The 43-year-old made the big announcement Tuesday on social media, where has more than 1.2 million followers, ahead of his final tour that begins Thursday in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and ends in July.

"When I read Mark 8 in the Bible and Jesus says, 'If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.' That image of taking up the cross, the most gruesome form of execution, to take up that cross and follow and deny himself, that form of self-denial is just something that I'm not doing in country music," Smith told his fans. "To get up on a stage and just need glorification, just need praise, and if I don't get it then that means my career is not doing well, and so I work harder for that. I can't reconcile those two things, y'all. I can't." 

The "Backroad Song" singer said he understands if his fans don't get it.

"Maybe you'll be upset about it, maybe you'll think that I'm deceiving you or that I'm following some sky god or maybe you think that I'm not relevant at all to even matter—and that's okay," he said.

The country music star is working on getting a master's degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Chris Pratt Shares About Faith, Meeting His Wife at Church: 'God Has a Fast-Forward Button'

"I have felt a strong desire to pursue ministry, and this doesn't mean I'm gonna start a church or a crusade or a revival, this means that me and my family are going to serve our local church," Smith said.

"We're going to pour into that church as members and have my pastors and elders pour into me and disciple me and teach me as I sit under their wise teaching," he added. "And Lord-willing one day they can affirm me into the next steps of what that might look like to glorify God best from my platform."

 Smith also revealed his upcoming memoir, "Like a River: Finding the Faith and Strength to Move Forward After Loss and Heartache," will be released on Aug. 1. The book will tell his emotional journey through the ups and downs after his 3-year-old son River's death.

He called the book his "most important message" he's worked on about what the Lord has done in his life.

Smith made a longer video on YouTube with his wife, Amber, explaining more about the decision after touring for 24 years. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

CLICK HERE AND SCROLL DOWN TO WATCH THE FULL VIDEO

Caleb Parke is the SMG managing editor. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and connect with him atcalebparke.com.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

'Incredible' Archaeological Discovery Reveals Jewish Connection to Jerusalem's Ancient History

DOJ to Investigate MLB's Threat to Discipline Players for Bible Verses on 'Pride' Hats

Children's Hospital Doctors Refuse to Perform 'Gender Transition' Mutilation on Kids Despite Liberal Court Order

Former Olympian among Several Sick Leftists Arrested for Vandalizing DC Reflecting Pool

Another One! Colombia Does the RIGHT Thing. Now on to Brazil

Amid Conflicting US-Iran Messages, Trump Threatens Force against Iran if It Doesn't Stop Hezbollah in Lebanon

PM Keir Starmer Announces Resignation; How the British Labour Party Resembles American Democrats

AMERICAN SOUNDTRACK: Singer-Songwriter Kaylin Roberson Honors Father and 250 Years of Brave Soldiers in Stirring Ballad 'So I Didn't Have To' (Video)

America of 1976 Would Not Recognize Herself in Our 250th Year

Baseball Players Refuse to Wear Pride Uniforms, Forced to Forfeit

Canada: Carney Liberals Move to 'Force' Radical Internet Surveillance Bill through House

Belfast Is Burning, and the Media Won't Say Why

Israel, Hezbollah Agree to New Ceasefire after Conflict Delayed US-Iran Talks

Report: Biden-Era FDA Spun Autopsy Results to Downplay COVID Vaccine Deaths in Kids, Letter Shows

Newly Exposed: Fauci Funded Wuhan Lab Research That Sparked COVID; Evidence Fauci Manipulated Intelligence and Lied to Congress

From Pulisic's 'Bible Time' to Team Prayer on the Field, US Gives 'Glory to God' at World Cup

Good News: Gasoline Drops Below $4 A Gallon

Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro Abandoning 30,000 Children as Democrats Push to Strip School Choice

Canada's Parliament Officially Passes 'Bible Ban' Bill C-9

Occupied Britain: Muslim Rape Gang Report Warns against Dangers of Mass Immigration (Part 1)