Granger Smith’s wife reveals how son’s death nearly broke their family

Country singer-turned-minister Granger Smith and his wife Amber have opened up about the painful journey of losing their 3-year-old son River, revealing that the tragedy changed their family forever and forced each member to process grief in different ways.

The couple spoke on the Couple Things with Shawn Johnson and Andrew East podcast, where Amber shared how faith became a source of strength after River died in a tragic drowning accident in 2019.

Amber said she and Granger had been enjoying what she described as a happy family life before the tragedy, with a strong marriage and three healthy children.

“We were happy. We had three healthy kids,” she recalled.

However, everything changed when River’s death turned their world upside down. Amber said she and Granger struggled with questions about whether their marriage, family, and ability to experience happiness again could survive the loss.

The couple also revealed that they experienced grief differently from each other, while their two surviving children also handled the loss in their own unique ways.

“Our children grieved very differently,” Amber said, explaining that every member of the family had their own emotional journey after River’s death.

Amber revealed that her growing connection to Christianity before the tragedy helped her cope during the darkest moments. She said she had started attending church, joining Bible study groups, and reading devotionals about a year before River’s death.

That foundation became important when she found herself overwhelmed by grief.

Amber recalled moments when she felt completely broken, including sitting on the bathroom floor crying, but said her faith reminded her that she still had a husband and two other children who needed her.

“When I was on that bathroom floor crying and grieving so hard, I knew that I didn’t want to stay there,” she said.

River died in June 2019 after an accidental drowning. Granger and Amber later shared the devastating news publicly, saying their son could not be revived despite doctors’ efforts.

The loss deeply affected Granger Smith, who eventually stepped away from his country music career and moved into evangelical ministry.

Years later, the couple continues to speak about their experience to help others facing grief, while keeping River’s memory alive through their family and faith.