Christian Music News: Country Star Granger Smith Shares New Details Of Upcoming Memoir (2024)

Country music fans and readers alike can now get an intimate look into the life of beloved country artist Granger Smith through his new memoir Like a River: Finding the Faith and Strength to Move Forward After Loss and Heartache (W Publishing Group, a division of Thomas Nelson, August 1, 2023).

Like a River gives readers a powerfully raw account of Smith’s journey through grief and rescue after the tragic drowning death of his three-year-old son, River, in 2019. Smith, a chart-topping country artist known for songs such as “Backroad Song” and “Happens Like That,” has been open about using his music to process his grief and honor his son’s memory. Like a expands on his journey and invites readers to join Smith in reflection and healing. He candidly shares his family’s experiences of navigating loss in the hopes of helping others who may be going through similar experiences.

“I never expected to write a book, but some of the greatest things in life come unexpectedly,” Smith shared. “My book doesn’t hold back. I share everything my family went through—the highs and lows, the good and bad. Writing Like a River was one of the most emotional undertakings I’ve ever been through, but it’s also been one of the most fulfilling.”

Like a River delves into the many ways Smith managed to continue music touring even while enduring debilitating parenting guilt. Smith details how he clung to every piece of self-help literature he could get his hands on. He established a rigid nutrition and exercise program to provide himself structure and help him get through the days. At night, he relied on vaping THC oils to sleep.

“All those things served a purpose in helping me navigate my river of sorrow,” said Smith, using the water-inspired imagery which carries though his book. “I was doing all this to control my body in hopes it would help me control my mind.”

What started out as developing healthy habits soon turned into excessive adherence, and Smith realized that those habits themselves had become his addiction. With time, he also discovered that even his measured routines couldn’t keep him from spiraling into what he called his darkest night—one in which he would make a decision that would change his life for better or worse.

We talked to Granger earlier this year about his Faith and the Pure Flix movie he starred in: