Martina McBride Cried on Shoulder of Man Living in a Warehouse, Not Knowing He Would Be Her Husband for Decades

Martina McBride fell in love with her husband, John McBride, in the most unexpected circumstances. Yet, the pair have been married for over three decades. Find out the secret to their long-lasting union.

American Country Music Singer, Producer, and Songwriter Martina McBride is one talented woman known for her soprano singing range.

But, there is a lot more to the icon than her superb songwriting, fantastic voice, and the hits she keeps recording in a career that has spanned three decades. Martina is a doting mother to three kids and a loving wife to her long-time husband, John McBride.

The singer and John first met in 1987 when the latter, a sound engineer at the time, rented out the warehouse he lived in as a practice space for Martina's band.

Unfortunately, Martina's band barely rehearsed and eventually failed, but the singer had something to hang on to — the feeling she had developed for John. Martina recalled:

"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.'"

In April 1987, the lovebirds started dating, and the following month, they got engaged. One year later, on May 15, 1988, Martina and John walked down the aisle. In 1990, the couple relocated from Wichita, Kansas, to Nashville, searching for better opportunities.

After their move, John would secure a gig with Garth Brooks as his sound engineer and joined him on tour in 1991. Not long after, the sound engineer got his wife a job, selling mercy at Brooks's concerts, which allowed them to be together.

MARTINA'S HUSBAND

John is best known as a sound engineer and the founder of The Blackbird Studio, founded in 2002. The complex comprises nine studios and houses and a post-secondary audio engineering school known as The Blackbird Academy.

As a sound guru with a career that has spanned two decades, John has engineered some of Martina's studio albums and is involved in the daily operation of Clair Global, a technology company specializing in live production services.

Despite these career achievements, John still considers his marriage to Martina one of his most significant accomplishments.

Time and again, the sound engineer has spoken candidly about his love for the singer and the beautiful bond they share. During a 2010 interview with The Boot, John described their marriage and his feelings for Martina thus:

"I'm not a religious guy, but I always felt God put us together. 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."

He further said, "It takes work, too. It's not all just a walk in the park. [But] we have a great relationship. She's my best friend. She's my partner. I encourage all my friends to find a farm girl/rock star from Kansas and marry her."

John is not the only one full of praises for his spouse, as Martina has returned the favor countless times. She once gushed about her husband to The Boot, noting that he is a great partner.

The singer also confessed that John is considerate, thoughtful, romantic, kind, funny, and handsome. According to Martina, she and John love each other's company and respect each other, adding that they are a great team.

THE SECRET OF THE COUPLE'S LONG TIME MARRIAGE

For a couple, who has been married for 34 years, Martina and John are an inspiration to many young couples. Over the years, several people have been eager to know the secret to their beautiful union, and the team has not denied the public that knowledge.

Martina believes that her first secret to staying married is that she chose well. Also, in 2016, the "Til I Can Make It On My Own" singer made it known that their shared upbringing was another secret that has kept her marriage strong.

According to the country music icon, she and John grew up in Kansas, which is down to earth, adding that they are the same people they have always been.

THE COUPLE'S CHILDREN

Martina and John share three children, Delaney McBride, Emma McBride, and Ava McBride. The couple's first child, Delaney, was born on December 22, 1994, while their second child, Emma, arrived on March 29, 1998.

A few years later, the couple celebrated the birth of their third child, Ava, on June 20, 2005. During the early stages of her children's lives, Martina was at the peak of her career; however, as a mother, she knew the importance of creating time for her kids.

So, after welcoming her second child, the Grammy award-winning singer stepped back from touring to raise her daughters. For Martina, making sure her girls had an everyday life was pertinent. The record producer once noted that at home, she was not a big star but a regular mom.

According to her, molding her children was more important than record sales, awards, or TV shows. More than anything, Martina wanted her kids to have the upbringing that she had.

Even though it was not going to be the same due to some circumstances, she was determined to teach her kids the values and sense of self she learned early. To do that, Martina revealed that she turned down a lot of TV opportunities and tours overseas for an extended period.

"I won't trade it for anything. I really did get the best of both worlds. I got to have this amazing, exciting, fulfilling career, and I got to raise these human beings who are just the loves of my life," Martina said.

Indeed, the country singer has reaped the fruits of her decision. Her girls are grown up, with the youngest at 17, and are doing very well. In 2012, Delaney graduated from high school, and six years later, she graduated from massage therapy school.

Currently, she works as a yoga instructor, massage therapist, and private chef for Hand to Heart Wellness in Nashville, Tennessee.