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Granger Smith says fame can become ‘poison’ after leaving country music for ministry

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Granger Smith is embarking on a new chapter.

The singer, who left country music in 2023 to focus on ministry at his local church outside Austin, Texas, exclusively told Fox News Digital that his new book, “Poison in the Well,” will be published Sept. 8.

The 46-year-old’s previous book, “Like a River,” was published in 2023 before his farewell from the music industry. It focuses on how he coped with grief after his 3-year-old son, River, died in a drowning accident in 2019.

GRANGER SMITH’S WIFE SAYS FAITH SAVED MARRIAGE AFTER LOSING 3-YEAR-OLD SON IN DROWNING ACCIDENT

“This one is more exciting to me because ‘Like a River’ was wrapped so much in my personal story of losing my son, River, our journey through grief, loss and recovery, and then the birth of my son Maverick,” he explained. “And that really encompasses that era. And in that era, God saved me.”

“…God saving me was what spurred so much change in my life,” the father of four said. “…I left an entire music career. It changed the whole direction of my life and my family’s life. The new book walks directly down that journey so that if anyone says, ‘Your book “Like a River” was inspiring,’ then I could hand them ‘Poison in the Well’ and say, ‘These are the mechanics of why everything changed after.’”

Smith admitted that six months after losing his son, he found himself asking a question he never thought he would: What if his faith couldn’t hold him up?

“…Most of this conversation we have now in this book, it’s all in hindsight,” he said. “It’s me really digging through what happened to me. I think the first time I asked the question was, ‘What if everything I believe about my faith was actually built on shifting sand?’”

“And that is a question I believe a lot of people would ask in the deep, dark throes of grief when you lose a loved one, a marriage or a job — or, this might sound trivial, but it’s not — even a pet,” he said. “Anything that you lose that you love, and you’ve created an identity around — including a career — when you lose that, you start to think, ‘Why do I feel so lost? Why do I feel like I have no hope?’

“And for those people who have a faith in any religion, they will start to question the validity of that religion that they stand on.”

“I thought, ‘I’m a Christian. Why do I feel hopeless? Doesn’t the Bible say we’re supposed to have hope? And I don’t,’” he reflected. “If that’s the case, then what am I standing on? Because this feels like sand. That was a time of deep reflection.”

WATCH: GRANGER SMITH ANNOUNCES NEW BOOK ‘POISON IN THE WELL’

Since walking away from country music, Smith has found healing in connecting with others who have also faced loss. Now at a different stage, he uses his ministry to guide people through grief and spiritual doubt, reexamining what it means to hold onto faith in difficult seasons.

“I was a musician who was always interested in the meet-and-greets,” he explained. “I remember reading stories of certain artists that said the meet-and-greets are the worst part of their day because they bring them down. They hear everyone’s problems, and then they have to go perform. And sometimes, musicians would even cancel meet-and-greets so they could just play the music.

“I was one of the strange ones who actually liked hearing people and learning about their struggles, joys and sorrows.”

“Since leaving music and focusing on ministry, that’s all I do: focus on the people,” he said.

“I think I became less interested in entertaining people and more interested in helping people. That has given me so much joy. I sleep so much better at night knowing that today’s work was enough — it’s not about the next single, the next album, the next tour.”

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“That’s an incredibly freeing feeling,” he added.

But Smith hasn’t completely ruled out music for good. He hopes to use songwriting to help others experience the Bible in a more personal way — an idea sparked by his children.

“There’s a new way that God has circled music back into my life,” he said.

“People often ask, ‘Are you done with music? Will there ever be more music from you?’ And the answer was always ‘I don’t know.’ I don’t know what God will do, but God does give each of us certain nuances that we’re better at than other things. And I’ve always loved music, and I’ve always enjoyed speaking through music.”

Smith said his family starts each day with a Bible story and prayer, then sets aside a few minutes to sing together.

“I realized that I could make up songs according to Scriptures,” said Smith.

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“We could sing fun little songs that are just Scripture songs and add a melody to them that’s easy to memorize. And so, we started doing that a few years ago. And then, I realized maybe these could be helpful for others, not only kids, but also other people — to be able to think through Scripture and to memorize Scripture in a unique way by singing it.”

“So maybe in the future, there’ll be an album by me released that has Scripture songs,” he teased.

Smith pointed out that there are things about showbiz he doesn’t miss.

“The problem with music for me was never writing songs, singing songs, or releasing songs,” he explained. “What became problematic for me was performing on tour for a lot of reasons. It took me away from my family. It took me away from my local church. I was missing all of that because I was always touring on Saturday nights.”

“It became an idol for me,” Smith admitted.

WATCH: GRANGER SMITH SAYS FAITH IS KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE

“It was very hard for me to separate promoting myself and my music, standing on a stage in front of a lot of people. To say not to let it go to my head is almost underplaying it, because it’s nearly impossible for anyone to be worshiped in that way.

“And in music, it was usually about trying to get adoration from the crowd, needing applause. It means you’re succeeding in the thing that you’re trying to do, which is dangerous. It’s dangerous for a human.”

“Your heart just breaks for these megastars,” said Smith. “The goal of all the touring, all the concerts, and all the music releases is ultimate stardom. And it’s never satisfied by a certain level of being famous. It always craves more. The result is a man or a woman who’s lost all sense of who they are. Men and women are not meant to be worshiped. We’re not created to be worshiped. And if we are, it actually hurts us. It becomes poison in our veins.”

Today, Smith hopes his book will help others grow a closer relationship with God during the hardest times of their lives, just as he has.

“I want people to see through my story that I was living a life thinking I was earning something from God instead of loving God for what He has done,” he said. “Now, I want to do things to please Him in response to that.”

“…The book also reveals some toxins that we as humans tend to fall into. I look at them like check-engine lights. If you’re doing this, or you’re involved in that, it might be a check-engine light that you don’t see … that’s the goal.”

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Supreme Court Delivers Emergency Decision – It’s Finally Happening

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Supreme Court Delivers Emergency Decision – It’s Finally Happening

President Donald Trump scored another significant legal victory Monday after the U.S. Supreme Court sided with his administration in a case challenging controversial Biden-era energy regulations that critics say would have reduced consumer choice and driven popular appliances out of the marketplace.

The ruling marks the latest setback for former President Joe Biden’s regulatory agenda and comes as the Trump administration continues working to roll back federal rules that conservatives argue placed unnecessary burdens on businesses and American consumers.

In *American Gas Association v. Department of Energy*, the Supreme Court vacated a lower court ruling that had upheld Biden administration regulations targeting non-condensing furnaces and commercial water heaters. The decision sends the case back for further review and opens the door for the Trump administration to pursue a different approach.

At the center of the dispute were Department of Energy efficiency standards that industry groups argued would effectively eliminate certain categories of gas-powered appliances by making compliance nearly impossible.

The American Gas Association and a coalition of trade organizations challenged the regulations, contending that the federal government had exceeded its authority and ignored statutory protections designed to preserve consumer choice.

Solicitor General John Sauer, representing the Trump administration, argued that federal law does not permit regulators to wipe out entire classes of products through aggressive efficiency mandates.

“The Department may not adopt standards that effectively eliminate from the market products that have distinct ‘performance characteristics,’” Solicitor General John Sauer wrote in a brief to the high court.

The Supreme Court ultimately agreed that the lower court should reconsider its ruling, delivering an important win for businesses, manufacturers, and consumers who opposed the regulations.

The Trump administration has already indicated that it intends to revisit the rules entirely.

“The Department has determined that the rules at issue are factually and legally flawed, and the agency is considering a new rulemaking in which it would correct those errors,” Sauer wrote.

The decision represents another major blow to Biden’s environmental and energy agenda, which frequently sought to use federal agencies to push stricter efficiency standards across a broad range of household products and appliances.

The legal victory comes just days after Republicans in the House of Representatives approved legislation targeting another Biden-era regulation that became a symbol of government overreach for many Americans.

Lawmakers voted 226-197 to pass the Saving Homeowners from Overregulation with Exceptional Rinsing Act, commonly known as the SHOWER Act.

The legislation attracted support from 11 Democrats and aims to reverse restrictions affecting multi-nozzle shower systems.

Republicans argued that Biden administration regulations unnecessarily reduced water pressure by limiting the combined flow rate of multiple shower heads connected to a single fixture.

Representative Russell Fry of South Carolina, who introduced the legislation, framed the issue as one of personal freedom and consumer choice.

“Washington bureaucrats have gone too far in dictating what happens in Americans’ own homes,” said Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC) who sponsored the legislation.

“This is about defending consumer choice, pushing back on regulatory overreach, and standing up for commonsense policy,” Fry added.

Supporters of the legislation argued that the rule reflected a broader pattern of federal agencies attempting to regulate everyday aspects of American life.

“It seems like the Democrats want to tax you out of existence and overregulate you,” said Rep. John McGuire (R-VA). “So, this is a step in the right direction. Less regulation.”

The SHOWER Act would permanently codify an executive order signed by President Trump that restored a more consumer-friendly interpretation of federal law. Under Trump’s order, each nozzle in a multi-head shower system is treated individually rather than having all nozzles combined under a single flow-rate limit.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie praised the legislation as a practical solution that returns decision-making power to consumers.

“By codifying how different nozzles are categorized, the SHOWER Act offers a commonsense fix that will allow households to choose what meets their needs, not what Washington mandates,” said Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Fry echoed those concerns and argued that the Biden administration’s approach had become a symbol of excessive federal interference.

He said, “The SHOWER Act reaffirms that each nozzle is a shower head — plain and simple — and that homeowners, not the federal government, should decide how much water pressure they want.”

Taken together, the Supreme Court’s ruling and the House vote represent major victories for President Trump’s broader effort to reduce federal regulations, expand consumer choice, and rein in what supporters view as years of bureaucratic overreach by Washington agencies.

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Trump Sends Haters Into Full Meltdown With Who He Brought To NBA Game

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Trump Sends Haters Into Full Meltdown With Who He Brought To NBA Game

President Donald Trump made a high-profile appearance Monday night at Madison Square Garden as the New York Knicks hosted Game 3 of the NBA Finals, bringing national attention to an already historic evening for New York City.

The Knicks entered the game with a commanding 2-0 series lead over the San Antonio Spurs and stood just two victories away from capturing their first NBA championship in decades. The matchup marked the first NBA Finals game played at Madison Square Garden since 1999, creating enormous excitement throughout the city.

Security around the arena was significantly heightened as President Trump attended the game alongside members of his administration, close advisers, and longtime allies. The increased security presence came just one day after six people were injured during a stabbing incident at nearby Penn Station, located directly beneath Madison Square Garden.

The president arrived to a packed arena and watched the game from a private suite alongside a number of prominent administration officials and advisers.

Among those reportedly attending with the president were:

Sec. Sean Duffy

Sec. Doug Burgum

Administrator Lee Zeldin

Deputy COS Dan Scavino

Jared Kushner

Envoy Steve Witkoff

Walt Nauta

Boris Epshteyn

Natalie Harp

The appearance highlighted Trump’s continued visibility on the national stage while also underscoring his deep connection to New York City, where he built his business career long before entering politics.

Meanwhile, as the president attended one of the biggest sporting events of the year, he continued drawing attention to another issue that has become a central focus of his administration: election integrity.

Trump has repeatedly criticized California’s election system as state officials continue counting ballots from last week’s primary elections. The prolonged counting process has reignited debate over election administration and voter confidence in the nation’s most populous state.

The controversy intensified after U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli disclosed that the Department of Justice has spent more than a year attempting to review California’s voter registration records.

“For over a year, the Department of Justice has been trying to audit California’s voter rolls,” Essayli said.

“Federal law gives the Attorney General the authority to review state voter files and confirm that only eligible U.S. citizens are voting in federal elections,” he added.

The dispute comes as California election officials continue processing large numbers of ballots days after polls closed. Unlike many states that report nearly complete election results within hours, California’s system routinely requires days or even weeks to finalize outcomes.

The lengthy process has fueled concerns among many voters who question why election results remain unresolved long after Election Day.

Essayli also highlighted several aspects of California’s voter registration policies that have attracted attention from federal officials.

Among the forms of identification accepted for certain voter registration purposes are gym membership cards, employer identification cards, credit and debit cards, prescription drug labels, and insurance cards.

Critics argue that such policies deserve closer scrutiny, while supporters maintain that safeguards are already in place to protect election integrity.

The issue has also renewed discussion surrounding the SAVE America Act, legislation supported by many Republicans that would establish nationwide proof-of-citizenship requirements for federal voter registration.

California officials continue to defend the state’s election system and insist that existing safeguards adequately protect the voting process. They also maintain that there is no evidence that widespread non-citizen voting has affected election outcomes.

Nevertheless, the Justice Department’s ongoing efforts suggest that federal scrutiny of California’s election practices is likely to continue in the months ahead.

As President Trump watched the Knicks pursue a championship before a national audience, the broader debate over election security, voter roll maintenance, and ballot-counting procedures remained front and center in American politics.

For the administration, both issues reflect themes that have become central to Trump’s presidency: public safety, government accountability, and restoring confidence in institutions that many Americans believe deserve greater transparency.

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Iran Makes Shocking Admission About Trump’s Strike On Ayatollah

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Iran Makes Shocking Admission About Trump’s Strike On Ayatollah

New details released by Iran’s own foreign minister are shedding light on the operation that eliminated Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and reshaped the balance of power in the Middle East.

The account, offered by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during a televised interview, provides one of the clearest descriptions yet of the strike that launched Operation Epic Fury. According to counterterrorism experts, the remarks serve as powerful evidence that the joint U.S.-Israeli operation was not designed to indiscriminately destroy an entire complex but instead to surgically target the leadership at the center of Iran’s regime.

Araghchi revealed that he survived the February 28 strike because he was located in a different section of Khamenei’s compound when the attack occurred.

“Well, the building we were sitting in was targeted, but the wing we were in remained intact while the other wing of the building was destroyed,” Araghchi said in an interview that aired June 4 on the Lebanon-based, Hezbollah-backed Al Mayadeen television network.

The revelation immediately drew attention from military analysts, who pointed to the extraordinary accuracy required to destroy one section of a heavily protected compound while leaving another standing.

According to Araghchi, Khamenei was in his office at the time of the attack. Other officials inside portions of the compound also survived because they were not located in the targeted area.

Dr. Omar Mohammed, a counterterrorism expert and director of the Antisemitism Research Initiative at George Washington University’s Program on Extremism, said the description confirms what many military observers suspected from the beginning.

“In the Arabic version, Araghchi says he was in a different wing of the compound, briefing another official, and his wing survived while the leader’s office was destroyed,” Mohammed explained.

Araghchi also disclosed that he had arrived at the compound for a meeting related to negotiations in Geneva and indicated that Khamenei was expected to be present in his office according to standard procedures.

Based on those details, Mohammed argued that the operation demonstrated an unprecedented level of intelligence gathering and precision targeting.

“They did not flatten a building; they took one wing and left the one next to it standing. That is President Trump’s whole doctrine in a single strike — he does not want a war of occupation, he wants to show the United States can reach the center of a hostile regime with precision and then offer it a way out,” Mohammed said.

Military officials later confirmed that the strike involved Israeli aircraft employing dozens of precision-guided munitions alongside advanced air-launched ballistic missiles. The attack reportedly killed Khamenei, Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh, IRGC Commander Mohammed Pakpour, and several additional senior security officials.

President Trump later publicly acknowledged U.S. involvement in the operation.

“He was unable to avoid our intelligence and highly sophisticated tracking systems, and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he or the other leaders killed alongside him could do,” the president wrote.

Mohammed believes the strike sent a message that Tehran should have immediately understood.

“Iran was handed the clearest message an adversary can get — we can reach your leader in his own office, and here is the off-ramp,” Mohammed noted. “A rational state takes the exit. Tehran did the opposite. It fired on Israel, killed a civilian in Bahrain, struck Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, and closed the Strait of Hormuz, setting off a global energy crisis. The surgical strike was American. The months-long war that followed was Iran’s choice.”

Following Khamenei’s death, leadership passed to his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, a transition that Mohammed believes revealed deeper contradictions within Iran’s political system.

“In Arabic, Araghchi calls the new leader ‘the young Khamenei in place of the elderly Khamenei.’ That is the language of a monarchy, not a republic of clerics,” Mohammed observed. “They are rewriting the theology on air to fit a son who lacks the religious rank, who was wounded in the same strike and who then vanished for weeks. A revolution that came to power by ending a monarchy is handing the throne from father to son.”

For many analysts, the operation has become a defining example of President Trump’s national security philosophy: use overwhelming precision to neutralize threats, avoid prolonged military occupations, and leave adversaries with a clear opportunity to de-escalate.

“The real story is not that Iran is strong,” Mohammed continued. “It was shown the precision of American power and the door was held open, and it chose to widen the war instead.”

Araghchi’s account appears to reinforce what American and Israeli officials have maintained from the start. The strike was not an act of indiscriminate destruction. It was a carefully planned operation aimed directly at the leadership of one of America’s most persistent adversaries, demonstrating both the reach and precision of modern U.S. military capabilities.

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