Martina McBride Raised Daughters Modestly with Only a Pair of Shoes Each — They Still Avoid 'Hollywood Hype'

Country singer Martina McBride has topped the charts and built immense success for herself, but she relies on her humble beginnings to raise her three daughters, who were born into the complicated world of fame. Martina also gave insight into how she's kept the spark in her marriage for over three decades!

Singing has always been at the forefront of everything for Martina. She started singing when she was only six years old with her family's country-rock band run by her father, Daryl Schiff.

The hitmaker graduated from high school in 1984 but dropped out of college after one semester to pursue her singing career. In the meantime, Martina made money by performing at the local Dairy Queen with a band called "The Penetrators." She says the band name sounded cool to her at the time.

When that did not work out, the country star decided to start her band. She would drive her group members to rehearsal in a converted ambulance, but no one practiced. Martina only found refuge in the man that rented out the warehouse that was also his home, John McBride.

These visits started the love story between Martina and the sound engineer. The two fell in love quickly and tied the knot in 1988, after one year of dating.

Martina's breakthrough came in 1992 when a Radio Corporation of America (RCA) executive offered to sign her after receiving a demo from her husband, John. In complete disbelief, Martina recalls saying:

"Are you sure? Don't be jerkin' me around."

After Martina topped the country charts with her debut album "The Time Has Come" and went on tour, the McBrides started a family. They welcomed their first daughter, Delaney, in 1994 and their second girl, Emma, in 1998. The couple welcomed their third daughter, Ava, almost a decade later, in 2005.

What is the secret to a happy marriage of 34 years?

As one can imagine, balancing being a superstar, a wife, and a mother cannot be easy, but the "Independence Day" hitmaker says her busy schedule "just feels natural" to her. After giving birth to her second daughter, Martina did not put anything on hold; the artist was working on a Christmas album and planning a tour.

ALL ABOUT THE MCBRIDE'S UNIQUE PARENTING STYLE

It is unusual to hear of a Hollywood family that only allows their children to have one pair of shoes at a time. Yet Martina and her husband, John, did not want their children to take anything for granted.

Martina believed that her strict parenting style would help her kids appreciate the reward of working hard instead of looking toward their mother's status for opportunities to be handed to them on a silver platter.

Although the singer says she sometimes finds the frugal way of living "ridiculous," she still stands by it because she and her husband achieved success with very little financial support. The superstar mom said:

"My kid has one pair of shoes. Why does she just have one pair of shoes? But I had one pair of shoes when I was a kid, and I was fine."

On the contrary, Martina's sound engineer husband is not as stern. His wife sometimes finds him secretly trying to give his daughters money, but the Hollywood singer does not let him forget why they decided on their parenting style. "He'll sneak them a bit of cash, and I'll be like, 'What are you doing?'" said the country singer.

Nonetheless, the mother of three is close to her daughters and admits that her family is what keeps her grounded while living in a world of busy Hollywood. "My husband and three daughters keep me grounded," said Martina

THE SECRET BEHIND THE MCBRIDES' STRONG FAMILY UNIT

Despite the importance of instilling humility and hard work, Martina and John do not let their tours and Hollywood events impose on spending quality time with their family.

The award-winning country singer says she spends her time on the road with her children and treats the whole experience as a family vacation. The McBrides told US Weekly that they even plan their tour dates according to their girls' school schedule.

However, while juggling careers in the fast-paced music industry and parenthood, one can't help but wonder: what is the secret to a happy marriage of 34 years? During her appearance on "The Today Show," Martina shared:

"Dedication, commitment, and respect for each other... A sense of humor is very important."

THE MCBRIDE DAUGHTERS AND "HOLLYWOOD HYPE"

Martina's daughters might have been present at the peak of their mother's fame, but that did not put singing at the top of their career list.

The mother of three says her daughters are gifted vocally, but they are not interested in performing despite her "begging and pleading" with them to sing at one of her shows. The McBride girls are putting their powerhouse voices on hold and chasing different dreams. Martina said:

"They’ve both got great voices, but I can’t get them to sing in front of anybody. They won’t go onstage and sing. I’ve offered and asked and begged and pleaded... My girls are just not really drawn to all the Hollywood hype and that stuff."

The eldest McBride daughter, Delaney, has moved away from the spotlight and is focused on pursuing other passions. The 27-year-old is establishing a career as a massage therapist, a personal chef, and a doula.

The second-born Emma, 24, might find herself on our screens soon as she is trying to get into acting, and the youngest, Ava, is completing her junior year in high school.

John and Martina McBride have beaten the odds together, kept their marriage strong for over three decades, and successfully raised their three children. The songstress's and sound engineer's tough beginnings have drawn them closer.

The couple now owns one of Nashville's most famous sound studios, Blackbird Studios. Martina might have multiple accolades attached to her name, but to her, the family they created is the most significant achievement of her life.