Granger Smith | |
---|---|
Birth name | Granger Kelly Smith |
Also known as | Earl Dibbles Jr. |
Born | Dallas, Texas, U.S. | September 4, 1979
Genres | Country |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, radio host, minister |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar |
Years active | 1998-present |
Labels | Thirty Tigers, Wheelhouse |
Website | www |
Granger Kelly Smith (born September 4, 1979), [1] [2] also known by his stage name, Earl Dibbles Jr., [3] is an American Southern Baptist minister and former country music singer and songwriter. He has released eleven studio albums, one live album, and two EPs. "Backroad Song" became his lone number-one single in 2016 and he had a second top ten hit with "If the Boot Fits" in 2017.
Smith was born in Dallas, Texas. At 14, he became interested in music and decided to pursue it as a hobby, teaching himself guitar. [4] After graduating from Lake Highlands High School in 1998, Smith attended Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, and was a member of the Corps of Cadets. After his second year, he moved from Texas to Nashville after signing a songwriting contract with EMI Music Publishing. Later, in 2005, he returned to Texas and re-enrolled at Texas A&M to complete his degree. He continued to play live and record music, including "We Bleed Maroon", an homage to his alma mater and fellow Aggies. [5]
Granger Smith was signed to a contract at the age of nineteen in Nashville. He performed three times at the White House, and in 2008 he traveled to perform for soldiers in Iraq and Kuwait. [4] His 2013 album Dirt Road Driveway peaked at number 15 on US country charts and number 11 on US indie charts.
On August 12, 2015, Smith announced he had signed with Broken Bow Records imprint Wheelhouse Records. Smith's EP 4x4 was co-produced by Smith and Frank Rogers. The album debuted on the Top Country Albums chart at number 6, and reached number 51 on Billboard 200. The lead single from the album was "Backroad Song", which sold over 32,000 downloads in its first week of release.
Some of Smith's recordings made use of a stage name named Earl Dibbles Jr. [6]
In December 2018, Smith released a single from his soundtrack album called They Were There, A Hero's Documentary, which came out on November 30, 2018. [7] "They Were There" and its music video came out on the same day, December 7, 2018. [8]
On July 19, 2019, Smith performed for an audience of 86,000 as the opening act for the Garth Brooks Stadium Tour at the Albertsons Stadium in Boise.
On January 1, 2022, Smith took over After MidNite, Premiere Networks' long-running overnight country radio show. The show had previously been hosted by Blair Garner, then Cody Alan. Later that year, he joined Canadian country music group High Valley on their single "Country Music, Girls and Trucks". [9]
In November 2022, Smith released his eleventh studio album Moonrise. The album was featured in the Pure Flix film of the same name, which Smith starred in, released on December 15, 2022.
On April 11, 2023, Smith announced that he would be leaving country music touring in order to focus on ministry at his church in Austin, Texas. His "Like A River Tour" served as his farewell tour. The tour concluded on August 26, 2023. [10]
He married Amber Emily Bartlett on February 11, 2010. They met on the set of the music video for Smith's song "Don't Listen to the Radio", and she has been featured in several of his music videos since. The couple has one daughter and three sons. [11]
On June 6, 2019, Smith announced that the couple's youngest son, River Kelly Smith, had died following a drowning accident at their home. [12] River had previously appeared in the video for "Happens Like That". [11]
On March 11, 2021, Smith and his wife announced they were having their fourth child, a boy, in August. [13] Their son, Maverick Beckham Smith, was born August 20, 2021. [14]
Smith is a Christian.
Headlining:
Supporting:
Title | Year | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Granger Smith: A Documentary | 2014 | Himself | Director and Producer | [18] |
They Were There, A Hero's Documentary | 2018 | Himself | Director and Producer | [19] |
Moonrise | 2022 | Will Brown | Lead actor, producer | [20] |
Year | Title | Publisher | ISBN | Pages |
---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | If You're City, If You're Country | BMG | 194702616X | 104 |
2023 | Like A River | Thomas Nelson | 88113992X | 208 |
2024 | Up Toward the Light | 1400241723 | 34 |
Year | Award | Category | Recipient/Work | Result | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | BMI Awards | BMI Country Award | "Backroad Song" | Won | [21] |
2017 | iHeartRadio Music Awards | Best New Country Artist | Granger Smith | Nominated | [22] |
2020 | CMT Music Awards | Best Quarantine Song | "Don't Cough on Me" | Won | [23] |
2023 | K-LOVE Awards | Film/Television Impact | "Moonrise" | Won | [24] |
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"Backroad Song" is the major-label debut single by American country music artist Granger Smith. It was initially released to radio independently on March 24, 2015, but was officially re-released to radio on October 5, 2015 via Wheelhouse Records. It is included on his major label debut album, Remington, released March 4, 2016. The song was written by Smith and Frank Rogers. It garnered positive reviews from music critics who praised Smith's vocal performance and his detail-oriented lyrics with Rogers.
4x4 is the second extended play by American country music artist Granger Smith. It serves as his official debut EP to mainstream radio. The album's first single, "Backroad Song", was released to digital retailers and radio on March 24, 2015. Also included on the album is a song from his comedic alter-ego "Earl Dibbles Jr.". This extended play is also a preview of Smith's upcoming debut major label album, "Remington", which was released on March 4, 2016.
Dirt Road Driveway is the seventh studio album from American country music artist Granger Smith. Released on 16 April 2013, the work was published via Pioneer Music, with distribution from Thirty Tigers.
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Granger Smith is an American country music artist. His discography comprises eleven studio albums, one live album, two extended plays and 23 singles.
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"If the Boot Fits" is a song recorded by American country music artist Granger Smith. It was released to radio on March 14, 2016, as the second and final single from his major label debut album, Remington. The song was written by Jordan Schmidt, Andy Albert and Mitchell Tenpenny.
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