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Tim McGraw and Mark | Source: twitter.com/thetimmcgraw
Tim McGraw and Mark | Source: twitter.com/thetimmcgraw

Country Superstar Tim McGraw's Half-Brother Became a Firefighter — He Wants Him to Be 'Safe'

Oyin Balogun
Dec 11, 2022
08:00 P.M.

Since the 1990s, Tim McGraw has blessed fans with chart-topping records. He shares a close relationship with his siblings, including a half-brother, Mark, who works as a firefighter. Here are details about the MacGraw siblings and their famous father, Tug McGraw.

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Country crooner, songwriter, and record producer Tim McGraw has sixteen studio albums under his belt—with unforgettable songs, including "Live Like You Were Dying," "It's Your Love," and "Don't Take the Girl."

Amid his love for music, his best moments have been with his family, as a sweet husband, loving father, and compassionate sibling and son, thanks to the lessons he learned as a child.

Tim McGraw in New York City, New York, United States in 2005. | Source: Getty Images

Tim McGraw in New York City, New York, United States in 2005. | Source: Getty Images

During his childhood, Tim was raised by his mother and stepdad, Horace Smith, in Louisiana. Everything seemed perfect for the family, and he never doubted his place, but at age 11, something shocking happened.

Tim realized the man he called dad was his stepfather. Tug McGraw, former New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies baseball player, and a wealthy man, who had been absent from his life, was his biological dad. He recalled:

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"I didn't know he was my dad. I was 11 years old, and I was rummaging around in mom's closet and found a birth certificate. I was growing up in Louisiana, and my mom was divorced, and we were barely getting by."

Tim McGraw and Tug McGraw outside his home in 1994. | Source: Getty Images

Tim McGraw and Tug McGraw outside his home in 1994. | Source: Getty Images

The birth certificate had been tampered with; the name McGraw was scratched out and replaced by a handwritten Smith. Eventually, he met the Philadelphia Phillies player over lunch and watched his dad play.

They did not immediately bond as Tim had expected. Although father and son met a few times, it wasn't until he turned 18 that they grew closer.

Tim never faulted his dad, nor did he excuse his abandonment. The revelation only became a driving force, and meeting his father motivated him to succeed.

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Tim McGraw on November 06, 2019 in Burbank, California. | Source: Getty Images

Tim McGraw on November 06, 2019 in Burbank, California. | Source: Getty Images

The "It's Your Love" singer wanted to get close to Tug, and thankfully, before he died in 2004 after suffering brain cancer, they established an excellent relationship.

Although Tug died at 59, he witnessed an extraordinary amount of his son's success. Tim became the father he longed for as a child. The singer webbed an enviable romance with his wife, Faith Hill, and together, they enjoyed fame and fortune in their careers and have a happy family.

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Tim and Faith tied the knot in 1996 and joined forces as singers, arresting the world with their unique voices and, in return, receiving overwhelming success.

They built a highly prosperous empire worth $145 million as a team. Tim's estimated worth hangs on $70 million, while his wife is around $80 million.

Apart from their enduring marriage and non-controversial partnership, these two have a lovely family, including their three adorable daughters. Their firstborn, Gracie, arrived a year after their wedding, and her siblings, Audrey and Maggie, later joined the family.

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For a man who valued bonding with his absentee father, having a tight-knit family has always been a personal assignment; thankfully, his wife understands.

When they decided to get married, the couple vowed to prioritize their families above their interests, including their careers. The "7500 OBO" once revealed:

"We made a conscious decision when we got married that no matter what, if we were gonna start a family, that that was gonna be our first priority and everything else was gonna sort of find its place, for better or worse."

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So far, they have upheld their sides of the bargain, committing to their family more than their careers. Amid having a strong bond, the couple is supportive of their kids, who are charting their course.

Their oldest inherited their passion for performing. Gracie is forging a part in the Hollywood industry, while Maggie recently bagged her Master's at Stanford University in California. The youngest, Audrey, is into modeling.

Tim McGraw's Brother, a Firefighter

With help from his beloved wife, Tim created one of the most successful celebrity families. Still, his zeal for a close-knit family extends to his half-siblings.

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Earlier in the year, the country music icon proudly shared a never-before-seen photo of his half-brother, Mark, a firefighter.

Apart from his half-brothers, Tim has three half-sisters. His first, Cari Velardo, was from his father, while his younger half-sister, Tracey, and Sandra, were born during his mother's marriage to Horace Smith.

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The post honored Mark, who had recently graduated from the Philadelphia Fire Academy. It showed the firefighter in a navy blue uniform, matching cap, and a heart-melting smile lighting up his face. Tim's best caption read:

"Congrats to my brother Mark and the entire 199th Cadet Class on graduating from the Philly Fire Academy! Good luck, be safe, and enjoy the celebration."

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Minutes after the upload, fans tweeted their words of support, congratulating the firefighter and echoing Tim's advice on staying safe. "Congratulations Mark! Be safe and careful when u go on a call," one person commented. Another wrote:

"Congratulations Mark; stay safe, and thank you for your service!"

Who Are His Other Siblings?

More than once, Tim has proved that his heart is big enough for more extended family members! In 2018, he shared a congratulatory message to his other half-brother, Matthew, following his graduation from Penn State.

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Four years later, the "1883" star surprised fans with a rare photo of his half-brothers, Mark and Matthew, in what looked like a family reunion!

The trio and their families had attended the Philadelphia Phillies game against the Houston Astros in Game three of the World Series; they all supported the family patriarch's former team.

At the game, the brothers still remembered their father, who died from cancer. While posing, they held a sign that read, "I stand up for Tugger." Captioning the snap, Tim quipped:

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"I stand up for #TugMcgraw, my mom Betty, and all my friends and family who have battled this terrible disease. Proud to support the @MLB and @Su2C."

Expectedly, fans shared their thoughts on the gesture, and while they recognized the beautiful reunion, they applauded the singer for his awareness of cancer.

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Apart from his half-brothers, Tim has three half-sisters. His first, Cari Velardo, was from his father, while his younger half-sister, Tracey, and Sandra, were born during his mother's marriage to Horace Smith.

Little is known about his relationship with the two youngest, but Tim seems to have a good relationship with Velardo. He once agreed with her ideology on raising conscious women.

Today, Tim, a young boy who never enjoyed the love he hoped for from his biological father until adulthood, is an inspiration to parents as he fancies family and has maintained a peaceful relationship with them.

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