In July 2011, it was announced that Amy Winehouse, a celebrated singer, had been discovered deceased in her residence in Camden Town, London. Winehouse had struggled with substance addiction for an extended period and was concerned about becoming a part of the 27 Club, a group of famous individuals who died at the same young age. Despite her efforts to confront and overcome her personal demons, she frequently found herself back in the dark places that could ultimately lead to her demise. Unfortunately, her worries came to fruition, and the world lost an exceptionally talented star at the age of 27. This is Amy Winehouse’s story, including images that you might not have seen before or after her passing.
Amy on the Big Screen
In 2015, Asif Kapadia directed the documentary film “Amy,” which was released four years after the tragic death of Amy. The film portrayed Amy as a vulnerable girl from a Jewish background who took a harmful route towards addiction and struggled with an eating disorder.
Additionally, the movie emphasized the lack of support from the individual’s close circle in assisting them with their difficulties. The film garnered critical acclaim for being outstanding, poignant, a sorrowful work of art, and indispensable. In fact, ‘Amy’ was honored with the 2016 Academy Award in the category of Best Documentary Feature, along with a Grammy and a BAFTA.
Her Early Days
Amy Winehouse was born in September 1983 to Mitch and Janice Winehouse who were very happy and proud parents. The family, including Amy’s elder brother Alex, relocated to Southgate, London. Amy attended the Sylvia Young Theater School and later transferred to a different school when she turned 15.
It’s been seven years since the sad demise of Amy Winehouse at the young age of 27, but we now remember and appreciate her exceptional talent, despite the numerous personal struggles and difficulties she had to endure.
Musical Background
Amy’s grandmother recognized her talent from a young age and recommended that she enroll in Theater School. Music seems to be an inherent ability in the Winehouse family as her grandmother was a singer and her uncles were skilled jazz musicians.
During her later years, Winehouse gained recognition for blending various electrical genres like soul, rhythm and blues, and jazz. Her exceptional vocal range ultimately propelled her towards a successful music career, resulting in her winning multiple awards.
A Natural Talent
Amy purchased her own guitar when she was just 14 years old and shortly thereafter started composing her own music. She also joined the Bolsha Band, a local musical ensemble, and in the year 2000, she landed the role of the main female vocalist for the National Youth Jazz Orchestra.
Nonetheless, Amy Winehouse’s demo tape was sent to various record labels by her close friend and soul singer Tyler James, with the aim of bringing her to the spotlight. Among the record labels, 19 Management belonging to Simon Fuller showed interest, and in 2002, Amy received a weekly remuneration of $330 to be adjusted against her future earnings.
There Was No Missing Her Talent
Yet, Amy’s future A&R representative at Island, Darcus Beese, eventually discovered her identity. Despite her record label’s efforts to keep her hidden, Beese stumbled upon Winehouse when The Lewinson Brothers’ manager inadvertently shared some of his clients’ productions with him.
Beese developed an interest in Amy Winehouse as the primary singer when the manager prohibited him from revealing her identity. Eventually, Beese discovered her and presented her to Nick Gatfield, his superior, resulting in her being signed to Island.
Debut Album
Amy Winehouse’s first album, Frank, was launched in 2003. She collaborated in the writing of all the songs on the record, which was well received in the UK, earning favorable feedback.
Besides, the 2004 Mercury Prize Award had selected the album for the nomination, and Salaam Remi, the producer, and Amy Winehouse herself together won the award for the Best Contemporary Song at the Ivor Novello Awards ceremony, thanks to Stronger Than Me. However, Winehouse revealed her lack of complete support for the album, indicating that Island Records had made some decisions without her consent.
Time to Herself
Nick Shymansky, the man who initially discovered Amy, was only a few years older than her when he was assigned to manage her. During a recent interview, he described the first time he noticed trouble brewing for her.
I understand that Amy became less active for the first time in six or seven years after concluding her debut album Frank’s final tour. Having free time and no commitments on her schedule, Shymansky mentioned that Amy started drinking.
Back to Black
In Mitch Winehouse’s book “Amy, My Daughter,” he mentioned that his daughter had a great love for music. He shared about how Amy would burn her songs onto a CD and play them in his taxi so that others could listen to her musical creations.
Additionally, in 2006, her demo recordings, containing the song “Rehab,” were featured on Mark Ronson’s New York radio program aired on East Village Radio. Fans were eagerly anticipating the inclusion of these tracks on her follow-up album. “Back to Black” was subsequently released in October of that year, with the entire album being produced by Salaam Remi and Ronson in just five months.
Hitting the Big Time
The album Back to Black achieved the top spot on the UK Album Charts and was ranked at number seven on the Billboard 200 in the US. It was the most popular album in the UK for 2007, with 1.85 million copies sold during the year. TIME magazine selected Rehab as the Best Song of 2007.
The song had achieved a position in the top ten charts of both the UK and the US. Referring to the song and Amy, Josh Tyrangiel, the writer, described her as opinionated, humorous, sensual, and maybe even eccentric.
The Amy Winehouse Look
Amy started a 14-concert tour in February 2007, coinciding with the launch of her album Back to Black. Her popular songs like Rehab and her joint effort with Mark Ronson on the track Valerie had made her famous.
At the same time, Amy had a unique appearance characterized by her beehive hairdo, winged eyeliner, and bold tattoos, setting her apart from other musicians of that era. Despite this, Amy Winehouse was not gaining popularity, and her tours did not turn out as successful as she had hoped.
Alarm Bells Ringing
Amy began another tour in November 2007, but her first performance at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England was met with disapproval and early departures from the audience. The tour consisted of 17 shows.
Regarding that particular evening, a reviewer from the Birmingham Mail expressed that it was among the most sorrowful nights they had ever experienced. They witnessed a highly skilled performer succumb to tears, struggling on the stage, and even using inappropriate language towards the crowd. Additionally, a attendee at her show at the Hammersmith Apollo claimed that Amy appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol throughout her performance.
It Was More Than Just Singing
Amy’s tour dates were canceled as per the doctor’s advice to take rest. Even though the concert promoter attributed the cancellation to the challenges of touring and Amy’s recent emotional struggles, her father, Mitch, probed deeper into the matter.
Mitch Winehouse authored a book titled “Amy, My Daughter” in 2012. In the book, he shared an account of his daughter’s anxiety prior to her public appearances. This aspect of Amy’s personality was also highlighted in the documentary film titled “Amy”.
Toxic People Around Her
The film focused on Amy’s upbringing and journey towards achieving her goals. Unfortunately, the fame and triumphs that followed also brought several difficulties for the gifted celebrity. These challenges had a significant impact on Amy’s life, reportedly contributing to her passing.
The documentary featured her troubled bond with her father, as well as her unhealthy romantic involvement with Blake Fielder-Civil. They had an unpredictable love affair and tied the knot in 2007, but separated after only two years in 2009. Both of their families expressed disappointment and disapproval towards their marriage from the start, which is not surprising.
Creeping Towards Midnight
As the negative aspects of Amy’s relationship began to take their toll, Nick Shymansky especially had a front-row seat to exactly what Amy was getting into. The combination of losing her grandmother and being dumped left Amy grieving.
Shymanky shared how she began to call him in the middle of the night, clearly under the influence, and all he could do was drive around to the pubs that were still open in order to try and find her.
And She Said No
As revealed in the documentary, there seemed to have been one final moment where maybe they could have changed the course of Amy’s short life. Shymanksy decided he needed to get Amy into rehab, a decision with which her father seemed to agree.
But, Amy insisted she wouldn’t go until her father said she should go to her face. However, once he was looking into his daughter’s eyes, he knew he couldn’t push her into it.
Bouncing Back and Forth
One of the things that set Amy off the most shortly before her big break was when Blake left her for an old girlfriend. That was, of course, until Amy hit it big. After the release of Back to Black, it seemed the entire world wanted a piece of Amy, especially her former beau, Blake.
Once Amy’s face was plastered on every magazine, Blake came crawling back to her, and to Amy’s detriment, she took him back with open arms.
Life Behind the Lyrics
Amy was nothing but honest, both in her music and in the interviews she did to talk about her work.
Shortly after she became a household name the world over, she gave an interview with CNN, sharing, “And when the guy I was seeing went back to his ex-girlfriend I didn’t really –I didn’t have anything to go back to, so I guess I went back to a very black few months, doing silly things as you do when you’re 22 and in love.”
Blake Never Helped the Problem
Amy admitted that she could sometimes get violent towards Blake, and the pair were photographed looking bloodied and bruised in 2007. Although they denied claims that it was because of a fight, both Winehouse’s parents and in-laws reported their continual concerns that the two might commit suicide.
Moreover, Blake’s father wanted fans to boycott Winehouse’s music following their marriage. However, many blamed Fielder-Civil for Amy’s substance abuse since he was quoted in a British tabloid saying he introduced the musician to these substances.
A Doomed Marriage
From 2008 to 2009, however, Blake Fielder-Civil was imprisoned for trying to pervert the course of justice, as well as other charges. During this time Winehouse was spotted with actor Josh Bowman in early 2009 on a vacation in Saint Lucia and claimed she was “in love again” without the need for substance abuse.
Moreover, she said that “for the time being I’ve just forgotten I’m even married,” but Blake had not. Winehouse received papers, which Fielder-Civil’s solicitor had said were divorce proceedings based on a claim of adultery.
The End of Blake and Amy
Regardless of the divorce claims, Amy was quoted in March 2009 saying, “I still love Blake and I want him to move into my new house with me—that was my plan all along … I won’t let him divorce me. He’s the male version of me, and we’re perfect for each other.”
That was not enough for the pair to stay together and their divorce was finalized in August 2009. Moreover, that was still not enough to help Amy combat her troubles with substance abuse and addiction.
Something She Lived With
Her family believed that it was the death of her beloved grandmother in mid-2006 that set Amy off into addiction, but in 2005 she had also gone through a period of substance abuse and dramatic weight loss which was evident to many.
Moreover, the young artist had admitted in an interview that she had problems with self-harm, depression, and eating disorders. A US reporter explained that Winehouse was a “victim of mental illness in a society that doesn’t understand or respond to mental illness with great effectiveness.”
Paparazzi Troubles
Amy Winehouse’s battles became the subject of much media attention, and the paparazzi would catch the talented star whenever they could. As a result, Amy obtained an injunction against leading paparazzi agency, Pig Pictures, under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.
It became clear that the paparazzi was not helping an already unstable Winehouse and, in 2009, the High Court issued an order which banned them from following Winehouse. Photographers were banned from photographing Winehouse in her home or in other peoples homes close to her.
A True Talent
Her battles seemed to take over her talents as a musician, and Amy Winehouse proved how talented she really was in the years before her death. For her album “Back to Back,” Winehouse was nominated for two Brit Awards, for which she won one, and six Grammy Awards, for which she won an impressive five!
Throughout her whole career, she received 60 nominations and received 23 awards. BBC’s Garry Mulholland called Winehouse “the pre-eminent vocal talent of her generation,” and no-one could deny the immeasurable talent of Amy Winehouse.
Philanthropic Works
Moreover, among all the headlines Amy Winehouse seemed to make before her death, the media often ignored how charitable Winehouse was. Having donated her money, music, and time to many charities throughout her life, she was once named “the most charitable act” by Pop World.
Throughout the arts community and the charity community, Winehouse was well-known for her generosity, but the general public was never really made aware of this side to her personality. Shortly before her death, and following many charitable ventures, Winehouse donated over $26,000 worth of clothes to a local charity shop in London.
Her Final Moments
On July 23rd, 2011, Amy Winehouse was found in her home in Camden, London, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Her bodyguard explained that he had arrived at her home three days before her death and had a feeling that Amy was intoxicated.
He took it upon himself to observe her drinking over the next few days, knowing of the star’s previous actions to relapse following her stints in rehab. On the day of her death, he watched her “laughing, listening to music and watching TV at 2 a.m.”
Her Sudden Death
After a night out, Amy’s bodyguard knew the star would often sleep late, so he did not find it unusual that she was asleep at 10 am the next day. However, according to the bodyguard, he found Amy lying in the same position shortly after three o’clock, and this is when he did a further check.
It was at this moment that he discovered Amy was not breathing and had no pulse, leading him to call emergency services.
She Was Never Able to Fight Her Demons
The Metropolitan Police confirmed her death shortly after the emergency services arrived, and crowds gathered at her residence to pay their respects. Forensic investigators began searching Amy’s apartment and discovered bottles of alcohol upon doing so.
On October 26, 2011, a coroner’s inquest revealed that Amy Winehouse had died from excessive drinking, with her alcohol content at the time of her death five times over the legal drink-drive limit. The coroner said, “The unintended consequences of such potentially fatal levels was her sudden death.”
Her Music Lives On
Fans mourned the loss of Amy Winehouse following the news of her tragic death, and many learned of her troubles in the film documentary, Amy. However, Amy’s legacy continued to live on through her music and, after her death, the star broke her second Guinness World Record.
Amy broke the record for the most songs by a woman to simultaneously appear on the UK singles chart, having had eight at one time. She earned an entry in the 2009 edition for Most Grammy Awards won by a British Female Act.
Iconic Statue
In September 2014, on the day that would have been Amy’s 31st birthday, a statue of the star was unveiled at Stables Market in Camden Town, London. Amy was proud of her hometown and even made reference to it in her acceptance speech when she won a Grammy.
The sculptor, London-based Scott Eaton, created the piece as a memorial to the late singer, and said it was meant to capture her “attitude and strength, but also give subtle hints of insecurity.”
Remembering Amy
Her father Mitch was proud of the sculpture and the memorial and said, “Now Amy will oversee the comings and goings of her hometown forever… Amy was in love with Camden, and it is the place her fans from all over the world associate her with.”
Mitch, who was responsible for his daughter’s money before her death, had delivered a eulogy at her funeral, saying, “Goodnight, my angel, sleep tight. Mummy and Daddy love you ever so much.”
Following In Others’ Footsteps
Mitch was always aware of his daughter’s issues and, together with her mother, they later opened the Amy Winehouse Foundation in honor of the singer. The foundation was started in hopes to prevent substance abuse and misuse among young people, similar to what happened to their beloved Amy.
Sadly, Amy was not able to recover from her addictions and passed away at the age of 27. In fact, Amy joined the 27 Club — an age at which she feared she would die.
The Last Recording
Just as Amy’s father had written the biography, Amy, My Daughter, in 2012, Amy’s mother published, Loving Amy: A Mother’s Story, in 2014. All the proceeds from both the written memoirs went to the Amy Winehouse Foundation.
Moreover, Winehouse’s last recording was a duet with American singer Tony Bennett when they recorded the single “Body and Soul.” The single was released on September 14th, 2011 — on what would have been Amy’s 28th birthday. All proceeds went to the Amy Winehouse Foundation.
Her Music Continues To Be Honored
Meanwhile, “Body and Soul” received the Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 54th Grammy Awards in 2012, with Amy’s parents both picking up the award. Speaking at the ceremony, Mitch Winehouse said, “We shouldn’t be here. Our darling daughter should be here.”
He continued, “These are the cards that we’re dealt.” Moreover, when being interviewed on The Daily Show by Jon Stewart in 2011, Bennett spoke highly of the star he had recently recorded the honored duet with.
A Rare Light
Speaking of her death during the interview, Bennett said, “She knew that she was in a lot of trouble; that she wasn’t going to live […] It was such a sad thing because she was the only singer that really sang what I call the ‘right way’ because she was a great jazz-pop singer… She was really a great jazz singer.”
The star continued, “A true jazz singer. And I regret that because that’s the ‘right way’ to sing.” Having won the Grammy Award months later, Bennett’s words were once again proven.
Breaking Records
In December 2011, just five months after Amy Winehouse’s sudden death, an album of previously unreleased material was released. Titled Lioness: Hidden Treasures, the album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Charts, having had the largest first-week sales of Winehouse’s career.
In the U.S, it sold 114,000 units and debuted at number five on the Billboard 200. This album became Winehouse’s highest-debuting album in the U.S. Now, seven years later, her music still lives on, and fans will forever remember her beautiful voice.
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill are two of the biggest and best country stars out there. Hill has won five Grammys, and Tim has won three. They are amazing artists on their own, but you will almost always mention one in the same breath as the other. This is because they are also a couple that has stuck together through thick and thin. Unlike many other celebrity couples, Tim and Faith have now been together for over 30 years and their love has been an inspiration. However, they now make a surprising announcement that is leaving people with their jaws dropped.
Private Announcement
Over the last 300 years, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill have been staples not only in country music but in each other’s lives.
They just celebrated their anniversary and used the occasion to share some information on their relationship. Their relationship has never been ordinary, but their newest bit of news came unexpectedly. First, let’s look back at how it all started.
Fans Didn’t See It Coming
Before they took over country music, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill were just two musicians trying to make it in the business. They first met in 1994 at the New Faces Show in Nashville, Tennessee.
At the time of their introduction, Faith was coming off her divorce from Daniel Hill, a music publishing executive. They had married six years earlier. Tim, on the other hand, was dating Kristine Donahue. They only met briefly, but it certainly left an impression on both of them.
Teaming Up On Tour
Two years went by since their first meeting, but they would soon spend plenty of time together. Hill and McGraw were the headliners on a joint tour titled ‘Spontaneous Combustion’ in 1996.
The stars, however, were still not aligned. McGraw’s relationship with Kristine Donahue seemed strong, but he called off their engagement. Unfortunately, this time, Faith was engaged to Scott Hendricks, a record producer. It seemed like it wouldn’t work out, but something changed on the first night of the tour.
Sparks Fly
Predictably, the two charming individuals had undeniable chemistry. Anyone could see how well they interacted as they shared the stage. The time spent together on tour brought them closer, and things became more intense as the tour progressed. How could they deny their attraction to each other?
Unfortunately, Faith was engaged which complicated things. She couldn’t contain her wandering eye but had a major decision to make. Faith had to decide to stay true to her man or see where things with Tim could go.
UnFaithful
Faith would not have long to make up her mind. After the show one evening, Faith accepted an invitation to come back to Tim’s dressing room. They clearly had some unresolved tension and had grown very close to each other over the tour.
While in the dressing room, Tim decided to go for it and made his move. They had their first kiss and could tell that something real was brewing. Faith realized what she wanted to do and called off her engagement.
Falling In Love
It did not take long for them to develop into a true power couple. Their relationship was getting stronger every day due to touring together, and their feelings for one another continued to develop.
Soon enough fans would be in on the big secret, lapping up every second of their public romance. After a few months together, Faith and Tim made their first public appearance together at Andre Agassi’s Grand Slam for Children event in September 1996.
Unapologeticly In Love
Due to the way Faith had left her previous relationship for Tim, many fans treated her quite poorly. She received plenty of negative remarks from her fans putting their two cents into 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 added, “But I wasn’t about to let Tim slip through my hands. And I had more self-worth and self-respect to not.”
The Unexpected News
Their relationship was moving quickly, and the couple received some great news in late 1996 – Faith was pregnant and expecting a child. Her pregnancy came as a bit of a shock, especially to their fans.
However, everyone loved catching a glimpse of the couple at red carpet events with Faith showing off her baby bump. Everyone expected Faith to be a great mom, but one thing was still missing. Tim wanted to make their love official and wanted to get married before they welcomed the child.
Popping The Question
McGraw knew he had to make Faith his wife. He told of the moment, “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.”
When Tim came off stage, Faith had written ‘Yes!’ into the mirror.
The Wedding
Surprise celebrity weddings are all the hype now, but Faith and Tim were two of the earliest examples. They tricked their friends and family into coming to Tim’s hometown of Rayville, Louisiana for a softball game and a concert.
Instead, they surprisingly arrived for Tim and Faith’s wedding ceremony. Faith was three months pregnant at the time and said ‘I Do’ to Tim under an oak tree while wearing a white dress and no shoes. Tim rocked a black coat and blue jeans.
Newlyweds
In 1997, Hill and McGraw appeared at the American Music Awards and amazingly, it was one of the first times they appeared in public together. Hill was heavily pregnant at the time and despite her white dress, there was an evident bump.
One thing was for sure though, the couple was deeply in love and proud to share the news with the public. Also it was undeniable that they couldn’t wait to share their arrival with friends, family and the rest of the world.
Indescribable Feeling
It was only after their wedding that the couple made their feelings public. In short, they mutually 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 said.
Although there have been so many celebrity couples who haven’t lasted, these seem to break that mold, being renowned for being one of the most special couples out there, making what they had last up until the present day.
Indescribable Feeling
Faith Hill had been open about the fact she was adopted at a young age, but later gave insights as to how she felt when meeting her biological mother.
She said “The first time I met (my birth mother), I just stared at her. I’d never seen anyone that looked anything like me. It was the awe of seeing someone you came from. It fills something.” Although Faith was unsure how she would feel at the meeting, this emotion was unexpected for her.
Thankful For Adoption
Faith explained how she had an amazing relationship with her adopted parents, but couldn’t help but thank her birth mother 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.”
Baby On Board
The nine months had passed, and fans were just so excited to finally be introduced the Hill and McGraw’s bundle of joy. The time had finally come, and in May 1997, they welcomed their first child into the world, a little girl called Gracie Katherine.
As a result, Hill took some much needed time off to focus on family life. However, it wouldn’t take long before the couple planned on having their second child. Not only was their family growing, but so was their love.
What Happens On Tour…
On a professional and a personal level, Hill and McGraw were inseparable. They spent all their time together both at home, in the studio and backstage. They got so comfortable being together all the time that they ended up calling their tour bus the love bus.
“A lot goes on in that bus,” Hill cheekily said. But whatever happened on that bus was between Faith, Tim and no one else. Throughout their career, groupies haven’t been an option.
Protective Parent
Being a caregiver came very naturally to Faith. She treated her family life extremely seriously and was giving her daughter the best upbringing imaginable, despite her fame.
She would always express her excitement as being a mother in interviews and she would be incredibly homesick whenever away from her family. “I can’t even say what my greatest fear is because I, I can’t even imagine,” she said. “Being without my family … I can’t even say it because it makes me cry.”
Making Sweet Music
After four intense years on the road, Hill took a much needed three-year break from the music game, and also had her second child, Mary Elizabeth.
However, her comeback ended up being a duet with her beloved husband, Tim. “It’s Your Love” was the name of the duet and was an instant smash. Their individual success simply meant that their work together could be even more successful. Alone they were strong, but together? They were even stronger.
Purpose
McGraw realized that even though he loved his family dearly, his life as a musician changed drastically after becoming a family man. “It gives everything a focus,” he said. “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.”
It was a sentiment that every loving dad and husband could relate to. It seemed like, after having children, Faith and Tim had so much more purpose in their lives.
Green Eyed Girlfriend
Even when McGraw was with somebody else, it was clear that his feelings for Hill were deep and serious. He knew that she was going to change his life forever. “For me, there was an intense physical attraction,” he said.
“I guess my girlfriend saw it in my eyes. She said, ‘I don’t want you around her.’” But this only sparked bad things for his ex, who knew that something didn’t feel right and that ultimately, she was on her way out.
Award Winning Couple
Their duet hit “It’s Your Love” was so successful that it stayed at number one for six straight weeks. Eventually, it even garnered awards, winning many at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
But for Faith, it’s so much more than just a song, it means so much more. “It [doesn’t] feel like anybody else was really watching,” she said. One amazing pledge that the couple made was never to be away from each other for more than three days.
Working Marriage
Towards the turn of the millennium, Hill eventually returned to her solo career. She released a self-titled album and the record exhibited her raw singing talent, while at the same time creating a pop sound never usually associated with her.
McGraw ended up on songs such as “Just To Hear You Say That You Love Me,” “Let Me Let Go,” and “The Secret of Life.” After the album struck a chord with many fans, the couple announced a new tour.
Expanding The Brood
With two busy careers to manage on top of their two children, many fans expected by 1999 that the couple would stop focusing on growing their family. Faith and Tim bucked all expectation when they shared their plans publicly.
Tim told reporters, “Ideally, we’d love five kids.” Naturally, they followed up by asking if he 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.”
Together We Tour
Prior to 2000, the two country stars had never headlined a tour together. They changed that with their Soul2Soul tour, and were accompanied by one of their daughters.
The two enjoyed touring together, as they got to split the profits and didn’t have to take any time away from one another. Tim and Faith seemed to be happily in love throughout the tour, but that never stopped the rumor mill from constantly trying to suggest that they were days away from an imminent separation.
Hitting Back At Rumors
The constant fairytales the press would tell regarding instability in their marriage deeply upset the couple.
Faith fired back, saying “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 may be difficult to hold together, but this was not the case for Faith and Tim.
Faith’s Strength
Faith and Tim had such a strong relationship that in interview after interview they would talk about how wonderful the other was. Faith opened up in 2000 about just how much Tim had brought to her life.
She said, “Tim has given me confidence and strength and my foundation. He makes me feel like I can conquer the world.” Their love resulted in another child, whom Faith gave birth to in 2001, who they named Audrey. They were on top of the world, but it couldn’t last.
Finding Comfort
Tim knew that he was a product of his father, Tug McGraw’s legacy, but he had never grappled with what that truly meant for his life before he knew Faith.
Tim eventually opened up about his self doubts, sharing “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.” However, he needed her more than he knew.
Standing Up For Faith
Anyone who is in the public eye will be subject to bizarre or over the top criticism, and Faith Hill was not immune. Tim McGraw, however, is her biggest champion, always at the ready to defend her honor.
Tim may even get more upset about the insults Faith receives than she is herself. He said, “Critics who attack my wife bug me.” He added, “It makes me want to pay ’em a visit so I could give ’em a good punch in the nose.”
Patriotic Family
The superstar country singers have never been shy about their love for their country, often displaying their patriotism publicly. They are also ardent supporters of the United States Armed Forces, so when they had the opportunity in 2003, they decided to perform at the Army base in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
After praising the troops, Tim told the audience of military personnel, “Faith is just cool, she’s really a smart, smart lady that has got everything together and knows her priorities.”
Battling Addiction
Tim, had some secrets he had been holding onto for many years. It wasn’t until 2008 that he was ready to open about his inability to perform without having a couple of drinks first. Tim knew it was time to get help.
He later 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.”
Ultimatum
Tim knew that even though Faith’s presence had been steadfast until then, she would not remain by his side forever if he didn’t start making drastic changes to his lifestyle. Faith was at her breaking point, and as much as she loved her husband, she knew he would also benefit from some tough love.
She finally told Tim that if he didn’t improve his coping mechanisms, she would be leaving along with all three of their daughters. Tim turned to martial arts to fill the hole alcohol left.
Talking It Out
Even after many years together, Tim and Faith love each other as much as they did when they first began their romance. Tim has shared one of their secrets to success is their easy communication.
He has revealed, “She [Faith] 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 both know that expressing themselves to one another is the bedrock of their marriage.
Back On Top
Fame and fortune usually do not go hand in hand with maintaining a healthy, stable and supportive romantic relationship, but it seems McGraw and Hill accomplished the unachievable.
While both are balancing successful careers, they also make the time and effort to spend time with the other, which could contribute to the fact they are happily married to this day. When McGraw appeared in the film The Blind Side, wife Hill also contributed to the Oscar-nominated project by providing the soundtrack, Country Strong.
Family Man
McGraw was referred to as a natural, taking upon himself the role of Sean Tuohy, the father of Collins and S.J. and husband of Leigh Anne Tuohy, played by Sandra Bullock.
He explained that it was somewhat simple fitting himself into the role, saying: “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.”
Inspiring One Another
Faith Hill was not shy when speaking of her husband, explaining the reason she still looks up to him after all this time. “Tim inspires me every day in many, many ways.” She noted, adding: “I draw inspiration from his assertiveness and from watching him being a father and a husband.”
The dynamic duo was not short on critics, however, in spite of projecting a strong front to all. They have stuck together through the good times and the bad, but not everyone saw it that way.
Negative Attention
Two Lanes of Freedom, Tim McGraw’s album, was released in 2013, but seemed to drag the wrong sort of attention with it. Rumors started flying that there might be trouble in paradise, to which Hill responded by saying “[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.”
Equally frustrated 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.”
College Calling
When it was time for Tim and Faith’s daughter Maggie to go to college, they had a hard time dealing with the fact their baby girl is all grown up.
“It’s beautiful, and it’s sad all at one time,” said Tim. “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.”
Supermom
Tim gave Oprah Winfrey an interview, in which he explained that what gets the marriage going is that “we close our door at home; we are husband and wife and a mother and a father.”
As for Faith as a mother, he explained: “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, Brother
In 2013, Faith Hill came forward with her brother Zachary White’s addiction to illegal substances.
Although at a dark point in his life, White later elaborated on his situation, saying: “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. If it weren’t for them, there’s no telling where I’d be now.”
Daughter Dreams
As for parenting strategies, Hill and McGraw had to inevitably accept the fact that their daughters would want to follow in their footsteps and break 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 added, saying that “As a parent, you don’t want to stand in the way of their dreams.”
A New Duet
Both Hill and McGraw’s large fanbases are used to the fact that the two occasionally merge powers (and voices) to bring harmonious, loving onto the stage.
However, come 2015, Tim decided to switch things up a bit and invite his talented 18-year-old daughter Gracie to join him on stage. The two sang “Here Tonight,” and were so tremendously successful, the proud mother hen Hill could not help but join the daddy-daughter duet on stage, which left the crowd roaring.
Enjoying The Moment
The two have performed together on stage for over 20 years, but as Tim explained, some things simply never change. McGraw shyly confessed that his wife still takes his breath away: “It amazes me every night, every chance I get to sing with her.”
The country star might put out a certain tough-guy image, but the truth is that, “When you see somebody you love up there, it’s a lot more.” As nerve-wracking as it may be, Tim’s stress is unnoticeable to the crowd.
Channeling Beyoncé
It is common for artists to draw inspiration from one another and Faith admitted that there is one particular pop star she looks up to when performing. She 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 sing in completely different genres, Beyonce and Faith have more in common than you’d think as they both have high-profile marriages to musicians, and both went on a couples tour.
Keeping The Family Together
One of the great things about Tim as a husband, is that he notices and gives thanks to his wife for being so good to him and the family.
McGraw gushed that “She’s the light of our whole family’s life. She keeps everything going for us. We all strive to be like my wife, everybody in our family. If your wife holds the example for everybody in your family, that’s a good thing.” Tim also gave her a compliment on her appearance, calling her his “hot wife.”
Writing For His Women
In March 2017, Faith and Tim released a single together titled “Speak to a Girl.” Tim added that it was particularly special for his family as he drew inspiration for it 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 like I did, I think it’s just a really special song.”
Meet The Parents
One of the scary moments for a guy in a relationship is meeting the parents. McGraw might have accidentally scared off his daughter’s boyfriend in their first meeting.
When Gracie’s boyfriend walked in the middle of a barbeque, he was shocked by the image he saw. Tim says he 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.”
Pushing Each Other’s Buttons
Tim and Faith have a seemingly flawless marriage. However, if you pay close attention to their lyrics, they reveal that they have their issues here and there.
“I know that sometimes you hate me/We spend most of our days together with you trying to change me,” their duet goes. This was shocking to many, but Faith revealed that sometimes she, “like[s] a good fight,” and she “know[s] how to press those buttons. And if [she’s] a little angry, [she] can press those buttons big time.”
Fighting With Faith
One thing that is unavoidable in a relationship is arguments. Whether we want to believe it or not, Tim and Faith also get into arguments. However, it is not as bad as it sounds.
Their arguments are the sort of disputes that you envy, because are not digging at each others’ deepest insecurities or sending each other on guilt trips. Rather, McGraw admitted that “the last [argument] we got [into], [he] didn’t load the dishwasher or something.” We bet Tim loaded the dishwasher the next time it came up.
Healthy Hill?
Many people started to get concerned about Faith’s health in 2017. This was due to the fact that she was looking like she was shedding too many pounds. Fans worried that she would become gaunt, and they were also concerned she was ill.
Medical professionals believed that she was simply overworked with touring, perhaps dehydrated, and maybe even had a heart issue. However, a source close to Hill simply explained she sometimes skipped meals when busy, and she had increased her workouts.
The Best Memories
Things get stale after being together for over 20 years, but somehow, the spark is still there between McGraw and Hill. Part of how they do so is by performing together, which bonds them together in a unique way.
Of the performances, Tim relates that “The memories we have created every time we have gone out have been the best memories of our career.” Plus, very practically, he adds that they have “two kids in college, what else are we gonna do?”
Making It Last
Some couples struggle with keeping that original spark alive, but somehow Faith and Tim seem to be as in love as ever.
When asked how they have stuck together for so long, McGraw gave a tongue-in-cheek answer: “Well, she tolerates a lot, I think that’s probably the main reason.” Faith chuckled, but also admitted that Tim “tolerate[s] a lot too.” and that she is “not the easiest person.” At the core, she said the secret is simple: “we do actually like one another.”
Fame In The Family
Little did Tim McGraw know, but his birth father wasn’t just some backwoods nobody. His mother was only in high school when she met Tug McGraw, who lived in the apartment directly above hers in Jacksonville, Florida.
At the time, Tug was pitching for the Jacksonville Suns, which was then a triple A international team. When Betty, Tim’s mother became pregnant, however, she was shipped off to hide with relatives in Louisiana. Unburdened by the unplanned pregnancy, Tug McGraw continued on to the major leagues.
Caught Unawares
Tim McGraw wasn’t raised with the same last name as his father, however. In fact, he didn’t know until he was 11 that his stepfather, Horace Smith, wasn’t his biological father, as his mother never bothered to tell him, and McGraw donned the last name of ‘Smith’ at the time.
When he happened to stumble upon his birth certificate, he knew he had to understand the legacy that would follow him for the rest of his life, including into his marriage with Faith.
In Denial
Tim could never forget the first time he met Tug McGraw, the pitcher was already well known, having played for the New York Mets for a number of years, including the 1969 season, in which the Mets won the World Series.
Tug, for his part, however, refused to acknowledge that Tim was his son after their introduction. It took until Tim was nearly 18 before Tug recognized just how similar his son’s appearance was to his at the same age.
In His Father’s Footsteps
Without knowing about his dad’s legacy, Tim found himself drawn to the world of team sports, eventually earning himself a baseball scholarship to Northeast Louisiana University.
Unfortunately for Tim though, he ended up injuring his knee during a game and was forced to give up any dreams he had of going pro. It was his luck then that he’d also picked up guitar while in college, which ended up earning him an equally high profile career.
Cooking From The Heart
In a joint interview with Southern Living magazine, Faith revealed just how Tim attempted to win her heart at the beginning of the relationship. “[Tim] brought me chicken and dumplings.”
Faith revealed. “[He] came to my house [unannounced]. He knocked on my door, and he had a bowl of homemade chicken dumplings.” Tim added that he’d also made her cornbread. He knew his immense effort to make these comfort foods from scratch would demonstrate just how much he cared for her.
Out Of Place
One of the things that Faith and Tim were able to bond over the most deeply was their unanchored upbringing. Faith was raised by adopted parents with an inkling that she was an outsider.
She told Southern Living, “I used to think there was some kind of conspiracy, that I must be the daughter of one of my aunts. And of course I used to dream I was Elvis’ daughter….I’m a gypsy at heart. I had a spirit that was completely outside what my family was.”
Declined By Reba
Faith Hill knew from an early age that she had a powerful voice, as she was a regular performer at area churches by the time she was a teenager.
She took the initiative to form her own band, which added rodeos to their list of performance venues. When she was finally ready to bite the bullet and become a country singer, she moved straight to Nashville at the tender age of 19 and auditioned to sing with Reba. It would not be Faith’s lucky break.
Shattering Her World
Faith has kept fairly quiet about her first marriage to Daniel Hill, whom she met upon moving to Nashville.
When she did finally open up about that marriage, she revealed that it was meeting her birth mother for the first time that shook her so deeply, she had to leave almost everything from her past behind, including Daniel. She said of the marriage, “I was going through so much. I was like a flower trying to bud. Marriage wasn’t what I needed. It was a disguise.
Number One
In winter 2017, Faith and Tim did something they surprisingly had never done before. They got together and recorded a collaborative album.
This was their first LP that they recorded together, which was titled “The Rest Of Our Life.” The album debuted on the Top Country Albums chart at number one! They expressed their gratitude, saying: “We are especially grateful for our amazing fans and the talented folks who worked on the album with us, we are blessed to get to do this and, even more so, together.”
Return To Tour
For a long while, Faith and Tim performed solo. However, in 2017, they made an announcement that many were happy to hear: they would be working together again for another Soul2Soul tour!
Both McGraw and Hill were ecstatic to reunite and collaborate again. Tim praised Faith using an analogy to racing: “when I’m on stage with her, it’s like NASCAR trying to keep up with an Indy car. She’s just that good. So, to watch her sing and see what she does is pretty inspiring.”