by Bart Millard
•Articles published in Entertainment Weekly, the New York Times, and USA Today.
•Their ninth studio album, Lifer, released through Fair Trade Services on March 31, 2017, reached #1 on Christian SoundScan and #10 on the Billboard Top 200 overall chart during its first week.
•The song “Even If,” from the album Lifer, was #1 on the Billboard Christian and Mediabase Christian radio charts for a record-setting nineteen straight weeks in 2017, second only to the #1 spot held by their own song “Word of God Speak,” that spent twenty-three weeks at the #1 position in 2004.
•The 2018 feature film I Can Only Imagine is a true story based on the life of lead singer Bart Millard and stars Dennis Quaid, Trace Adkins, J. Michael Finley, Cloris Leachman, Madeline Carroll, and Priscilla Shirer.
MercyMe Discography
•2001 Almost There (RIAA Certified Triple Platinum)
•2002 Spoken For (RIAA Certified Gold)
•2004 Undone (RIAA Certified Gold)
•2004 MercyMe Live DVD (RIAA Certified Gold)
•2005 The Christmas Sessions
•2006 Coming Up to Breathe (RIAA Certified Gold)
•2007 All That Is Within Me (RIAA Certified Gold)
•2009 “10”
•2010 The Generous Mr. Lovewell (RIAA Certified Gold)
•2011 The Worship Sessions
•2012 The Hurt & The Healer
•2014 Welcome to the New (RIAA Certified Gold)
•2015 MercyMe It’s Christmas!
•2017 Lifer
MercyMe’s #1 Radio Singles by Album*
•Lifer—“Even If”
•Welcome to the New—“Greater,” “Flawless,” “Dear Younger Me”
•The Hurt & The Healer—“The Hurt & The Healer,” “You Are I Am”
•The Generous Mr. Lovewell—“All of Creation,” “Beautiful,” “Move”
•All That Is Within Me—“God With Us,” “You Reign,” “Finally Home”
•Coming Up to Breathe—“So Long Self,” “Hold Fast,” “Bring the Rain”
•Undone—“Here with Me,” “In the Blink of an Eye,” “Homesick”
•Spoken For— “Word of God Speak,” “Spoken For”
•Almost There—“I Can Only Imagine”
MercyMe Awards and Nominations
GRAMMY Awards—Nominations
•2015 Best Contemporary Christian Music Album—Welcome to the New
•2015 Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song—“Shake”
Billboard Music Awards—Nominations
•2016 Top Christian Artist
•2016 Top Christian Song—“Flawless”
•2015 Top Christian Artist
•2015 Top Christian Album—Welcome to the New
•2015 Top Christian Song—“Greater”
•2013 Top Christian Artist
•2013 Top Christian Album—The Hurt & The Healer
•2012 Top Christian Artist
•2011 Top Christian Artist
•2011 Top Christian Album—The Generous Mr. Lovewell
•2011 Top Christian Song—“All of Creation”
American Music Awards—Wins
•2010 Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist
•2004 Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist
American Music Awards—Nominations
•2017 Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist
•2015 Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist
•2010 Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist
•2008 Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist
•2004 Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist
•2003 Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist
ASCAP Christian Music Awards—Wins
•2016 Song of the Year—“Flawless”
•2016 Most Performed Song—“Flawless”
•2015 Most Performed Song—“Greater”
•2014 Most Performed Song—“You Are I Am”
•2013 Most Performed Song—“The Hurt & The Healer”
•2012 Most Performed Song—“Move”
•2011 Songwriter/Artist of the Year
•2011 Song of the Year—“All of Creation”
•2011 Most Performed Song—“All of Creation,” “Beautiful”
•2010 Most Performed Song—“All of Creation”
•2009 Most Performed Song—“God With Us,” “You Reign”
•2008 Most Performed Song—“Bring the Rain,” “Hold Fast”
•2007 Most Performed Song—“So Long Self”
•2006 Most Performed Song—“Homesick,” “In the Blink of an Eye”
•2005 Most Performed Song—“Here with Me”
•2004 Songwriter of the Year (Bart Millard)
•2004 Most Performed Song—“I Can Only Imagine,” “Spoken For,” “Word of God Speak”
•2003 Songwriter of the Year (Bart Millard)
•2003 Most Performed Song—“I Can Only Imagine”
ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards—Wins
•2014 Top Gospel Song—“I Can Only Imagine” (Tamela Mann’s cover recording)
GMA Dove Awards—Wins
•2017 Artist of the Year
•2017 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year—Lifer
•2017 Songwriter of the Year (Artist)—Bart Millard
•2005 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year—Undone
•2005 Special Event Album of the Year—The Passion of the Christ: Songs
•2004 Song of the Year—“Word of God Speak”
•2004 Artist of the Year
•2004 Group of the Year
•2004 Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year—“Word of God Speak”
•2002 Song of the Year—“I Can Only Imagine”
•2002 Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year—“I Can Only Imagine”
•2002 Songwriter of the Year (Bart Millard)
GMA Dove Awards—Nominations
•2017 Artist of the Year
•2017 Song of the Year—“Even If”
•2017 Songwriter of the Year (Artist)—Bart Millard
•2017 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year—Lifer
•2017 Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year—“Even If”
•2016 Christmas Album of the Year—MercyMe It’s Christmas!
•2016 Song of the Year—“Flawless”
•2015 Artist of the Year
•2015 Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year
•2015 Song of the Year—“Greater”
•2011 Group of the Year
•2011 Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year—“All of Creation”
•2011 Song of the Year—“All of Creation”
•2009 Group of the Year
•2009 Song of the Year—“You Reign”
•2009 Country Album of the Year—Hymned Again (Bart Millard)
•2008 Song of the Year—“Bring the Rain”
•2007 Group of the Year
•2007 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year—Coming Up to Breathe
•2006 Group of the Year
•2006 Country Recorded Song of the Year—“Mawmaw’s Song” (Bart Millard, Barry Graul)
•2006 Inspirational Album of the Year—Hymned (Bart Millard)
•2005 Group of the Year
•2005 Artist of the Year
•2005 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year—Undone
•2005 Special Event Album of the Year—The Passion of the Christ: Songs
•2005 Long Form Music Video—MercyMe LIVE
•2004 Artist of the Year
•2004 Group of the Year
•2004 Song of the Year—“Word of God Speak”
•2004 Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year—“Word of God Speak”
•2004 Songwriter of the Year (Bart Millard)
•2004 Male Vocalist of the Year (Bart Millard)
•2004 Children’s Music Album of the Year—I
Can Only Imagine: Lullabies for a Peaceful Rest
•2003 Artist of the Year
•2003 Group of the Year
•2003 Song of the Year—“Spoken For”
•2003 Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year—“Spoken For”
•2002 Song of the Year—“I Can Only Imagine”
•2002 Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year—“I Can Only Imagine”
•2002 Songwriter of the Year (Bart Millard)
K-LOVE Fan Awards—Nominations
•2017 Artist of the Year
•2017 Group or Duo of the Year
•2016 Song of the Year—“Flawless”
•2016 Group or Duo of the Year
•2015 Artist of the Year
•2015 Song of the Year—“Greater”
•2015 Group or Duo of the Year
•2014 Artist of the Year
•2014 Group or Duo of the Year
•2013 Artist of the Year
•2013 Group or Duo of the Year
MercyMe’s Community Contributions
World Vision (2017–Present)
Mission Statement: World Vision is an international partnership of Christians whose mission is to follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice, and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of God.
MercyMe’s newest partnership is working alongside World Vision to enable children, their families, and their communities to build a better future for themselves. World Vision works to transform impoverished communities, provide emergency relief, improve access to quality education, promote justice and change unjust social structures, provide tools and support to gain access to nutritious food, provide accessible clean drinking water, and more. Both MercyMe and World Vision are committed to the body of Christ and follow Jesus’ example in working alongside the poor and oppressed.
Compassion International (2003–2017)
Mission Statement: Releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name. In response to the Great Commission, Compassion International exists as an advocate for children, to release them from their spiritual, economic, social, and physical poverty and enable them to become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults.
Over a thirteen-year partnership with Compassion International, more than forty-three thousand children were sponsored, and $2 million was raised for the medical fund that ensures children receive vital immunizations, lifesaving treatments against deadly diseases, and prescribed therapeutic feeding. This equates to supplying fifty thousand dental kits (toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental checkups, and cavity treatments) or paying for HIV/AIDS care for eighty thousand patients (HIV testing, antiretroviral therapy, and ongoing care). Additionally, $1.1 million was raised for child survival programs, where thousands of impoverished mothers deliver healthy infants, and babies survive their first critical days and months of life. This equates to supporting forty-four child survival program centers for one full year of operation, serving more than three thousand mothers and babies.
Imagine A Cure (2008–2011)
Bart Millard’s oldest son, Sam, was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at the age of two, and Bart was determined to help find a cure. MercyMe founded the organization “Imagine A Cure,” which existed to create financial, physical, and spiritual support for children and families affected by type 1 diabetes. In 2008, Bart Millard released a solo project called Hymned Again. With every purchase made on iTunes, a portion of the proceeds went to “Imagine A Cure.” Subsequently, MercyMe folded “Imagine A Cure” and transferred their efforts to Compassion International’s medical fund.
The Go Foundation (2003–2005)
Based on their 2003 tour “The Go Show,” which played fifty cities in front of nearly 140,000 people and sold out twenty-five shows, MercyMe, along with Christian band Audio Adrenaline, created “The Go Foundation.” Its purpose was to connect people who desired to go on mission trips with organizations that facilitated them. The organizations partnered with “The Go Foundation” were: International Mission Board, iWitness Ministries, International Commission, Awe Star Ministries, Spoken For Ministries, Student Evangelism with the North American Mission Board, East West Ministries International, International Sports Federation and G.O. Ministries Inc. More than five thousand people signed up to go on mission trips through the foundation.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks to:
Mom—You’ve endured so much to come out the amazing person you are. You’re quite possibly the strongest person I know. And when you have days where you wrestle with not being there for me, understand you were there more than you know. My ability to sing came from you. My ability to persevere came from you. My ability to see the good in others came from you. The way my heart breaks for others came from you. And most importantly, my love for Tex-Mex came from you! I love you and am proud to call you Mom.
Stephen—You know me like nobody else. I have looked up to you my entire life and still do. For example, we’ve both had every reason not to be good fathers, yet the way you love your kids and the way they love you back have set the standard for what I want to be as a father. I am so grateful that God gave me you as my big brother. Well, I guess, technically, he gave you me as a little brother, since you were here first. So you should probably be thanking God for me. See what I did there?
My bandmates—You guys have literally been through it all with me, from me messing everything up to getting a couple of things right. And I cannot imagine this journey with anyone else. That goes for you, too, Jim.
My kids—I love you more than you will ever know! The three most important things ever to happen to me are meeting Jesus, marrying Mommy, and having you five! Every day I am astounded by who you already are . . . and you’re just getting started! I will cheer you on as long as there is breath in my lungs. I love you, Sam. I love you, Gracie. I love you, Charlie. I love you, Sophie. I love you, Miles.
Shannon—My wife, my best friend, my rock. I’ve always said on stage, “I don’t buy flowers for my wife to remind myself to love her; I do it because she’s seen me at my absolute worst, and she still loves me.” Thank you for not giving up on me. The day you said “I do,” you said it not only to me but to the twenty-eight miles of baggage I carried with me . . . and you still said yes! I didn’t think it was possible, but even after twenty years of marriage, I adore you more and more every day I am with you. I love you, friend.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
BART MILLARD is a founding member and the lead singer of the multi-platinum-selling contemporary Christian band MercyMe. He is married to his childhood sweetheart, Shannon. They reside in Franklin, Tennessee, along with their children, Sam, Gracie, Charlie, Sophie, and Miles.
ROBERT NOLAND has authored more than seventy-five titles spanning across children, youth, and adult audiences over the past twenty-five years. He is an author, writer, editor, and project manager for Christian publishers, ministries, and faith-based organizations. He lives in Franklin, Tennessee, with his wife of thirty-plus years and has two adult sons. Visit robertnoland.com.
PHOTOS
My father, age twelve, and his mother, Mawmaw Millard (1955).
Arthur Millard Jr., the All-American.
Dad at his biggest and scariest.
Dad (age thirty), me (three months), and my brother, Stephen (four) (1973).
Stephen (eleventh grade) and me (sixth grade).
Swimming in the Texas hill country with my buddy Kent (middle) and his brother Kyle (left).
Dad, around ten months before he passed away. He went from 350-plus pounds down to 112 pounds at the time of his death.
All dressed up for show choir (eleventh grade).
Making my debut as Curly on the opening night of Oklahoma! my senior year.
Dad and me after a choir performance my senior year in April or May 1991—about six months before he died. This is the last photo I took with him.
Mom visiting twenty-year-o
ld me in Florida (1992). If there was a piano in sight, my mom played it and made me sing.
Mawmaw Millard. “Mercy me! Get a real job!”
Shannon and me in our engagement photo. Yep. This bad boy went in the Greenville Herald Banner.
So excited to spend the rest of our lives together.
MercyMe circa 1995. Left to right: Kendall Combes, Robby Shaffer, Jim Bryson, Mike Scheuchzer, me, and Trent Austin.
MercyMe on USO Tour in Bahrain (2011). Left to right: Dave Younkman, Scott Brickell, Dustin Reynolds, Jim Bryson, Barry Graul, me, Robby Shaffer, Mike Scheuchzer, and Nathan Cochran.
MercyMe at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (2015). Left to right: me, Robby, Mike, and Barry. (Nathan and his wife had just had a baby, so he was unable to be there.)
Recording vocals in the studio.
Me with Scott Brickell (left) and Jeff Moseley (right), two people integral to MercyMe’s success.
Amy Grant and me at her induction into the Music City Walk of Fame. I was asked to speak during the ceremony. What an honor!
Three Barts on the set of the I Can Only Imagine movie: Brody Rose (young Bart), J. Michael Finley (Bart), and me.
With my movie twin, J. Michael Finley.
On the set of I Can Only Imagine.
Dennis Quaid (center) played the movie version of my dad.
Mom and me.
The Millard family. Back row: Sam, Gracie, me; front row: Charlie, Miles, Sophie, and Shannon.
MercyMe on Lifer Tour (spring 2017).
*Words and music by MercyMe. Copyright © 2001 Simpleville Music (ASCAP). All rights reserved. Used by permission.