After 21 Years, Tim And Faith Make This Announcement

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

Over the last 21 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.

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

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.”

Unapologeticly 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.

faith tim-mother
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.”

faith tim-adoption
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

Tori Roloff Makes Devastating Family Announcement

(Left) Twitter // @HollywoodLife | (Right) Instagram // @toriroloff

One of the most popular reality television shows on TLC was Little People, Big World. This show followed the lives of the Roloff family as they navigated the ups and downs of life. In the latter part of last year, Tori and Zach Roloff brought a beautiful little bundle of joy into the world. But this happy event was followed by a devastating family announcement. If you’re not familiar with the story of these two young people, keep reading, and we will walk you through it as well as bring you up to date on the two and their family.

Potential Consequences

Zach and Tori had been dating for four years when Zach finally proposed. The answer was a resounding yes even though Tori knew starting a life and family with Zach was going to present some challenges.

Twitter // @Chum1045

Tough Tori was aware of these challenges, she had no idea how big the dangers and obstacles would be. She even said in an interview that she thought the couple’s story was pretty unique. Exciting and terrifying all at once.

Let’s Try

Once the couple tied the knot, they began to talk about starting a family. Both Tori and Zach were adamant that they wanted to build a family, but both were very honest about the risk that this entailed.

Twitter // @ClickySound

They knew that the chance of health complications was there, but even with that, they decided the risk was worth the reward. So the couple began trying to get pregnant. This, however, was the first step on a long and tumultuous road.

First Child

It didn’t take long for the two to find out that they were expecting. Nine months after Tori Roloff gave birth and became a mom for the very first time. This was an exciting event in her and Zach’s life. Like any other couple, they were nervous about raising a child.

Twitter // @NaijaFashionR

But unlike many of their friends and family that had already brought life into the world, they had more to worry about.

Genetic Traits

Zach and several of his family all live with dwarfism, and this brings extra difficulties to surmount. Not only with daily activities but with their health. Zach himself had to go through many surgeries as he grew up.

Photo by Thos Robinson // Getty Images

His dad, Matthew, requires even more attention due to the form of dwarfism he was born with. Zach’s mom Amy on the other hand, hasn’t had as many health concerns as the two men. Even with all that, though, it is incredible the amount of and type of work they were able to manage.

In the Beginning

Tori Roloff went to work on the family farm, and it wasn’t long before the fans of the show felt that she and Zach were the perfect couple. Eventually, Zach agreed, and four months after Tori started working there, he asked her out.

Instagram // @zroloff07

She clearly said yes, and after dating for just a short period, Tori knew she had found her Prince Charming. But she had no idea the hurdles that this fairytale romance would bring into her life.

Their Own Dream

Hollywood loves a good spin-off, and when Amy and Matthew began to dream of a different career, the show was ripe for one. So in 2012, Zach’s parents stepped out and took the leading roles in their own reality show called Little People, Big World: Wedding Farm.

Photo by Amy Sussman // Getty Images

This followed them as they started working on their own wedding planning business. The show didn’t have the ratings of the original, and so it only lasted one season.

“I Quit!”

With cameras in their faces and lives every day and every hour, you can imagine tension and frustration might begin to mount. This would be especially true if you were a young man, and so the youngest family member, Jacob, decided to quit.

Twitter // @jacobroloff2

He felt that the family on the screen was not the one he lived with, but rather characters of themselves. Jacob didn’t want to portray something he wasn’t, so he bowed out gracefully.

Office Romance

The office romance unfolded over a few years before it moved on to a more permanent relationship with the engagement. Even with the stray eyed love, the couple has had their share of issues. Tori Roloff was aware of the problems that might arise from the pairing.

Instagram // @toriroloff

However, she wasn’t aware of how emotionally draining they might be. Even still, she knew she loved Zach, and so she pushed through all the challenges and uncertainty.

Down the Aisle

A wedding is a big event in anyone’s lives, but it becomes even bigger when you are a star on a hit reality series. So with the events covered thoroughly by TLC cameras, Zach and Tori finally walked down the aisle in July of 2015.

Instagram // @jeremyroloff

The ceremony was small with just 100 people, and though not the first wedding on the show, was by far the one everyone was waiting for.

Transferable Skills

Having the experience of controlling multiple children and getting them to focus on you is an important skill to have as a new mom. So Tori Roloff started off her new job with the scale tipped in her favor, as she not only worked on the farm but was a kindergarten teacher as well.

Instagram // @toriroloff

Of course, she had to take some time off from the job when the baby was born, but she told several people she couldn’t wait to introduce the baby to her kids.

Mixed Emotions

Of course, Tori Roloff was aware that the little one could inherit the dwarfism gene from Zach. He was born with achondroplasia, and so with that in mind, the couple was prepared for the news if it came.

Twitter // @toriroloff56

In May of 2017, they got the results, and it was confirmed that little one did inherit the gene. Even with the news, though, the couple were still excited and knew that they were going to go through a whole range of emotions through the pregnancy and into the child’s young life.

Lucky #7

But before the little bundle of joy could enter their lives and the world, there was another important milestone for the couple. Tori Roloff made sure that the world knew how much she loved Zach when their 7th anniversary of being together came around.

Instagram // @toriroloff

She posted a beautiful picture and post on Instagram that expressed how important Zach was to her and how her life would not be the same or as happy if they hadn’t met.

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

The wedding was a rousing success and one of the family’s happiest moments, but another announcement would take the family and fans by surprise. Later that same year, Zach’s parents announced that they were splitting up after 30 years of marriage.

(Left) Instagram // @amyjroloff | (Right) Instagram // @mattroloff

They fully intended to keep working together on their joint ventures and still planned to focus on their family, but they needed to go their own ways in regards to their relationship.

Jackson Makes His Entry

In May of 2017, Tori and Zach welcomed Jackson, their son, into the world. They later would come to find out he shared his father’s dwarfism gene, which was okay with Zach. He told several people in interviews he knew they would have to encourage them more.

Twitter // @Celebtodaynews

When dealing with the trials of dwarfism, the boy was always going to have to work a little harder. But Zach still wanted to raise him with the understanding that not everyone gets a trophy.

Updates Galore

The couple knew they didn’t want Jackson to feel like his dwarfism would keep him from doing anything he wanted to.

Instagram // @zroloff07

That is why Tori Roloff made sure to give constant updates via social media on Jackson’s progress and life. But soon, she would find out it wasn’t only about Jackson’s struggles but hers as well.

Unexpected Challenge

Tori Roloff kept the updates on Jackson coming, and they were all positive, but in one post, she discussed her challenges in breastfeeding. She was very transparent with the fact she found breastfeeding challenging.

Instagram // @toriroloff

She was shocked as it is a natural part of the process, and she didn’t realize how hard it would be. New moms all over the country and the world sympathized with her and appreciated her honesty.

Honesty Is the Best Policy

Tori Roloff continued to be open about the struggles of breastfeeding. She even discussed how hard it is for women who can’t breastfeed to answer simple check-up questions. For instance, how is breastfeeding going?

Instagram // @toriroloff

Once again, moms worldwide were awed by her courage and gave a lot of support and praise for being so open. After all, a lot of new moms are ashamed to talk about their problems.

Let’s Add Another One

Though she struggled and was concerned about adding another child to the mix, Tori and Zach decided they wanted a bigger family. In several interviews, the couple discussed the desire for a larger family.

Instagram // @toriroloff

Zach even went on to say they were thinking that four or five was a good number. But the couple was also a go-with-the-flow kind of couple and believed if it happens, it happens. But there is a big announcement coming!

Second Time Around

Tori and Zach had already discussed with the world they wanted to give Jackson a sibling or two. Then it happened, and they announced last year that they were expecting their second child.

Instagram // @toriroloff

Not long after the announcement, Tori’s Instagram feed was filled with pictures from a photoshoot in a beautiful field. Plus, they also announced in one of the posts that the baby was going to be a girl!

Big Brother

That photoshoot had a special guest star… Jackson. The then 2-year-old made an appearance wearing a cute t-shirt that had “Big Brother” printed across it. He seemed pretty happy as the couple kneeled at his side and held a picture of the sonogram.

Instagram // @toriroloff

Even though the couple looked happy, many fans were concerned after a few previous posts from Tori Roloff. In these posts, she talked about life being challenging.

It’s Natural

Tori Roloff was always a big supporter of breastfeeding, even though it is stigmatized in modern society. One of the biggest debates in the mom communities is whether breastfeeding in public is a do or don’t.

Instagram // @toriroloff

Many new mothers feel awkward doing it, and the societal outlooks don’t help any. But on the other hand, if a mother opts not to breastfeed, they are looked down on as well. It seems that you can’t please everyone.

Public Feeding

The public breastfeeding debate often leads new moms to assume that the law is against it, but they would be misinformed. In fact, in most of the US, excluding one state, public breastfeeding is legal.

Instagram // @toriroloff

The only hold out is Idaho. When it comes to public breastfeeding, where the real problem comes is the verbal and provocation instigated by other people. But Tori Roloff is working to make this a non-issue.

Are They Staring?

Tori Roloff has been very vocal about how uncomfortable and awkward feeding in public was for her with her first child. But then she asked herself why should she feel awkward? After all, it is a natural act.

Instagram // @amyjroloff

So she remains very vocal about the importance of removing the stigma associated with breastfeeding in public. She has been so vocal that she has gotten a lot of praise from mothers and medical professionals alike.

Motherly Duties

The fact that Tori Roloff had a lot of problems breastfeeding Jackson makes her dedication to the cause even stronger. She struggled, but through perseverance, she was able to conquer the difficulties.

Instagram // @toriroloff

Often when mothers have as many problems as Tori, they give up and trade the natural milk for formulas or other options. Sometimes this is a necessity, but Tori felt it was important to be able to do things the natural way.

Praise Followed

Tori Roloff’s consistent openness and honesty about her struggles and the struggles of many other mothers garnered a lot of positive attention. With her large social media following, she was inundated with praise.

Instagram // @toriroloff

Her followers thanked her for being so open and backed her when she talked about how women should not be made to feel guilty or degraded when breastfeeding in public. Her followers weren’t the only ones to speak up.

Doctor Recommended

Medical professionals also spoke up in the comment section of her posts. The response was positive, but a few mentioned the recent push to try to get all women to breastfeed.

Instagram // @toriroloff

Many professionals feel the process is important, but the constant push could be setting up certain mothers for depression and emotional distress. This is especially true for those that can’t for reasons beyond their control. It seems this topic is super intricate and one that should be maneuvered with the help of a woman’s doctor.

Shared Emotional Challenges

Tori Roloff isn’t the only Roloff woman who had had some issues when it came to motherhood. Audrey, Tori’s sister in law, also expressed her pregnancy issues via social media. Audrey was super open with how hard it was to manage all the emotions of becoming a mother.

Instagram // @audreyroloff

On top of the job of pregnancy, Audrey was trying to balance running her own business as well. Needless to say, there were a lot of emotions floating around.

Juggling Responsibilities

In fact, in the post, Audrey asked other mompreneurs how they did it. She was raw with her concerns and fears about the shifting of priorities and her ability to make those adjustments smoothly.

Instagram // @toriroloff

She was just reaching out for a little advice and maybe reassurance that she could do it. But the response she got really surprised her. It seems that there was no need to feel as lost as she felt plenty of women were about to reach out to her.

That’s Normal

The response to Audrey’s very open and real feelings was especially outstanding from her followers. They all let her know that those feelings are something that almost every woman feels at some point.

Facebook // Jeremy Roloff

They also let her know that every mom has their own way of dealing with the balancing act of working and raising children. But the number one priority is always the baby; after all, most businesses can be automated, but a baby cannot.

Other Celebrity Mom’s Weigh In

Tori Roloff and Audrey are by no means the only “celebrity” moms that have spoken out on the difficulties of motherhood. Many others, like Chrissy Teigen and Alanis Morrissette, have also discussed their issues.

Instagram // @toriroloff

This includes the stigma of breastfeeding. Many of these celebrities have taken to social media and posted pics of them feeding in public to attempt to remove the stigma. Hopefully, if people with this level of visibility keep doing it will become less controversial.

The Struggle Is Real

From the beginning, Tori and Zach faced a lot of criticism from outside sources. From their relationship to their deciding to have a family, it seemed like their celebrity status left them open for everyone to say something.

Instagram // @toriroloff

Tori used her social media to show that they may be in the spotlight, but she and her family go through the same struggles as the “normal” person.

Real-Life Reality

One of the reasons that Tori Roloff and her family were so popular was that the show portrayed what life was like for the family. In fact, it was so well received that it got renewed for a second season without much thought.

Instagram // @amyjroloff

Many critics loved the open and honest portrayal of what life was like for the family dealing with the challenges of living with dwarfism. The show never tried to exploit this situation, and that made it feel real and uplifting.

Everyday Hurdles

The Roloff family wasn’t shy about sharing everything they could with the audience. In fact, they took the opportunity to share and educate people on life and the struggles of living with dwarfism. When the opportunity came up to have their own show, there was never a hesitation.

Instagram // @amyjroloff

In fact, Amy told an interviewer one time that she jumped at the chance. There were no shows that depicted a family with dwarfism accurately, and she felt she and her family could do that.

Stardom’s Path

The show launched the entire family into reality stardom. Why was it so captivating? Not only did it introduce people to a family that lived with dwarfism but in general, just a functional family.

Instagram // @toriroloff

The show took the audience through the life of a family that was just like everyone else. The only exception was some members living with dwarfism and yet were portrayed as an appealing, real, and dynamic family.

Moving On

After Amy and Matt split, it wasn’t long until Matt had found a new love, Caryn Chandler. The friends had been flirting for years as Caryn had been present in the family’s life for a long time as the farm manager.

Instagram // @tlc

She had been running the farm for a decade when Matt was able to act on his feelings and begin dating her. The two seem to be very happy.

Breakup Rumors

But like with all relationships in the public eye, there are always rumors that start to circulate. The big one was that the couple was on the brink of splitting. This rumor probably started when it was announced that Caryn was no longer the farm manager.

Instagram // @mattroloff

Matt was quick to respond to the rumors. He let the world know that they had not split and that they were still very happy.

Happy Announcement

Zach and Tori’s fans all start getting excited when news that there is a second bundle of joy on the way. The rumors really took off after Zach shared a video of his wife wearing baggy clothes and eating.

Instagram // @toriroloff

Tori rather quickly shot down the rumors and said that she thought that asking a woman if she was pregnant could be hurtful if that woman was unable to conceive. She also clarified she liked baggy clothes and food.

Close Call

Then news of a car accident hit the internet, and her fans were scared. She and Jackson had both been in the car when they were hit, and the car totaled. The accident was pretty serious, but both mom and son walked away just fine.

Instagram // @toriroloff

She confirmed this in a post with a picture of their new car. Tori Roloff let her fans know she was fine, and so was Jackson. She went on to say that it could have been the scariest moment of her life, though.

Safety First

Tori and Zach don’t always get happy comments on their posts, though. During a family vacation to Hawaii, the couple posted a picture of Jackson in a boat san life vest, and the post went crazy with a concerned citizen.

Instagram // @toriroloff

They criticized them for being negligent. But Grandpa quickly posted a pic with Jackson in the vest and said that when on the water, the parents definitely made sure Jackson was wearing safety gear.

Thanks & Giving

Tori took to social media again to wish all her fans a very Happy Thanksgiving from the family. The picture had everyone, including the newest addition, Lilah.

Instagram // @toriroloff

The little one had been born just two weeks before the holiday, and the questions were flying around on whether the little girl would have the same dwarfism gene as her dad and brother. Tori was very familiar with the feeling of waiting for the result of the test.

Finally, She’s Here

The fans of the couple had eagerly been waiting for the birth of the new little one. Of course, the wait was full of ups and downs and tons of questions. Eventually, the questions were answered…

Instagram // @toriroloff

Lilah did have the same dwarfism gene. Tori and Zach haven’t talked about it much because the fans are sure that this family is ready to handle whatever challenges come up and do so with honesty and heart.