Granger Smith
Granger Smith | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Granger Kelly Smith |
| Also known as | Earl Dibbles Jr. |
| Born | September 4, 1979 Dallas, Texas |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | 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 alter ego, Earl Dibbles Jr.,[3] is an American country music singer-songwriter. He has released ten studio albums, one live album, and two EPs. He has charted six times on the country airplay, with "Backroad Song", "If the Boot Fits", "Happens Like That", "You're in It", "That's Why I Love Dirt Roads" and "Hate You Like I Love You".
Early life[]
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] At 19, Smith moved from Texas to Nashville after signing a songwriting contract with EMI Music Publishing.
Musical career[]
Granger Smith was signed to a contract at the age of nineteen in Nashville. He has 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 make use of an assistant named Earl Dibbles Jr.[5]
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.[6] "They Were There" and its music video came out on the same day, December 7, 2018.[7]
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.[8]
Personal life[]
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 have one daughter and three sons.[9]
On June 6, 2019, Smith announced that the couple's youngest son, River Kelly Smith, had died following a drowning accident at their home.[10] River had previously appeared in the video for "Happens Like That".[9]
On March 11, 2021, Granger Smith and his wife Amber, announced they were having their fourth child, a baby boy in August.[11] Their son, Maverick Beckham Smith was born August 20, 2021.[12]
Discography[]
- Waiting on Forever (1999)
- Memory Rd. (2004)
- Pockets of Pesos (2005)
- Livin’ Like a Lonestar (2007)
- Don’t Listen to The Radio (2009)
- Poets & Prisoners (2011)
- Dirt Road Driveway (2013)
- Remington (2016)
- When the Good Guys Win (2017)
- Country Things Vol. 1 (2020)
- Country Things Vol. 2 (2020)
Awards and nominations[]
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient/Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | BMI Awards | BMI Country Award | "Backroad Song" | Won | [13] |
| 2017 | iHeartRadio Music Awards | Best New Country Artist | Granger Smith | Nominated | [14] |
| 2020 | CMT Music Awards | Best Quarantine Song | "Don't Cough On Me" | Won | [15] |