Granger Smith and his wife, Amber, are speaking about how grief moved through their family after the death of their 3-year-old son, River.
People reported that the couple discussed River’s death during a July 9 appearance on Couple Things with Shawn Johnson and Andrew East. River died in 2019 following an accidental drowning.
Amber said the loss left her and Granger wondering whether their marriage and family would survive, and whether they would ever feel joy again.
Amber Smith Said the Family Grieved in Different Ways
Amber said she and Granger had been in a happy season before River’s death. Granger was balancing a demanding country-music career with life at home, and the couple was raising three young children.
Amber said River’s death “flipped” their world upside down and left the family trying to survive a kind of pain none of them processed in the same way. She said she and Granger navigated the grief together, but differently. Their children did the same.
“Our children grieved very differently,” Amber said, according to People. She explained that each family member had to respond to River’s absence in an individual way.
Her Faith Became a Source of Strength
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Amber said she had not grown up in a religious household, but began exploring Christianity about a year before River died. She started attending Bible studies, going to church and reading devotional material.
Amber said she had pieces of scripture in her heart by the time her family entered its most painful season.
She recalled crying on the bathroom floor and feeling frozen by grief, but said her faith helped her recognize that she did not want to remain there. She said Granger and their two surviving children still needed her.
The Loss Tested Their Marriage
Amber said River’s death left her questioning whether her marriage would survive. Granger has also spoken publicly about the emotional crisis he experienced after their son died.
In a separate People report about Amber’s memoir The Girl on the Bathroom Floor, the outlet reported that Amber wrote about learning years later that Granger had nearly attempted suicide after River’s death.
People previously reported that Granger and Amber made a pact after River’s death to stay together and not allow the tragedy to destroy their relationship.
Granger continued performing after River’s death, but later stepped away from his country-music touring career. People reported in 2023 that he announced his Like a River tour would be his last so he could focus on ministry at his local church outside Austin, Texas.
Amber Said Her Family Gave Her a Reason to Keep Going
Amber said her lowest moments did not disappear quickly, but her responsibility to Granger, London and Lincoln helped pull her forward while she continued grieving River.
The Smiths later welcomed another son, Maverick, in 2021.
People has reported that Granger and Amber are now parents to London, Lincoln and Maverick, while continuing to honor River’s memory through public conversations about grief, faith and water safety.
