Granger said. “I don’t know what God will do, but God does give each of us certain nuances that we’re better at than other things. And I’ve always loved music, and I’ve always enjoyed speaking through music.”
