Country’s Power Couple: Faith Hill and Tim McGraw’s Inspiring Relationship

Talk about power couples and couple goals! Faith Hill and Tim McGraw have one of the most enduring and endearing marriages in country music. This unfairly attractive couple has been married since 1996 and have three daughters; Gracie, Audrey, and Maggie. These two have toured together and even recorded an entire album together of sweet duets called The Rest of Our Life. When it comes to the Hill-McGraw household, both parents are the breadwinners. Their first joint tour in 2000, dubbed Soul2Soul, grossed $47.8 million. Their second tour, Soul2Soul II from 2006 through 2007, grossed $141 million, making it the highest-grossing country tour of all time.

Oh, and there’s also the 2017 Soul2Soul World Tour, which raked in $71.3 million. So I think it’s safe to say they’re rolling in the dough. But besides their fame and success as a singing couple, these two had and still have lives separate from each other. Their relationship is anything but ordinary, and the two have a lot more in common than love and country music.

Here’s a look into the happy couple’s extraordinary marriage!

Fame and Fortune Did Them Well

Fame and fortune usually isn’t something that does wonders for a couple – quite the opposite. Money doesn’t normally go hand in hand with keeping a healthy, stable, and supportive romantic relationship. But that’s what makes the marriage between Tim McGraw and Faith Hill so interesting and appealing. It’s as though they have accomplished the unachievable.

While each of them is balancing successful careers, they still take the time and make an effort to spend time with each other, the main ingredient in their happy long-term marriage. They also love to work together. For instance, when McGraw appeared in the film ‘The Blind Side,’ Hill also contributed to the Oscar-nominated movie by providing the soundtrack song, Country Strong. And this is just one example.

They Were in Relationships When They Met

Before they basically took over country music, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill were two musicians trying to make it in the country music business. They met in the mid-90s at the New Faces Show in Nashville, Tennessee. At the time, Faith had recently divorced Daniel Hill, a music publishing executive. They were married from 1988 to 1994. Tim, on the other hand, was dating Kristine Donahue at the time.

Faith and Tim only met briefly, but it left an impression on both of them. Faith was also actually engaged to someone when she met Tim. She was planning to marry record producer Scott Hendricks when she and Tim hit it off in 1996. She told People in 1998 that she “wasn’t about to let Tim slip through my hands.”

Joining Forces on Tour

Two years went by after their first meeting, but they soon started to spend plenty of time together. Hill and McGraw were both the headliners on a joint tour called ‘Spontaneous Combustion’ in 1996. But the stars were still not aligned. McGraw’s relationship at the time with Kristine Donahue seemed strong, but he ended up calling it off. But Faith was still engaged to Scott Hendricks.

But the two young singers couldn’t deny the chemistry. Anyone around them could see how well they interacted when they shared the stage. The time they spent together on tour brought them closer, and things progressed. Although Faith was engaged, she couldn’t contain her wandering eye. But it was going to come to a point where she had to make a decision.

An Intense Physical Attraction

Faith had to decide to stay whether to stay true to her man or see where things could go with Tim. McGraw admitted to Billboard that when he first met Hill in 1994, his girlfriend felt threatened by McGraw’s chemistry with the blond country singer. “For me, there was an intense physical attraction. I guess my girlfriend saw it in my eyes,” he said.

“She said, ‘I don’t want you around her.'” In an interview with both McGraw and Hill, they admitted to People that their romance on that tour was very “cat and mouse.” McGraw even confessed that he didn’t think he had a shot with her at first until he kissed their first kiss. But after that kiss, “Things started snowballing from there.”

Their First Kiss

Faith didn’t take long to make up her mind. After one of their shows one evening, Faith accepted an invitation from Tim to come to his dressing room. They had some unresolved tension, and over the tour had grown close to each other. While in his dressing room with Faith, Tim decided to go for it, and he made a move.

This was when they had their first kiss – a kiss that basically showed each other that something real was happening. Faith realized that she couldn’t pretend anymore. She was falling for this guy, and she didn’t want to be unfaithful to her then-fiancé. So she did what she had to do – she called off her engagement with Scott Hendricks.

First Public Appearance as a Couple

It didn’t take long for them to develop into a real power couple. Their relationship was getting stronger every day as they were touring together, and their feelings continued to develop. Soon enough, fans would learn of their big secret, enjoying every second of their public romance. After a few months of being together in secret, Faith and Tim made their first public appearance together – away from the stage.

They were seen together at Andre Agassi’s Grand Slam for Children event in September of 1996. Now that people were aware of this new country couple, the comments and judgments started. While many people just adored the idea of them being together, others were a little judgmental. And the judgment was directed at Faith Hill.

Many Fans Judged Her

Now that Faith and Tim were seen together as a couple, people did the math and realized that Faith was fresh out of engagement with Hendricks. So they had their judgments. And due to the way Faith left her relationship for Tim, a lot of fans were treating her poorly. She got her share of negative remarks from her fans, who felt the need to give her their two cents and feelings about her love life.

She openly responded, “If someone is going to judge my character because I was engaged to somebody, and then I left him for somebody else, I can’t control that.” She also said, “But I wasn’t about to let Tim slip through my hands. And I had more self-worth and self-respect to not.”

Surprise! And Then There Were Three

Their relationship was moving forward quickly, and by the time the end of 1996 rolled around, the couple received some great news: Faith was pregnant! Quite naturally, her pregnancy came as a bit of a shock, especially to all their fans. But judgments aside, people were loving catching a glimpse of them at events.

They were seen together at red carpet events, where Faith would start showing off her baby bump. Most people expected Faith to be a great mom as she seems so loving and motherly. But one thing was still missing from the whole equation. Yes, you guessed it – marriage. Tim still wanted to make their love official and get married before they welcomed the child into their world.

He Proposed to Her On Stage

McGraw just knew that he had to make Faith his wife. He thought what better than to propose to the love of his life in the one place where the two met and spend so much time together. He proposed on stage! And he spoke of the moment later in an interview: “It was raining and stuff, and we’d been on tour for a while together, and I joked around with her about getting married.

And so I said… I looked at her, grabbed her by the hand, and dropped forward onstage. She had already done her show. And I said, ‘I’m really serious. I want you to marry me.” And then when Tim came off stage, Faith had written ‘Yes!’ into the mirror.

A Surprise Wedding

Surprise celebrity weddings are pretty common these days in Hollywood, but Faith and Tim were two of the earlier examples. The fun couple decided to trick their friends and family into coming to Tim’s hometown of Rayville, Louisiana. They told them that they were going to see a softball game and a concert. But considering the word “trick,” we know something was up their sleeve.

Instead of the game and the concert, Tim and Faith arrived at their surprise wedding ceremony. Faith was three months pregnant at the time. They said their vows and their ‘I Dos’ under an oak tree. Faith was wearing a white dress and no shoes. Tim rocked a black coat and blue jeans. True American country style!

Pregnant and Proud

It was only after their private surprise wedding that the couple made their personal affairs public. A few months after the wedding, in 1997, Hill and McGraw appeared together at the American Music Awards. It was one of the first times that the two were in public together. Hill was still pregnant at the event, and there was an evident bump. Even though the bump was obvious, maybe people weren’t 100% sure.

But one thing was for sure, though, and that was how this couple was deeply in love. The proud couple was ready to share the news with the public. They couldn’t wait to share their upcoming arrival with friends, family, and the rest of the world. They were excited.

Defying the Odds

There was no doubt that something was special about this couple. They felt the same way about each other. “I mean, I think we had a pretty instant knowledge that we were going to be together forever,” McGraw expressed honestly. In a place where many celebrity couples just don’t last, these two were going to prove doubter wrong.

Faith and Tim, as a couple, seem to break the stereotype. After all these years, they are renowned for being one of the most special couples out there. Somehow, they held on to that initial love and specialty of a new budding relationship and made it last up until the present day. It only begs the question: Tim and Faith – what’s your secret?

Faith’s Early Days

Faith Hill, born Audrey Faith Perry on September 21, 1967, has never hidden the fact that she was adopted at a young age. Eventually, she got to meet her biological mother, and with time, she was able to give insights as to how she felt when meeting her. She said, “The first time I met my birth mother. I just stared at her.”

She continued: “I’d never seen anyone that looked anything like me. It was the awe of seeing someone you came from. It fills something.” Faith was unsure of how she would feel at the moment of meeting her mother, but what she ended up experiencing was not something she expected. Faith was raised in the town of Star, outside of Jackson.

She Loved Her Adoptive Parents

Her adoptive parents, Edna and Ted Perry raised her with their two biological sons in a devout Christian household. Faith explained how she loved her adoptive parents and that she had an amazing relationship with them. And when she met her biological mother, she couldn’t help but thank her for giving her that opportunity to live with them.

She said, “I can’t imagine the choice to do that and how thankful I am that she was able to give me the opportunity that I had because I was placed into an incredible home that, I mean, basically is responsible for the way I am today and the backbone that I have.” For any mother who gave up her child for adoption, this is probably the best thing she can hear.

Welcome, Gracie Katherine

Back to the growing baby – the pregnancy came to an end, and everyone was just so excited to finally be introduced to the new bundle of joy in the Hill-McGraw family. The time had finally come, and in May of 1997, they welcomed their baby into the world. The baby girl’s name was Gracie Katherine.

Now that Faith was a mom, she needed to take some time off, making music to focus on raising a family. And whaddayaknow – the couple was already planning on bringing a second child into their lives. One was not going to be enough! Not only was their family growing quickly, but so was their love for each other. Hill and McGraw were inseparable, both on a professional and personal level.

No Groupies on This Tour Bus

They spent so much time together, both at home, in the studio, and backstage. They got so comfortable that they even called their tour bus the love bus. As Faith put it, “A lot goes on in that bus.” But similar to Las Vegas, whatever happens on that bus stays between Faith and Tim. And when it comes to tour busses, in this case, groupies aren’t part of the story.

Being a caregiver came naturally to Faith, and considering she grew up in a loving home, it comes as no surprise. Her family life was very serious to her, and she meant to give her daughter the best upbringing possible, despite her fame. Being the child of a celebrity has its ups and downs, as you can imagine.

On the Road as a Mom

Faith would always express her excitement about being a mother, and she would be incredibly homesick whenever she had to be away from her family. “I can’t even say what my greatest fear is because I, I can’t even imagine… Being without my family. I can’t even say it because it makes me cry.” It clearly meant a lot to her.

Being on the road was hard for Faith and her family, as you can see. It must have made her feel guilty that she had to be away from them for long periods. So, after four intense years touring, Hill took a very much needed three-year break from the music game. She and Tim then had their second child, Maggie Elizabeth.

Making Her Comeback

But as any true musician will tell you, something always pulls them back to the studio and to the stage. Faith couldn’t stay away from music for too long. And she came back on the scene with the help of her husband, no less! She made a comeback to the country scene when she and her hubby sang a duet together.

Their duet, “It’s Your Love,” was an instant smash. When it comes to these two, their individual success simply means that their work together can be even more successful. Alone they were each strong contenders, but together? Well, together, they were even stronger. And with that strength was the support they gave and received from each other.

Conquering the World

Faith and Tim had such a strong and real loving relationship that in every interview they gave, they would talk about how wonderful the other was. Faith opened up in a 2000 interview about just how much Tim had given her in her life. She said, “Tim has given me confidence and strength and my foundation. He makes me feel like I can conquer the world.”

And with love like that, the family usually just keeps on growing. They had their third child in 2001, another daughter named Audrey Caroline. They were now a family of 5, and things were better than ever. But could it really be possible for this couple to the only experience positive things? Could they conquer the world forever?

A Family Man

McGraw noticed that even though he loved his family more than anything in the world, his life as a musician had undoubtedly changed after becoming a family man. “It gives everything a focus. You feel like you got your arms around everything, and you know where your life’s headed. You just find a peace you never had before,” Tim said.

It was something that every loving husband and father could relate to. It seemed like after having children, Faith and Tim had much more purpose in their lives. And that’s something that many parents can attest to. Having kids is something that many moms and dads can truly say changed their lives for the better…despite the hard work and sleepless nights.

More Than Just a Song

Their duet “It’s Your Love” was so successful that the track stayed at number one for 6 straight weeks. It also won some awards, getting more than one at the Academy of Country Music Awards. For Faith, it’s so much more than “just a song.” It means so much more to her. And when they perform the song together…

“It doesn’t feel like anybody else was really watching,” according to Faith Hill. If you can perform on stage with your significant other, and sing a song that means so much to each of you, and forget that you’re even on stage and performing for thousands of people… well, I think that means that true love is in the air.

No More Than Three Days

One pledge that the couple made to each other from early on was to never be away from each other for more than three days. And they managed to make it work – even though their solo careers. Towards the turn of the millennium, Hill returned to her solo career. She released her self-titled album, and the record showed her raw singing talent.

She also started to veer off from traditional country music and added some more pop to her sound. It was something she never did before, but people loved it. McGraw also ended up on some of her new album’s songs like “Just to Hear You Say That You Love Me,” “Let Me Let Go,” and “The Secret of Life.”

His Girls Keep Him Looking Good

After Faith’s last album struck a chord with many of her fans, the couple then announced a new tour. With two busy music careers to manage on top of their three children, many fans expected that the couple would stop growing their family. But Faith and Tim told their fans that they didn’t want to stop having kids.

Tim told reporters: “Ideally, we’d love five kids.” Naturally, the reporters asked if they wanted a son, to which he responded, “I always wanted boys, but in a way I want it to stay this way. Just keep having girls. That way, I’ll always dress good.” How adorable. Just from that comment, we can assume that his girls keep him in check and looking dapper!

The Soul2Soul Tour

Before 2000, the two country singers had never headlined a tour together. But now that they were about to embark on their Soul2Soul tour, that was going to change. They also decided to bring one of their daughters with them. They enjoyed touring together, as Tim and Faith got to split the profits and didn’t have to be apart.

Tim and Faith were happily in love throughout the tour, but it never stopped the rumor mill from constantly trying to insert some drama into a healthy relationship. The rumors were suggesting that they were days away from a separation. Let’s face it: when things are so great, people naturally expect something bad to happen. And that’s why rumors began with them.

Nasty Rumors

The constant rumors that the press would relay to the public regarding instability in their marriage deeply upset the couple, as you can imagine. Faith fired back, basically giving the public exactly what they wanted to hear. The thing is, though, that she was just saying it to get them to shut up.

She said to the press: “I’ve had an affair with my makeup artist, a female; an affair with my hairstylist; my marriage is on the rocks; Maggie is not Tim’s child, the naysayers. I don’t need their approval. I have too much going on. If that’s their entertainment, fine.” Celebrity marriages can be difficult to hold together, but this was just not the case for Faith and Tim. Theirs was rock solid.

The Son of a Baseball Legend

Born Samuel Timothy McGraw on May 1, 1967, Tim knew that he was a product of his father, Tug McGraw’s legacy. Frank Edwin “Tug” McGraw Jr. was a professional baseball pitcher for the minor league Jacksonville Suns and then the star pitcher for the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies. For a long time, Tim had never grappled with what it truly meant for him.

That is until he met Faith. Tim would eventually open up about his self-doubts, giving his honest feelings about his life. He shared: “I knew I had that instability and dysfunction in me, from the way I grew up. And when I met Faith, I knew I needed her in my life; to keep me stable, solid, and on track.” He needed her more than he really knew.

Tim Gets Angry at Faith’s Naysayers

Anyone in the public eye will be subject to strange or over the top criticism, and Faith Hill received her fair share. There were always the naysayers and “haters” that just didn’t give Faith Hill a break. Tim was and still is her biggest fan, always at the ready to defend her honor. There are times when Tim gets more upset than Faith.

He can get really riled up about the insults. Faith receives – more than she does. He said, “Critics who attack my wife bug me… It makes me want to pay ’em a visit so I could give ’em a good punch in the nose.” Let’s be thankful that those were just words. As far as we know, the country star never punched any fan in the face!

Patriotic to the End

The country superstars have always been open about their love for their country, displaying their patriotism publicly and regularly. They are strong supporters of the United States Armed Forces, and when they had the opportunity in 2003 to perform at the Army base in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, they jumped at the chance.

After praising the troops, Tim felt the need to praise his wife, too. He told the military audience: “Faith is just cool, she’s really a smart, smart lady that has got everything together and knows her priorities.”

Remember when I asked a while earlier if they could conquer the world forever? Well, Tim had been keeping something to himself for a while. And it came time to come clean about something…

He Needed to Come Clean

Tim had some skeletons in the closet that he had been holding onto for many years. But it wasn’t until 2008 that Tim was finally fed up and ready to open up about something he was struggling with. He spoke of his inability to perform on stage without having a couple of drinks first. Tim realized that it was becoming a problem.

He knew that it was time to get help. He said, “Faith saved my life in a lot of ways – from myself more than anything. I can go down a dark road sometimes when you’re not feeling good about yourself, and she pulls me out. My wife makes me a better man.” Again, he gives Faith most of the credit!

A Faithful Ultimatum

Tim felt that despite the fact that Faith’s presence had been steadfast until that point, she wouldn’t just remain by his side forever and let him fall apart in front of her and their kids’ eyes. He was aware that he was going to need to make drastic changes to his lifestyle. It got to the point that Faith was coming close to a breaking point.

As much as she loved her husband dearly, she knew that he would benefit from some tough love. She finally told her husband that if he didn’t improve his coping mechanisms – the need to drink – she would have to leave him with and take all three of their daughters. Tim took her seriously and turned to martial arts to fill the hole that alcohol left.

So Much PDA

Tim and Faith love each other as much as when they first began their romance. What’s their secret? Tim has shared a secret to success: easy communication. He revealed, “She would be perfectly happy if I told her, ‘Let’s get in the car and ride for two hours and talk.’ That would be as big a gift to her as anything.”

They know that expressing themselves openly and clearly is the bedrock of their marriage. Not only that, the two share a lot of PDA (public displays of affection). One of their hallmarks is their frequent displays of affection in public. Whether they’re making goo-goo eyes while performing together or hugging or kissing, everyone knows these two are in love.

His Role as Sean Tuohy

McGraw was referred to as a natural when he played the role of Sean Tuohy in the highly acclaimed film, The Blind Side. He played the father of Collins and S.J., and the husband of Leigh Anne Tuohy, who was played by the lovely Sandra Bullock. McGraw explained that it was pretty simple, fitting himself into the role.

He said, “I’m very family-oriented. I’ve always been family-oriented. I came from a disoriented, dysfunctional family growing up. That probably instilled in me the need and want to have a strong family and a great foundation. That’s something I naturally gravitate towards.”

The Blind Side is based on the real-life story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American teenager from a broken home who was taken in and adopted by the Tuohys. Bullock won the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role.

He Inspires Her Everyday

Faith Hill hasn’t been shy when speaking of her husband, explaining why she still looks up to him after all this time. “Tim inspires me every day in many, many ways… I draw inspiration from his assertiveness and from watching him being a father and a husband.” The duo have stuck together through the good and the bad.

Tim McGraw’s album, Two Lanes of Freedom, was released in 2013, but it got the wrong sort of attention. Rumors started coming in again about trouble in paradise. Hill responded with: “Rumors seem to be running like crazy right now for some reason. It’s perplexing. I don’t know why ‘happy’ can’t be a story.” Tim added, “We’ve been married 17 years, and since the first week we were married those things were out, we don’t even think about it.”

All Grown Up

When it came time for their daughter Maggie to go to college, Tim and Faith had a hard time dealing with the fact their little girl is all grown up. According to Tim, “It’s beautiful, and it’s sad all at one time. You know, you can’t wait for them to sort of see what they make of themselves and do with themselves when they get out from under your umbrella, but you’re also nervous and sad because you’re gonna miss ’em.”

Tim told Oprah Winfrey in an interview what gets the marriage going is that “we close our door at home; we are husband and wife and a mother and a father.” He also said about his wife as the mother of their daughters: “I think about the fact that we’re married and the fact that we raised these three beautiful daughters. And then I think about having three daughters and having [Hill] for their mom. It’s a pretty cool thing for those girls to have her.”

Oh, Dear Brother

In 2013, Faith Hill came forward about her brother Zachary White’s addiction to drugs. Although he was clearly at a dark point in his life, White was only later able to elaborate on his situation. He said: “I made my share of mistakes in the past, but Faith showed me that I could be a better person, I turned my life around, and I owe much of that to Faith and Tim.”

Zachary credits his sister as well as her husband for saving him from his addiction. “If it weren’t for them, there’s no telling where I’d be now… They’re both amazing, down to earth people. Their love and support have been nothing short of extraordinary.”

Gracie Went on Stage

Hill and McGraw had to accept the fact that their daughters might want to follow in their footsteps and make it into the music industry. “The one thing we stress is that you don’t get things handed to you on a silver platter; you have to work for the things you want, they know it takes hard work.” Hill said that “As a parent, you don’t want to stand in the way of their dreams.”

Both Hill and McGraw’s fans are used to the two of them occasionally merging powers and voices to the stage. However, in 2015, Tim switched things up and invited his talented 18-year-old Gracie to join him on stage. The father-daughter duo sang “Here Tonight,” and it was tremendously successful. Mama bear then came to join the pair on stage. The crowd roared.

Drawing Inspiration

The two performed together on stage now for over 20 years, but for Tim, “It amazes me every night, every chance I get to sing with her.” The star gives off a certain tough-guy image, and as nerve-wracking as it may be, Tim’s stress is unnoticeable to the crowd. Many artists draw inspiration from one another, and Faith admitted that there’s one pop star she looks up to when performing.

Faith stated: “The truth is, I want to be Beyoncé every single freaking night of my life, so I go out there thinking, ‘I am Beyoncé!’” Although they are in different genres, Beyoncé and Faith have more in common than people think. They both are extremely successful and have high-profile marriages to musicians, and they both went on a couples tour.

All in the Family

In March 2017, Faith and Tim released another single together called “Speak to a Girl.” Tim added that the song was particularly special for his family because he drew inspiration through the women in his life. He said, “It’s special for us, having three daughters. Me being a husband and Faith being a mom of three daughters, and growing up in a world of all women as I did, I think it’s just a really special song.”

Speaking of his daughters, McGraw might have scared off his daughter’s boyfriend in their first meeting. When Gracie’s boyfriend walked into the family barbeque, he was shocked by what he saw. Tim was “in the kitchen, and I forget that he’s coming. I have a white apron on and a knife, and I’m trimming meat up, so I’ve got chunks of meat all over this white apron, blood everywhere.”

It’s In the Lyrics

If you pay attention to their lyrics, the couple reveals that they have their own issues here and there. “I know that sometimes you hate me/We spend most of our days together with you trying to change me,” as their duet goes. This was surprising to many, but according to Faith, sometimes she “likes a good fight.”

Whether we want to believe it or not, they get into arguments. Faith admitted that “the last argument we got into, he didn’t load the dishwasher or something.” By 2017, people were starting to get concerned about Faith’s health. Why? Because she was starting to shed a little too many pounds off her already slim figure.

Her Health Was Looking Bad

Many people were concerned about Faith’s health. This was due to her shedding too many pounds. Fans were worried that she would become boney and were concerned that she was ill. Medical professionals commented on how they thought that she was simply overworked with touring, likely dehydrated, and maybe even had a heart issue.

However, a close source of Hill’s explained that she sometimes skipped meals when busy, and she also had increased her workouts. So while people may think that she was sick, the truth is that she was fine. She just needed to keep her health as a priority and drink those water bottles and eat her meals! Being busy is not a good excuse for treating our bodies poorly.

He Was Tim Smith at First

Tim McGraw realized that his father wasn’t just anybody. His mother, Betty, was in high school when she met Tug McGraw, who had lived in the apartment above hers in Jacksonville, Florida. Tug was pitching for the Jacksonville Suns at the time, which was then a triple-A international team. When Betty became pregnant, she was shipped off to hide with her relatives in Louisiana.

Seemingly unburdened by their unplanned pregnancy, Tug continued on to the major leagues. Tim was 11 when he found out that his stepfather, Horace Smith, wasn’t his biological father. His mother never told him. During his childhood, Tim went by Tim Smith. Then he found his birth certificate and knew he had to meet his father.

Meeting His Real Dad

Tim could never forget the first time he met his father. Only when Tim was nearly 18 was Tug able to see just how similar his appearance was to his at the same age. Before he even knew of his father’s legacy, Tim was drawn to the world of team sports.

He eventually earned a baseball scholarship to Northeast Louisiana University. But he ended up injuring his knee during a game and had to give up any dreams of going pro. Lucky for him, he also picked up a guitar while in college, which led to a high profile career.