Who Is Martina McBride's Husband? All About John McBride

Martina McBride and her husband, John McBride, married in 1988

Martina McBride and her husband, John McBride, have a love story for the ages.

The couple met in early 1987 and were engaged by May of that year. After a short courtship and engagement, Martina and John wed in May 1988 and later welcomed three children together.

"It was just a feeling I had that he was 'the one,' " the singer told PEOPLE in October 2021.

In the same vein, John believes that their relationship happened due to divine intervention.

"I’m not a religious guy, but I always felt God put us together,” he told The Boot in 2010. "It’s crazy. I’d never had that feeling before. This girl, she’s incredible, and I love her more [now] than I ever have. I told her, ‘If we could bottle what we have, we could retire, girl.’ We’re so lucky."

Related: Martina McBride's 3 Children: All About Delaney, Emma and Ava

Martina echoed a similar sentiment, telling the outlet, "I married a man who is a great partner. He is thoughtful, kind, considerate, romantic, handsome and really funny. We love each other’s company, our personalities complement each other, and we respect each other."

So who is Martina McBride’s husband? Here’s everything to know about John McBride and his relationship with the country singer.

Martina and John met through music

Martina shared that she first met John, a sound engineer, in early 1987 through a friend who referred her to his sound company for a room to rehearse in.

She told PEOPLE in 1998 that her band rented a rehearsal space in a warehouse that John owned and lived in. However, her bandmates “wouldn’t rehearse," which upset her.

Martina explained, “Here I was, crying on his shoulder about my band not coming together, and I thought, ‘I’m in love with this guy. This is crazy. He lives in a warehouse.’ ”

She later recounted them having a drink and hitting it off. "He's larger than life — still is," the vocalist told PEOPLE in October 2021.

They quickly fell in love and got engaged in May 1987.

Martina and John married in 1988

Martina and John tied the knot on May 15, 1988.

Decades later, she told PEOPLE some of her favorite memories from her wedding day.

“There are so many,” she said in 2012. “Going to breakfast with my mom and sister. Walking down the aisle with my dad. The kiss. Walking back down the aisle as the new Mrs. McBride! It was a magical day.”

In May 2023, McBride shared a sweet wedding anniversary post on Instagram in honor of their 35th anniversary.

"We made it to 35 years! Thirty. Five. Years. Wow. This guy makes me laugh every day and he's a great dad to our 3 girls," she wrote. "He is a friend to many. But he's my best friend. Love you John."

He encouraged her music career

John is Martina’s No. 1 fan and supported her music career from the beginning. They moved from their home state of Kansas to Nashville in 1990, and John found work as a production manager for Garth Brooks.

"At the time, I was waiting tables and singing demos, so I asked if I could get a job on the tour to travel with my husband," Martina told PEOPLE in October 2021. "I ended up selling merch for Garth. My husband told him at some point that I was a singer trying to get a record deal, and I'm sure he thought, 'Yeah, like every other girl in Nashville.' "

Fast forward, Garth asked Martina to be his opening act and her life changed.

"I don't even think my first single was out yet!" she explained. "I really hadn't performed on a big stage like that, but I knew that it was a great opportunity, and I needed to take it. To this day Garth is one person in this industry who I can always count on."

Martina and John share three kids

The couple have three children together: daughters Delaney, Emma and Ava.

Martina shared with PEOPLE in October 2021 how she has tried to raise her kids without spoiling them. "I feel like it robs them of their satisfaction when they do a good job or they earn something," she said.

The artist added that she has instilled "a really strong work ethic" with them, noting, "My husband John and I grew up the same way, where you work for what you get. So we raised them that way."

However, Martina admitted that she is more "hardscrabble" than John, sharing, "He'll sneak them a bit of cash, and I'll be like, 'What are you doing?' They have him wrapped around their fingers for sure."

He helps her in the kitchen

Not only is Martina a successful country singer, she’s also an accomplished chef, who has published two cookbooks.

John has also helped her perfect her recipes, including “simple, foolproof” cheddar and bacon biscuits. “Adding bacon to the biscuits was actually John’s idea,” she told PEOPLE. “It made them even more delicious!”

Martina and John like to spend time together

Martina told PEOPLE in October 2021 that the secret to their long-lasting relationship is that "it really helps if you find someone you like, not just love."

She went on to explain, "John and I really like hanging out and experiencing new things together. We try to go out once a week, even if it's just to go grab a beer or a cup of coffee or go for a walk."

Martina also added, "We did that a lot when the kids were little, but now that two of them have moved out of the house and the other one is driving, we spend a lot of time together. I'm glad we like each other, because when you're at your empty nest at the end of the day, it's important to have somebody who you can just be silent with."

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