Chris Tomlin's Wife: The Singer's Relationship with Lauren Bricken Wasn't Always Perfect

Chris Tomlin and his wife, Lauren Bricken, revealed that the first few years of their marriage had been difficult for the couple due to his personal struggles and their unplanned pregnancy.

Tomlin has made a name for himself in the music industry as one of his generation's most well-known Christian singers. He released his first album in 1995 and two more in 1998. By 2011, he had won a Grammy and multiple other awards.

While his fame has seen a steady incline for over two decades, Tomlin and Bricken's relationship was not without its ups and down. After finding their way back to each other, the couple was able to save their marriage by growing together and "recognizing" each other.

Chris Tomlin and Lauren Bricken's Relationship Wasn't Perfect from the Start

In 2008, after relocating from Texas to Atlanta, a mutual friend introduced Tomlin to Bricken. During an interview, Bricken shared that their mutual friend said while they would have a "good time," their relationship would not last.

His words proved to be true as Bricken shared she felt there was a wall between her and her future husband when they first began dating. She said:

"We dated for a season, but it got to a point where I thought there was a wall. And, as a woman, I was trying to navigate the relationship and figure out what was going on."

For Tomlin, he admitted to dragging his feet when it came to committing to Bricken as he wanted to "keep (his) options open." He had just relocated to a new place and was taking in his surroundings.

However, he said it took losing Bricken to appreciate what he had. A year later, the pair met again by "divine circumstances," and Bricken joked that it had been a "quick sprint to the altar."

Chris Had to Fabricate a Story to Propose to Lauren

Bricken said she and Tomlin had made it down the aisle "later in life" as she was 30 and he was 38. She compared their love story to that of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett from the 2005 film adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice." While Tomlin was "aloof, quiet and simple," Bricken was "fiery." Tomlin said:

"She's made me so much better than I was on my own. I've learned to communicate things a lot better because Lauren is a great communicator. She's always challenging me."

Tomlin revealed that over time he learned to appreciate her "intensity" as he was the kind of person to internalize his emotions. In 2010, Tomlin devised an elaborate plan to propose to Bricken in Guatemala. To get her to agree to travel with him to Central America, Tomlin made up a story.

He told her the president of Guatemala had asked their management for Tomlin to perform at a week-long celebration. Tomlin took Bricken to a restaurant in Antigua, where she thought they would meet the president. Instead, she was met with a romantic setup in the restaurant's back room.

During a podcast, Bricken recalled Tomlin being teary-eyed when he got down on one knee. And on the flight to Guatemala, she heard God say to her, "Chris is the greatest gift I will ever give you." Tomlin and Bricken later tied the knot in Hawaii. While speaking about Bricken, Tomlin said:

"She has a real heart, an amazing heart for people. She'll be the best thing I ever did. I know that."

Chris and Lauren Had Some Difficult Moments in Their Marriage

Instead of reveling in marital bliss, Tomlin shared that his and Bricken's first few years of marriage had been a difficult period in their lives. The gospel singer had personal issues he had not dealt with that ended up appearing in his marriage.

As a musician, he was on the road a lot as well, and when Bricken unexpectedly fell pregnant only a month after becoming newlyweds, things became more difficult.

Having only been married for a month, Tomlin and Bricken had not known each other "that well." It forced them to grow, and Bricken said matters had to worsen before they could improve.

They turned to family and friends in hopes of mending their marriage when counseling was not to Tomlin's taste. The singer shared that what helped him work on his marriage was recognizing Bricken. He said:

"A part of loving your wife is recognizing when there are needs and when you're not meeting them. The way a man loves his wife is to recognize her. Recognition is a part of great love."

Chris and Lauren Raise Three Beautiful Daughters Together

After falling pregnant a month into their marriage with their firstborn daughter, Ashlyn, Bricken, and Tomlin welcomed two more girls. The singer took to social media to share the birth of their second daughter, Madison, in 2014.

During the lockdown, Tomlin and Bricken spent quality time with their girls as he was no longer touring, and the singer revealed that his daughters served as inspiration for some of his music. In 2020, they welcomed their youngest child, Elle. Tomlin said:

"Babies are miracles. Lauren and I are counting our blessings."

With over a million followers on Instagram, Chris Tomlin often shares pictures of his wife and daughters on his social media. In October, they took their girls on a family trip to Disneyland; Tomlin documented the family day and shared that it was in honor of Ashlyn and Madison's birthdays.