Granger Smith Takes Final Bow Before Leaving Country Music To Pursue Ministry: “It’s Been Such A Privilege”

“There is not another #1 song I can write, album I can release, sold out concert I can perform, that is more important than this,” Smith admitted.

By

Andrew Wendowski

Andrew Wendowski is the Founder and CEO of Music Mayhem. As a 29-year-old entrepreneur, he oversees content as the Editor-In-Chief for the independent brand. Wendowski, who splits time between Philadelphia, Penn., and Nashville, Tenn., has an extensive background in multimedia. Before launching Music Mayhem in 2014, he worked as a highly sought-after photojournalist and tour photographer, collaborating with such labels as Interscope Records and Republic Records. He has captured photos of some of the biggest names, including Taylor Swift, Metallica, Harry Styles, P!NK, Morgan Wallen, Carrie Underwood, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Shania Twain, and hundreds more. Wendowski’s photos and freelance work have appeared nationwide and can be seen everywhere from ad campaigns to various publications, including Billboard and Rolling Stone. When Wendowski isn’t running Music Mayhem, he enjoys spending time at concerts, traveling, and capturing photos.

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Posted on August 29, 2023

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Granger Smith; Photo Courtesy of Instagram

Granger Smith is officially ready to hang up his guitar in a professional capacity, playing his final show before leaving the music business to pursue ministry.

The singer used Instagram on Tuesday to share a photo from his last show as a touring musician, which took place on Saturday (Aug. 26). The snap was a selfie of Smith on stage with the audience behind him, and he dubbed the image “a keepsake” from his final concert, beginning a lengthy message in which he reflected on his decision to leave behind his musical career and the reason behind it.

“It’s been such a privilege to claim that job title for so many years!” Smith wrote, adding that he wanted to be clear that “this is not retirement,” since he isn’t “quitting work altogether.”

“It’s also not because I’m burned out or unwell or sick or heartbroken or grieving,” he continued. “I am more at peace and more free than any other time of my life. It’s not for any of those reasons.”

Takes A Final Bow

He went on to quote Matthew 13:44, which reads, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

“Knowing Jesus and telling others about Him is the treasure of my life,” Smith explained. “And I want you to know this, so you can have Him as your treasure too. I want my family to experience it and my kids to know this joy. I don’t want a career based upon building a name for myself to get in the way of that, no matter what kind of popularity or career I’ve gained.”

The Texas native added that “there is not another #1 song I can write, album I can release, sold out concert I can perform, that is more important than this.”

Photo Courtesy of Granger Smith
Photo Courtesy of Granger Smith

“The Real Reason I’m Leaving Music Touring”

He continued by explaining that he doesn’t want his own name to be the well-known one, but instead wants “to proclaim the name of Christ,” which he shared was “the real reason I’m leaving music touring.”

Smith told fans that when they hear his name from now on, “my goal is NOT for you to say: ‘He was a great singer.’ Or ‘a great speaker’ or ‘author’ or not even what a ‘great loss he suffered.’”

“Instead, when you hear my name, I want you to think, ‘Granger Smith? Oh, I’ve heard of him. What a great Savior we have in Jesus!’” he continued, concluding, “I hope to see y’all soon on a new kind of stage.”

Granger Smith announced his career change in April, sharing a video on Instagram that he wrote was “so difficult to post.”

Final Tour As A Musician

Revealing that his Like a River Tour this summer would be his last, the 43-year-old wrote that he is “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,” he told fans. “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.”

Granger Smith; Photo by Andrew Wendowski
Granger Smith; Photo by Andrew Wendowski

He added that he was pursuing his Master’s in Theology and attending seminary at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with plans to focus on ministering at his local church.

Additionally, Granger Smith’s Like A River Tour was named after his recently released book of same name, which documented his and his family’s journey after Smith and wife Amber’s 3-year-old son, River, died in a drowning accident in 2019.

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Andrew Wendowski is the Founder and CEO of Music Mayhem. As a 29-year-old entrepreneur, he oversees content as the Editor-In-Chief for the independent brand. Wendowski, who splits time between Philadelphia, Penn., and Nashville, Tenn., has an extensive background in multimedia. Before launching Music Mayhem in 2014, he worked as a highly sought-after photojournalist and tour photographer, collaborating with such labels as Interscope Records and Republic Records. He has captured photos of some of the biggest names, including Taylor Swift, Metallica, Harry Styles, P!NK, Morgan Wallen, Carrie Underwood, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Shania Twain, and hundreds more. Wendowski’s photos and freelance work have appeared nationwide and can be seen everywhere from ad campaigns to various publications, including Billboard and Rolling Stone. When Wendowski isn’t running Music Mayhem, he enjoys spending time at concerts, traveling, and capturing photos.

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