Tim McGraw on First Meeting Faith Hill: ‘My Knees Went Weak’

Photo byGetty Images for ACM

Tim McGraw knew the first time he met his now-wife, Faith Hill, that he was smitten. The 57-year-old recalls the first time he saw Hill, whom he wed in1996, backstage at the Country Radio Seminar New Faces Show, where McGraw performed “Don’t Take the Girl,” his first No. 1 hit. Hill was also performing that evening.

“I sang it at the New Faces show in February ’94,” McGraw recalled to Lon Helton on Country Countdown USA. “Which, backstage that night was the very first time I met Faith. We took a picture. You gave me that picture and I posted it for our anniversary. My knees went weak. I was definitely smitten with her. It took her a while. I had that ugly red and black jacket on. I’m surprised she paid any attention to me.”

Last year, McGraw reflected on their first meeting, on their 27th wedding anniversary.

“This is the very first picture ever taken of us, the very first time we ever met back in spring of 1994,” McGraw wrote on social media. “This was backstage of the ‘New Faces’ show at the Country Radio Seminar……I fell for you in an instant! Today is our 27th wedding anniversary and I fall for you every day, every time you walk into the room, every time I see you in our three beautiful daughter’s smiles. I just keep falling and always will. Happy anniversary my love!”

McGraw currently has a Top 15 hit with “One Bad Habit.” with the video paying tribute to Hill. The father of three admits he does have a few bad habits of his own, including one that is especially bothersome to Hill.

“I got a lot of bad habits,” McGraw admitted. “The worst one is when my wife says pick your stuff up off the bathroom floor. I spent 30 lives of my life where I live in hotels, and just throw stuff everywhere and leave it a mess. So I do that at home, and it doesn’t go over well. That’s probably the worst bad habit my wife gets on me about. But there are plenty more!”

“One Bad Habit” is from McGraw’s surprise Poet’s Resumé EP, released in November. Written by Marc Beeson, Aaron Eshuis and Tony Lane, McGraw was drawn to the song the first time he heard it.

“I just loved the lyric right off the bat,” McGraw shared. “Then when we got into the studio, we tore it all apart and put it back together, it came out fantastic. It was a lot slower when we first heard the demo. I love the guitar work on that song. The band picked up on the vibe I wanted to do. It was one of those songs that fell into a groove with me singing. When the record was done, we were blown away with it.”

McGraw also praised Hill when he received the ACM Icon Award at last year’s ACM Honors ceremony.

“My world changed the day I met Faith Hill … You’re my partner in life, you’re my partner musically,” McGraw said. “And how blessed I am. I would not be where I am today, without you and your grace. I love you unconditionally.”

Find “One Bad Habit” and all of McGraw’s music and upcoming shows at TimMcGraw.com.