Granger Smith is incorporating why he felt called to leave country music in his sermons. Last year, the country music community was shocked to hear that Granger Smith was
leaving country music because he felt called to pursue a career in ministry. He made the announcement in April last year and shared that he would be doing a series of shows that would serve as a "farewell tour." https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cq5xPfLAHOl/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=bd8550ef-4708-407c-9321-0120fbb0286b Before his last show, at Billy Bob's Texas, Granger Smith shared with fans the
"real reason" he decided he no longer wanted to be a touring musician.
“There is not another number-one song I could write. There is not another album I could release or sold-out concert I can perform that is more important than what I’m telling you right now. I wonder if there’s anyone here this morning that’s chasing something like I was, that’s getting in the way of knowing God more. I don’t want the Granger Smith name to be famous. Instead, I want to proclaim the name of Christ, the one that washed me clean, the one that has freed me from my shame and guilt, the one that gave me a new heart. I want Him to be known, and I want you to know Him, and I want to know Him more. THAT is the real reason I’m leaving touring.” Granger said he was at peace with his choice to leave the music industry and has since been preaching the Word to folks via his podcast, at church, and streamed sermons. Since changing his career path, Smith has been called out for saying controversial things, like this clip in which he believes it's "sinister" to tell your kids you are proud of them. https://www.instagram.com/p/DAR1-G0s5S4/ In a new clip Smith shared, he notes in the caption many also will deem this one as offensive:
"This might be offensive— I realize that about a lot of things I say these days. That’s not my end goal. But offense is an acceptable side effect of truth telling." The comment was in response to a question from an audience member about how his relationship with his wife and children has been affected since the tragic death of their son River.
River sadly passed away a few years ago in a drowning accident at the family's home. After 5 years, Granger says that his wife and family, and even River himself, are in a better place as a result of horrific accident. He acknowledges how tough to it is to say that, but argues that it is true. During his sermon, he notes that God intervened in his life via that tragedy, and that led him to step away from country music because he was promoting the wrong message on the road. He notes that he was not focused on genuine Christianity when he was touring, often partying with fans during performances instead of being solely focused on his faith.
"The Lord used that suffering to crush me and break me. And the reality is if He hadn't done that, I'd still be lost in that cultural Christianity out there playing concerts, glorifying drinking beer, singing all the things about country music, and getting everyone else to party with me. And that would have led me straight to hell. So the Lord intervened in a radical way, and through that, I'm here speaking to these men, and I'm here speaking tomorrow morning. If the Lord hadn't done it in that way, I'd be in a bad spot. So, I have to say, the Lord knew what He was doing." https://www.instagram.com/p/DATpjdYJ4Yu/ You can listen to the full clip in a larger context from the sermon below: https://youtu.be/-BEIoYM-riQ?si=6gMaxNv5lqcJp3H5&t=4121
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