Smith and his alter ego Earl Dibbs Jr. will end their careers later this year
Granger Smith has announced that he’s quitting country music to pursue ministry. Smith shared the news to his followers today (Tues, Apr 11th) on social media.
“I have felt a strong desire to pursue ministry, and this doesn’t mean I’m going to start a church or a crusade or a revival, this means that me and my family are going to serve our local church,” he says in the video. “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. And then Lord willing, one day, they will affirm me into the next steps of what that might look like to glorify God best from my platform.”
He says he’s also been attending Southern Baptist Theological Seminary that “takes a ton of time to pursue my [masters degree].”
Smith and his alter ego Earl Dibbs Jr. will wrap up their country music careers following a tour this August.
“This message is so difficult to post. The words for this caption are so hard to find. Not because I don’t believe in the truth of them, but because this marks the end of the longest era in my life! Touring…24 years of it,” he writes.
“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. I want to learn and grow and serve my local church and allow my pastors to equip and affirm those next steps. Lord willing, I want to be used to help people find their purpose.”
In August, Smith will release his book, Like a River: Finding the Faith and Strength to Move Forward After Loss and Heartache, a triumphant story of new life birthed out of tragedy that will teach readers how to face their failures, confront their pain, and connect with God – the true source of life. The project, released via Harper Collins, was inspired by the loss of his youngest son River who drowned in the family pool in 2019.
Smith is an award-winning, Platinum-selling, American country music singer-songwriter who fell in love with music at an early age. Over the course of his groundbreaking career, Smith has amassed a massive and rabid audience known as Yee Yee Nation, built through heavy touring and grassroots fan engagement. He has released ten studio albums, one live album, and two EPs. Smith has charted over eight singles on the Billboard country charts, including the No. 1 hit “Backroad Song.” He is a highly sought-after speaker, actor, author, and host of the nationally syndicated iHeartRadio show After Midnite with Granger Smith. In 2017 he started the Granger Smith Podcast, where he discusses matters of faith, family, music, and the outdoors, while spreading messages of integrity, honor, truth, and restoration grounded in a Christian worldview.
