Sofia Vergara’s Rise To Fame

Since 2009, Sofia Vergara has been making America laugh as the feisty Latina trophy wife on Modern Family, but the Colombian beauty’s rise to fame has been anything but a laugh.

The Trials She Weathered

Sofia Vergara’s path from the troubled city of Barranquilla, Colombia to being the highest paid actress on American television was not an easy road to travel. Her life has been beset by tragedy time and again, but Sofia has consistently managed to rise above it without forgetting where she came from.

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Booking Modern Family

Though Sofia had been in the entertainment industry for nearly 20 years, she didn’t hit celebrity status until she was cast on the hit ABC sitcom Modern Family as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett, whose rags to riches life story was loosely inspired by Sofia’s real life. It proved to be a match made in heaven, but sometimes it’s hard to shake off the past, no matter how far you’ve come. For Sofia Vergara, it all started back in Barranquilla, Colombia.

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Close To The Land

Sofia was born in 1972 in Barranquilla, Colombia to a family of cattle farmers. Though the profession wasn’t exactly glamorous, it provided a stable income for the Catholic family of eight. Sofia’s mother was able to stay home and take care of the children, while her father managed the ranch. Though Barranquilla was thrown into chaos by the violent activity related to trafficking that was springing up, Sofia led a relatively quiet life, attending a private English-Spanish school and never dreaming of stardom.

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Regional Instability

Unfortunately for Sofia, she was raised during one of the most violent times in Colombian history. Due to her family’s relatively secure means, Sofia largely avoided becoming caught in the crossfires of the ongoing conflict between paramilitary groups and the weak Colombian government. The instability of the country surrounding her kept her strongly tied to her Catholic faith, which almost kept her from becoming an actress at all. Sofia always had an inkling, however, that her family’s security would one day make them a target.

Mail Online // Heidi Parker

Beachside Discovery

Vergara never had aspirations to become a performer, choosing instead to study dentistry at university following high school. Though she always knew she was beautiful, and often wavered as to her feelings on her naturally ample chest, Sofia worried that a career focused on her looks would be considered immodest by the Catholic church. It was her luck that she was discovered on the beach near her hometown when she was 17, but the deeply religious Sofia initially turned down the offer.

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The Nuns Approved

When Sofia was offered an appearance in a racy Pepsi ad in 1989, she was afraid of how the sisters at her strict Catholic school would react, but her mother encouraged her to take the offer. Sofia seemed to be aware of how people perceived her based on her looks, but her mother often argued that her curves were a gift from God. While Sofia’s commercial became an international hit across the Latin world, Sofia soon returned to a more mundane life.

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Choosing Family

It’s quite possible that had Sofia not married her high school sweetheart when she did that she never would have entered show business. Vergara was married at 18, but did not give up her studies just to follow in her mother’s footsteps. A year later, she gave birth to her son, Manolo, when she was only 19. Becoming a mother at such a young age deeply affected Sofia, who became determined to protect her son at any costs. Happiness, however, would prove to be elusive.

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Facebook // Groovy History

Splitting Up

It’s not uncommon for high school couples to split up while they’re in university, no matter how convinced they are that they will stay together forever, but for Sofia Vergara, even marriage vows and an infant son couldn’t keep her first marriage intact. She and her first husband, Joe Gonzalez, split in 1993, when Manolo was only two years old, leaving Vergara a 21 year old divorcée who hadn’t yet finished her college degree. Sofia needed a way to earn an income immediately, and left her studies behind.

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Taking To The Capitol

Sofia moved with Manolo to Bogota in order to pursue the higher paying modeling jobs that she continued to be offered. The instability in Colombia had continued to increase throughout her life, and she was determined to do whatever she needed in order to provide for her young son. Protecting him became the most important goal in her life, so she took work that would be the most likely to ensure their safety. With any luck, it would take them out of danger.

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Twitter // @strawbrrylaurnt

Telenovela’s Come Calling

Vergara hadn’t intended to pursue a career as an actress, but she didn’t hesitate to take a role in a telenovela from Mexico, Acapulco, cuerpo y alma. The role got Sofia noticed by other networks, putting her on their radar as a television personality. It was often grueling for the young mother to balance her work with taking care of her son. The support of her family was tantamount to Sofia’s success on the small screen, but she would soon be pushed to protect them too.

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Escape To Miami

Though Pablo Escabar may have been eliminated by 1993, Colombia in 1994 was still subject to the whims of chaos and violence that had characterized life there for over 30 years. She was offered a chance to host a travel show for Univision, based out of Miami. A friend shared, “She saw it as a chance to give her son a better life. She said yes immediately.” The threat of violence was too great for Vergara to stay in Colombia now that she had a way out.

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Protecting The Family

When Sofia moved to the United States, she was able to bring her mother and sister along with her and her son, giving them sanctuary in Miami. Meanwhile, Sofia’s popularity among Spanish speaking audiences continued to grow, and she moved from hosting a Spanish language travel show to a Spanish game show. Latin audiences loved her, but she was otherwise largely unknown to American audiences. With a comfortable life in Miami, Sofia could hardly have asked for more. Then, tragedy struck.

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He Slipped Through The Cracks

It was 1998, and Sofia was making a new life with her family in America, but she hadn’t had the chance to bring everyone else over yet, nor did they all want to go. Everything changed in the blink of an eye when her brother Raul was killed in an attempted kidnapping. Sofia was absolutely devastated. Still, she had to go on providing for her family, but the investigation of his murder was incomplete, leaving many questions unanswered.

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Facebook // Fans of Diet Pepsi

Caught By The Throat

Vergara had hardly recovered from her family tragedy when she was hit with more bad news. In 2000, doctors surprised Vergara with the news that she had thyroid cancer. Vergara was lucky they had caught it early, quickly undergoing surgery and treatment with radioactive iodine. While she managed to receive medical clearance shortly after, she came through the ordeal only to find her love life in shambles. Despite her professional success, Sofia was suffering privately as she was hit with one problem after another.

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Close To Her Roots

Perhaps she was drawn to the life of a mob boss because it reminded her of the rampant crime in Colombia, or perhaps something of his dazzling lifestyle seduced her. Somehow, Vergara managed to get involved with Chris Paciello, who owned several nightclubs popular with a number of big name celebrities, including Madonna and Jennifer Lopez. Paciello’s connections to the mob were no secret, however, with a list of misdeeds so long that he sported the nickname, “The Binger.”

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Paciello Imprisoned

In the aftermath of Sofia’s health scare, her then boyfriend was charged with a murder that took place during a 1996 burglary gone wrong that had taken place in Paciello’s native Staten Island. His bail was posted for $15 million, which Sofia offered to him using her house as collateral. Though he pleaded guilty and collaborated with prosecutors by giving them important names, Paciello was still sentenced to six months in jail, which effectively ended his romantic relationship to Sofia.

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She Liked Them Bad

Paciello’s eventual imprisonment still wasn’t enough for Vergara, whose taste for bad boys still hadn’t been satisfied. Her career was continuing to gain steam, though she was just barely beginning to break into the English language market. At the same time as she started earning small roles in English TV shows and movies, she began a relationship with former Colombian kingpin, Andrés López López. The relationship lasted long enough for him to mention his love for Sofia in a 2004 interview.

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ABC Comes Calling

Sofia’s life changed forever when she booked a guest role on My Wife and Kids. ABC executives liked the Latin beauty so much that they immediately signed her to a long term contract with the network. Sofia decided to move her and her son out to Los Angeles so she was better positioned to work on bigger budget acting projects. Sofia once shared that she had such a following among the Latin community that the Latin valets were more excited to meet her than Justin Timberlake.

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Turning Down Tom

Sofia’s incredible looks had heads turning in Hollywood from the minute she arrived, included Tom Cruise’s. He pursued her relentlessly, and to some, it seemed that he was “auditioning” Sofia to be his new wife. Despite the numerous playdates he set up for his kids and Manolo, there was no way the Catholic Sofia would ever accept Scientology in her life, which sent Tom packing. While she may have dodged that bullet, there was still more trouble ahead.

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Extending Her Hand

No one who knows Vergara would ever question her commitment to her family. Following the tragic loss of her older brother, Sofia again reached out to try to help her family by bringing her younger brother Julio to Miami. He had his own demons to wrestle with, and there was only so much Sofia could do for him. Try as she might, she couldn’t keep him out of trouble. Her heartache with regards to Julio would only continue to grow.

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Playing Gloria

Vergara’s break out role as Gloria Delgado Pritchett on Modern Family changed her life forever. The producers were so keen on casting Vergara that they had written the role for her, incorporating many elements of Vergara’s tumultuous past into the character’s story. The minute she was in the spotlight, Vergara began to earn both accolades for her hilarious performance as well as criticism for playing to stereotypes. Unfazed, Vergara said that the inspiration for Gloria comes straight from her aunt Gloria Vergara.

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Trouble With Julio

In 2011, Sofia Vergara was riding high. She had multiple Emmy nominations under her belt and was involved with a new beau, business man Nick Loeb. Her brother Julio, however, just couldn’t keep himself out of trouble. After multiple stints in rehab and a number of arrests, the United States decided he just wasn’t worth the trouble. There was nothing Sofia could do to stop him from being deported. Vergara had to find ways to cope with the devastation she felt.

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Another Rocky Relationship

She may have been in love, but her relationship to Nick Loeb was volatile from the start. The couple were involved on and off for four years, and there’s been no end to the trouble that arose during their hard times. One friend shared with reporters, “They would fight all the time…It was very uncomfortable to be around them sometimes. She’s feisty, he’s dorky — they were like oil and water.” Vergara, however, is loyal to a fault, even to her own detriment.

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Daily Mail // ASSOCIATED PRESS

Battle Miami

Even in spite of Paciello’s convictions, Sofia found it hard to completely cut ties with her former flame. Her loyalty came back to bite her when Nick Loeb got into a fight with the security at one of Paciello’s nightclubs in Miami when the couple were attending a New Year’s party. Vergara attempted to cut ties with her ex in the aftermath, but it was too late for her current relationship. The pair’s arguments only continued to worsen.

Your Next Shoes // Jan Stromsodd

A Near Miss

Sofia was in the trance of those blissful early days of her new relationship when she got a call that stopped her in her tracks. Her newest beau, Loeb, was in the hospital. Sofia rushed over to his bedside, fearing the worst. He had been in a car accident and was seriously injured. Sofia prayed with all of her might that he would recover, and thankfully her prayers were answered. The pair had only been dating for about six months at the time.

Daily Mail // Jennifer Pearson

The Onion Huckster

It never helped Nick’s case that he seemed to compulsively promote his product, namely Onion Crunch. Sofia was absolutely furious to discover that on one occasion, Loeb had snuck his snack food into a White House dinner in order to try and promote it. The friend shared, “The arguments just accelerated after that. He felt humiliated, and she felt that he was trying to control her.” Still, she couldn’t seem to kick the “Onion Crunch King” to the curb.

Shutterstock //Kathy Hutchins

It Couldn’t Last

Loeb proposed to Vergara in 2012 at a Mayan ruin in Mexico, but even an engagement couldn’t save their rocky relationship. The pair split for the last time in May 2014 after dating on and off for nearly four years. Sofia didn’t seem too cut up by the split, as she stepped out with Joe Manganiello less than two months later. Sofia’s happiness with Joe was in stark contrast to the chaos she experienced in all of her previous relationships. Finally, the bad boy streak was broken.

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The Embryos Strike Back

Sofia may have moved on to a more stable partner, but Nick wasn’t quite done with her yet. Sofia suddenly found herself embroiled in a legal battle with her own embryos. The pair had created a couple of embryos via in-vitro fertilization in 2013, following their engagement.The embryos were then frozen, with the intention that the couple would implant them in a surrogate. After their split, however, Loeb decided he wanted to go ahead with implanting the embryos anyway, with or without Sofia’s consent.

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The Woes Of A Housewife

Sofia’s life may have stabilized considerably since she finally left Loeb in the dark, but there are still perils to being as famous as she now is. Just a couple of weeks ago, Teresa Giudice of Real Housewives fame began bad mouthing Sofia to the press for not taking a picture with her at a party. Giudice claims her publicist told her to take the photo. In the aftermath, Giudice is quoted as saying that Sofia should be nicer because she’s an immigrant.

Daily Mail // Lisa Mcloughlin

On Top OF TV

Still, Sofia is undeterred. She has maintained her status as the highest paid female actress on television for the last few years, and jokes about spending her money on lavish handbags, which she used to say her son can sell if she’s ever short on his college tuition. Despite her intense fame, Sofia is still a family girl at heart, using her success to lavish gifts and vacations on her extended family. Though it hasn’t been easy, Sofia has the last laugh.

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After 21 Years Of Marriage, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill Have Revealed Shocking News

Country music fans surely know of the genre’s biggest power couple, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. After 21 years together, they recently made a shocking announcement.

Private Announcement

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill have been staples not only in country music but in each other’s lives. After a recent anniversary, they took the opportunity to share some information. Their relationship has never been ordinary, but their newest bit of news came unexpectedly…

Private Announcement

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.

Fans Didn’t See It Coming

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.

Teaming Up On 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.

Sparks Fly

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.

UnFaithful

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.

Falling In Love

Unapologetically 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.”

Unapologetically In Love

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.

The Unexpected News

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.

Popping The Question

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.

The Wedding

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.

Green Eyed Girlfriend

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.

Indescribable Feeling

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.”

Thankful For Adoption

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.

Newlyweds

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

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.

Baby On Board

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.

What Happens On Tour…

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.”

Protective Parent

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.

Making Sweet Music

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.

Purpose

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.

Award Winning Couple

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.

Working Marriage

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.”

Expanding The Brood

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.

Together We Tour

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.

Hitting Back At Rumors

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.

Faith’s Strength

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.

Finding Comfort

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.”

Standing Up For Faith

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.”

Patriotic Family

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.”

Battling Addiction

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.

Ultimatum

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.

Talking It Out

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.

Back On Top

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.”

Family Man

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.

Inspiring One Another

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.”

Negative Attention

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.”

College Calling

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.”

Supermom

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.”

Oh, Brother

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.”

Daughter 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.

A New Duet

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.

Enjoying The Moment

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.

faith-beyonce
Channeling Beyoncé

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.”

Keeping The Family Together

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.”

faith-song
Writing For His Women

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.”

Meet The Parents

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.”

Pushing Each Other’s Buttons

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.

Fighting With Faith

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.

Healthy Hill?

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?”

The Best Memories

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.”

Making It Last

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.

Fame In The Family

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.

Caught Unawares

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 Denial

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.

In His Father’s Footsteps

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.

Cooking From The Heart

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.”

Out Of Place

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.

Declined By Reba

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

Shattering Her World

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.”

Number One

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.”

Return To Tour