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Granger Smith shared his story about deciding to walk away from his career as a country artist to pursue ministry instead. Smith appeared on a recent episode of God’s Country after recording the episode with hosts Dan and Reid Isbell from the 2024 iHeartCountry Festival last month in Austin, Texas.
Smith posted a video on Instagram in April 2023 to announce that he would close a chapter of his life and career after 24 years of touring. He said at that time that he was “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 quip and affirm those next steps. Lord willing, I want to be used to help people find their purpose.”
The After MidNite host said during his conversation with the Isbell brothers that when he made his decision to leave music for ministry, he “was wrestling with, should I just sing a gospel song…in concert? And I couldn’t reconcile it because I would go ‘I’m gonna test my heart.’ And I would get on the stage, and I’d be singing, and I would go, ‘why are those girls not singing along? Why (don’t they) have their hands up?’ Oh. Hey, man, last time we were in Albuquerque this was sold out. I see some chairs back there in the back. Oh. I realized quickly I was in sin. I was glorifying myself. So, when I decided, I need to hang this up, I need to surrender this, and I told my wife [Amber Smith]. I was like, ‘I’m gonna give it up.’ She was like, ‘OK, when?’ I was like, ‘I guess now. I’ll just make an announcement.’ She goes, ‘no, you need to do a farewell tour. You need to announce so the people who have supported you for all these years to see you one more time.’ …She was right.
“It was tough. It was very emotional,” Smith said of his final tour. “I didn’t cry or anything on stage, but it was always — every show was intense and very emotional, looking out into their eyes.” Though he said he was worried about feeling emotional on stage during one of his final two shows at Billy Bob’s Texas, hailed the world’s largest honky tonk, he said he”felt nothing but peace” as he wrapped his farewell tour. Since then, Smith has also published a children’s book, titled Up Toward the Light, about coping with grief and heartache.
Dan and Reid — who have written music for Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Scotty McCreery, Jon Pardi, Lainey Wilson and others — started their weekly podcast this year. Guests appearing on the show so far include HARDY, Dustin Lynch, Colbie Caillat and others.
“One of our favorite things about country music has always been how intertwined it is with the outdoors,” Dan and Reid Isbell said in a statement when God’s Country launched. They hope to “bring the outdoor enthusiast or country music lover an up close and personal look into the minds of some of the best songwriters and artists of the genre — a place where they can be honest about struggles, relationships, their connection to the outdoors, the music business, family, whatever they feel comfortable talking about. We can’t wait to see where this partnership will lead and who this podcast will reach.”
The iHeartPodcasts/MeatEater show is available anywhere you listen to podcasts, including in the iHeartRadio app. Select country stations will broadcast the show between 7-11:30 p.m. local time on Sunday evenings. Find God's Country here.