In a heartfelt discussion on the latest episode of the Jinger and Jeremy Podcast, country music artist Granger Smith, along with his wife Amber, reflected on the profound impact of their son River’s tragic drowning in June 2019. The couple revealed that they made a crucial vow to one another to remain united through the unimaginable grief of losing their three-year-old boy.
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During the poignant conversation, Granger Smith noted the alarming statistic that many couples often struggle to endure the loss of a child, with divorce rates reportedly surpassing 50 per cent in such cases. “We recognised early that most couples don’t make it,” he stated, underscoring the importance of their commitment to each other following their heartbreaking loss.
River’s accident occurred in June 2019, a tragedy that the Smiths shared on social media, stating that, despite extensive medical efforts, their son could not be revived. Following his passing, River was laid to rest on June 11, with the family continuing to navigate the aftermath of their devastating loss. Reflecting on that time, Granger described a moment in the serenity garden that drove home the reality of their situation. Faced with the finality of River’s death, the couple engaged in a solemn pact. “We just did this really unromantic, ‘Hey, let’s just shake on this. Let’s promise each other we’re going to stay together,'” Granger recalled.
Amber reflected on the moment when Granger initiated the conversation, emphasising the need to focus on the positives rather than the circumstances of their tragedy. “We have to try to find the good in this and we can’t let anything tear us apart,” she remembered him saying. This positive mindset helped steer the couple through their darkest days.
Granger expressed admiration for Amber’s resilience during this challenging period. He acknowledged that while he was directly present during the incident, Amber bore an equally significant emotional burden. “Anytime I talk about that, I always say your end was much harder to uphold than my end because I was in the backyard with River,” he shared. He emphasised that it would have been easy for her to assign blame, yet Amber never faltered in her support. “Not even in your lowest, weakest moment did you snap at me,” he said, highlighting the strength of their relationship.
Amber attributed her grace during this trying time to divine intervention, expressing gratitude that they were both at home together when the tragedy unfolded. “By the grace of God, we were both home at the same time,” she stated. This shared experience, she believed, allowed them to lean on each other. “I felt, as we’re both performing CPR on our son, we are both fighting for our son here. This is our son, this is our marriage,” she explained.
As parents, both Granger and Amber grappled with feelings of guilt in the aftermath of their son’s passing. Amber reflected on the weight of parenting choices, pondering whether different decisions could have changed the tragic outcome. “There’s all kinds of parenting guilt that we both feel,” she admitted. However, she firmly rejected the notion of attributing blame to Granger, reinforcing their pact to stand by one another. “How dare I put any sort of blame on you?” she questioned, highlighting their mutual commitment to choose each other daily.
Their story serves as a powerful testament to the resilience of love and partnership in the face of unimaginable loss. By openly discussing their journey, the Smiths hope not only to honour River’s memory but also to encourage others who might be enduring similar heartaches. Their vow to remain committed to each other stands as a beacon of hope, illustrating that even in grief, strength can be found in unity and shared faith.