Granger Smith leaving country music behind. The country singer announced on Tuesday (April 11th) that moving forward he will focus on ministry over music.
The singer, also known by his alter ego Earl Dibbs, Jr, has released 11 albums throughout the course of his career.
He will wrap up his musical journey with his Like a River Tour, named for his three-year-old son River who died in a drowning accident in 2019. The tour wraps up in August and Smith told fans on social media, “I have felt a strong desire to pursue ministry. This doesn’t mean I’m going to start a church, but this is a time of learning and growing for me.”
“I’m so hopeful about this future,” he shared. “Amber and I have been totally united on this. I know there are going to be a lot of questions and I’m going to try to stay engaged. I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to be here.”
Granger spoke with PEOPLE about his change in direction saying, “Being a musician was never a prison, but this is a new passion, a new focus, a new direction that I believe is going to allow me to focus more on individual people and their lives, which is ultimately why I started music touring in the very beginning.”
He also told the outlet that he has been working towards a master’s degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary but he’s “not Pastor Granger.”
“I could deceive myself thinking, ‘Oh, I got a calling from God to go off and start a church,'” he says. “That’s like the equivalent of a young athlete in college going, ‘I’m going to declare for the NFL draft.’ You need to learn under the players and the coaches until it’s time, and then they’ll all affirm that it’s time to go into the NFL.”
Smith has a book set for release on August 1st titled Like a River: Finding the Faith and Strength to Move Forward After Loss and Heartache.
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