Bart Millard

Bart Millard was born on December 1, 1972, in Greenville, Texas. His early life was marked by a difficult home environment, and his parents divorced when he was three. He lived with his father, who was abusive until Bart’s freshman year of high school. A debilitating sports injury at a high school football game, which affected both ankles, ended his dream of becoming a professional football player. This led him to take choir as an elective. His father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in Bart’s freshman year of college, 1991, and a significant transformation occurred in his father’s life before his death, which deeply influenced Bart’s future musical and ministerial path. Following his father’s passing, Bart became deeply involved in his church’s youth group worship band, where he met James Bryson. A trip to Switzerland with the worship band solidified his decision to pursue a full-time musical career.

In 1994, Millard, alongside James Bryson and Michael Scheuchzer, formed the Christian band MercyMe in Oklahoma City. They initially lived and worked in an abandoned daycare center, recording six independent albums. Their breakthrough came with the song “I Can Only Imagine,” which Millard penned after his father’s death. This song resonated widely, leading to international recognition for the band. In addition to his work with MercyMe, Millard embarked on a solo career, releasing two hymn albums: “Hymned, No. 1” in 2005 and “Hymned Again” in 2008. These albums allowed him to explore musical styles not compatible with MercyMe. He received a solo Grammy nomination for “Hymned Again” in the category of Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album. Millard was recognized as the Best Male Vocalist by Christianity Today in 2005 for his contributions to “Hymned No. 1” and MercyMe’s “The Christmas Sessions.” His life story, particularly the narrative behind “I Can Only Imagine,” was adapted into a film of the same name, released on March 16, 2018, further amplifying his message of faith and transformation. He also authored a memoir, “I Can Only Imagine: A Memoir,” and a children’s book inspired by the song, both released in 2018.