Michael W. Smith

== Personal life ==

Smith is married to Deborah "Debbie" Kay Davis and has five children, including filmmaker Ryan Whitaker Smith.<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael W. Smith: Grammy Winner and Grandfather |url=https://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/michael-w-smith-grammy-winner-and-grandfather/ |website=www.focusonthefamily.com|date=June 19, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Michael W. Smith's Children Share His Faith & They Gave Him 17 Grandchildren |url=https://news.amomama.com/297732-michael-w-smiths-children-share-his-fait.html |website=news.amomama.com|date=January 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ryan Whitaker  |url=https://www.ryanwhitakerfilm.com/
 |website=Ryan Whitaker Film |access-date=March 16, 2024}}</ref>

He lives in the Nashville suburbs. Smith attended Belmont Church in [[Nashville, Tennessee]], and is mentored by its long-time pastor, [[Don Finto]].<ref>Black, Beau. [http://www.todayschristianmusic.com/artists/michael-w-smith/features/gloria-in-excelsis/ Gloria In Excelsis] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729213545/http://www.todayschristianmusic.com/artists/michael-w-smith/features/gloria-in-excelsis/ |date=July 29, 2014 }}, TodaysChristianMusic.com. Retrieved July 24, 2013.</ref> Smith is also the founding pastor of ''New River Fellowship Church'' in [[Franklin, Tennessee]], where he was the lead pastor from 2006 to 2008.{{cn|date=April 2023}}

Smith was a friend of former President [[George H. W. Bush]] and is a friend of his son, former President [[George W. Bush]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/interviews/2004/michaelwsmith-1004.html|title=The Real Dubya (interview with Michael W. Smith)|date=April 10, 2004|access-date=February 12, 2008|author=Russ Breimeier}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/09/20020925-6.html|title=Remarks by the President at the National Republican Senatorial Committee Annual Dinner |date=September 25, 2002|access-date=February 12, 2008|publisher=[[The White House]]}}</ref> Smith was invited to play at the [[2004 Republican National Convention]]<ref>{{Cite web | title = The politics of music: Musicians mobilize for and against President Bush |first=David |last=de Sola | publisher = CNN | date = August 30, 2004 | access-date = January 8, 2018 | url = http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/29/gop.music/index.html }}</ref> singing "There She Stands",{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} as well as the [[Death and state funeral of George H. W. Bush|state funeral of George H. W. Bush]] at the [[National Cathedral]] in Washington, DC, on December 5, 2018, singing "Friends".<ref>{{Cite news | title = George H.W. Bush funeral: Former president remembered for integrity, service |first1=John |last1=Wagner |first2=Felicia |last2=Sonmez | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = December 5, 2018 | access-date = December 6, 2018 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/the-state-funeral-for-george-hw-bush-mourners-to-include-all-living-us-presidents/2018/12/05/952dcc72-f87f-11e8-8d64-4e79db33382f_story.html }}</ref>

Smith is also friends with [[U2]] singer [[Bono]] and they have collaborated on a Christmas album<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2014/08/30/michael-w-smith-bono-team-christmas-album/14860681/|title=Michael W. Smith, Bono team up on Christmas album|website=[[The Tennessean]] |access-date=April 3, 2017}}</ref> as well as [[ONE Campaign|One Campaign]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/event/bono-and-data-announce-the-one-campaign-75080046?#jars-of-clay-bono-and-michael-w-smith-during-bono-and-data-announce-picture-id105317635|title=Bono and DATA Announce The One Campaign Photos and Images – Getty Images|access-date=April 3, 2017}}</ref>

[[Alderson-Broaddus College]] awarded Smith the degree Doctorate of Music ''[[honoris causa]]'' in 1992.<ref>{{cite web|title=Michael W. Smith|url=http://www.compassion.com/michael-w-smith.htm|website=compassion.com|access-date=May 1, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=American|first1=Odessa|title=Michael W. Smith to bring 'Glory' to Wagner Noël|url=http://www.oaoa.com/people/entertainment/music/article_bc99f3f8-2de1-11e3-90e0-0019bb30f31a.html?mode=jqm|website=Oaoa.com|access-date=May 1, 2015|date=October 5, 2013}}</ref>

Smith was also named one of [[People (magazine)|''People'']] magazine's "Most Beautiful People" in 1992.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20112592,00.html|title=Michael W. Smith|date=May 4, 1992|access-date=October 6, 2014}}</ref>

In 2018, he performed at [[Billy Graham]]'s memorial and funeral.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/body-of-rev-billy-graham-will-lie-in-honor-wednesday-at-us-capitol/708462477|title=BILLY GRAHAM HONORED: President honors Rev. Billy Graham; body lies in honor at US Capitol|last=EndPlay|date=March 1, 2018|publisher=WSOC|access-date=April 24, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2018/march/christian-artist-michael-w-smith-honors-billy-graham-with-tearful-musical-tribute|title=Christian Artist Michael W. Smith Honors Billy Graham with Tearful Musical Tribute|date=March 2, 2018|access-date=March 16, 2018}}</ref>

In June 2019, Smith signed a declaration by [[Franklin Graham]], that called for a special day of prayer for President [[Donald Trump]], that God would protect, strengthen, embolden, and direct him.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Statement From Faith Leaders Regarding Special Day of Prayer|url=https://billygraham.org/story/special-day-of-prayer/|access-date=December 24, 2020|website=Billy Graham Evangelistic Association}}</ref>