Granger Smith and his wife, Amber Smiththey reflect on how their family has dealt with unimaginable loss after the drowning of their 3-year-old son River.
Appearing on the Thursday, July 9, episode of the “Two Things with Shawn and Andrew” podcast, Amber shared that each family member “grieved in a different way” after River's death in 2019. (Granger, 46, and Amber, 44, also share London, 14, and Lincoln, 12. They welcomed their fourth child, Maverick, in August 2021.
“We lost our son Mfula by drowning in our yard and as you can imagine, as a mother and father, it turned our world upside down and we didn't know if our family would survive, if our marriage would survive, if we could find happiness again,” said Amber.
She continued, “So, we just experienced grief and pain together, in a very different way. We both cried in a very different way, our children cried in a very different way.”
Amber added that she had just begun her faith journey at the time of River's death and had just started attending Bible studies and church. He explained his religion and it helped him to overcome grief.
“I had little bits and pieces of text in my heart so when I was in the bathroom crying and so sad, I knew I didn't want to stay there,” she shared. “I had a husband and I had two other children who needed me, so I ran to the Lord and sought light and hope.”
Amber and Granger Smith.
(Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images for PureFlix)In June 2019, Granger took to Instagram to announce the sad news of their son's death.
“I have to deliver unimaginable news,” the country singer wrote on Instagram at the time. “We have lost our youngest son, River Kelly Smith. After a tragic accident, and despite the best efforts of the doctor, he did not recover.” Amber and I made the decision to say our last goodbyes and donate her organs so that other children can be given a second chance at life. Our family is devastated and saddened, but we take comfort in knowing that she is with her Father.”
Granger Smith and his wife, Amber Smith, vowed to stay together after the tragic death of their three-year-old son. “I think we saw early on that a lot of couples don't work out,” Granger, 46, said on the Wednesday, May 6, episode of Jinger and Jeremy's podcast. “I don't know the numbers, but it's over […]
The “Backroad Song” singer added: “Riv was special. Everyone who met him knew that immediately. The joy he brought to our lives cannot be expressed and his light will forever be in our hearts. If there are words to say more, I don't have them at this moment. Love those close to you. There has never been a more difficult moment for us than this.”
