The Real Faith Hill Is Back
The Fan Fair gods must be rejoicing. After a decade of staying away, Faith Hill is coming back to the CMA Music Festival stage. I don’t know why she stayed away so long. Nor do I know what prompted her return. But from lurking on message boards, I do know why her fans are so thrilled: There is simply nobody out there like Faith Hill.Who else would admit on a national TV show she forgot the words to her own song? Who else would tell Good Housekeeping that her daughter gets a vagina wedgie on their rope swing? And who else would publicly scold a fan for touching her husband’s stuff? Those make Faith real. And for a genre with a predominantly female fan base, real works for us. Sure, we could hate Faith. We could hate her because she’s gorgeous, she can sing — and she’s sleeping with Tim McGraw. But then her mom-next-door aura transcends all that potential envy. Even better, she channels her genuineness into her live shows. And when her fans reach out for her, she really seems like she loves them back. Seriously.
There’s none of that I’ll-do-this-but-I-don’t-like-it attitude.
So Fan Fair (yes, I know they’ve changed their name, but I’m still going to call it Fan Fair … much like I will still call the CMT Music Awards the Flameworthys) is the perfect stop for a girl like Faith. It’s not for everybody. If you’re a big star who’s more into the fame and the fortune but not so much the fans, don’t book yourself in Nashville June 5-8. Leave those four days for the artists who want to make a connection and for the fans who come from all over to make that happen. That weekend is all about watching the shows that made you love country music in the first place.
And for that, you gotta have Faith.
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
Jackie says:
O h Yes! How we love Faith- she loves her fans. She stands for so much that is good and awesome.We fans cannot get enough of her and of course our Tim.They are the Super Powerhouse Country Couple!
Barb says:
Awesome article! That is why she is loved by so many, including myself…she is the real deal, she does take the time with everyone of her fans, autographs, pics, handshakes, etc. I also believe she does appreciate her fans, and understands the craziness we posess with she and hubby Tim. Have you heard her talk Aretha or Rod Stewart…..yeah she get’s it!
Thanks Faith…you are loved not only for your vocals and beauty, but first and foremost….your heart that is so giving and real..
Carolyn says:
I call it Fan Fair, too!
Emma says:
I was lucky enough to be meet Faith… I am a huge fan and she was so kind and gracious!
Love Her!
Faith fan says:
Yessssss thats what I’m talkin about! Ya gotta have FAITH! I don’t understand why some people don’t like her but whatever thats their loss because Faith rocks and she loves her fans as much as we love her! Faith is the real deal she isn’t a stuck up diva she is funny, gorgeous, caring and she just says what she is thinking I love that about her she is sooo down to earth and just AMAZING!!!!!! WE LOVE YOU FAITH!!!
Pat says:
I was fortunate enough to go to two pre-show events at the S2S2 tour and had a chance to see how generous and gracious she is with her fans…so unassuming and so modest..how refreshing ….and how great that she’s back at FanFair and how lucky the fans are who are going to FanFair…
Sean says:
Am I the only man who loves this story? I love Faith Hill and am so happy about this piece of news. I think she would be just like this description if I ever meet her. Go Faith! I’m your #1 fan in Virginia! I will try to get over to FF! Look for me!
hotelmotel says:
There seems to be a paradox: fans say they love people like faith because they are “real people.” But if faith is just a “real person” who happens to sing well, why all the love? Why go crazy over Faith, but not your next door neighbor, who is also a “real person.”
Country music marketers have pulled a masterful trick: they have gotten people to go star-crazy while convincing themselves that they are crazy over someone “just like them” who happens to be famous.
But the biggest trick is convincing people that Faith (or any country singer) truly loves their fans. Now, I suspect that most country singers appreciate their fans, realize that they wouldn’t be in business without their fans, and probably care greatly what their fans think. But the marketers have somehow convinced us that our favorite stars are “our friends” because those stars will spend some time with us if we pay money to go to their fan club parties.
And its not just country music. Bloomingdales, Macys, etc, wants me to think that they really, truly, deeply care about me. They sure act that way if I buy something. But I doubt they’d act that way if I stopped buying/
Melissa says:
I don’t think it was meant like Faith wants to be best friends with people its more just about comparing her with other artists who snub their fans and shy away from events like this one where the main focus has always been about thanking the fans. And the part about Faith telling stories does appeal to women because we read alot of celebrity news and they all say the same things over and over, so to hear her tell a real story about real life with kids is refreshing. I want artists that I have things in common with. I do with Faith, but don’t with someone like John Rich.
Alexa says:
She is the real deal!!! =)
John says:
I got to meet Faith in 1997 at Fan Fair at the fair grounds. 1. I liked it better there 2. She was real sweet to me 3. I wish all the country stars would block the week of Fan Fair for the fans and Fan Fair only. Can’t the stars give up the money for one week out of 52 to be available to sign autographs and sing for us, the fans that buy their music? If I was a new country “star” or one that had blockbuster tours or had been at the top and on the way to being forgetable, I would be in one of five places, First, in my booth in the convention center; Second, In my record company’s booth; Third, on the concert stage; Fourth, asleep and Fifth, taking care of when nature calls!!!! Fan Club party, radio station interviews, record compay meetings, etc. would have to be Monday - Wednesday. Most of my time would actually be in my booth or my record company’s booth for my FANS.
Emmers says:
I CAN NOT WAIT!!! I have been waiting for this ever since i became a fan way back when….missed her then, will never miss my chance again! Great Blog!! She is deff one of the most down to earth people in this crazy world….Gotta love Faith!
Nelly says:
I loved Faith first because of her music, but after following her career and going to two S2S tours, I also love her for being a great human being. She is a beautiful person outside, but mostly for what she is INSIDE. That’s shows on her kids love to her and the 10 year honeymoon with Tim.
Also, the way she enhanced Lori’s career and support all new talents. Finally, her charity work with Tim deserves a lot of recognition.
Nelly (another big fan in VA)
Christie says:
I am so excited Faith is coming back to Fan Fair!!! ;-) Us die-hard fans are hoping and praying for a FAN CLUB PARTY!!! Many artists will do this during this music festival……we hope Faith will do it up right. I can’t say I even recall the last time she had a fan club party. Many years. I’m glad she’s coming back to have that close contact with the fans…..We know she’s a busy lady with her career, her husband’s career, and her 3 children, but I’m so happy to know that this REAL, GENUINE WOMAN is taking time out for herself this summer…….with any luck, I’ll be able to go see it! Great article!
country girl says:
i think the cmt awords are going to be good this year
EVE DELL says:
I WAS VERY LUCKY TO SEE FAITH AND TIM AT THER SOUL2SOUL
TOUR O6 AND O7. BOTH OF THEM SHOWED THEIR PRIORITIES…
ASIDE FRO EACH OTHER AND THEIR KIDS … THEY REALLY GIVE
THE LOVE BACK TO THEIR FANS. FAITH TRIED NTH TIME WITH HER
VOCALS OBVIOUS MULTI-GRAMMY WINNING ACTS HER DOWN TO
EARTH REMARKS TO CONNECT WITH US … BEAUTIFUL OUTSIDE AND
BEATIFUL INSIDE ,,, APROUD WIFE AND MOM… I CAN’T HELP
BUT ADMIRE HER FRIENDLINESS AND GENEROUS SPIRIT. AMAZING
ARTICLE AND THANKS FOR HER’S AND TIM’S CONTINJUOS
HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS. WE WILL GO TO FANFAIR THIS YEAR.
Faithfullfan says:
YESS! this is great! Faith is THE QUEEN OF COUNTRY MUSIC no matter who else comes into the industry. She knows what ths music is about. SHE IS #1!
shelby says:
faith i am from mississippi but i live in nasvillie tn i seen your mom and dads house be for
Lia James says:
I think Faith Hill is going to Fan Fair after 10 years because she is slipping far behind in the country music business. She has lost many awards to Carrie Underwood, maybe 10, and Kelli Pickler, Taylor Swift and Jennifer Nettles are getting all the attention. At 41, it is hard to compete with the girls in their 20’s. Faith Hill is worried about her waning popularity and she is going back to the fans to recapture it. If she was still winning the awards or if her records still sold and they dont, she wouldnt be there with the fans. And why does she still use HER FIRST HUSBANDS NAME? She divorced Daniel HILL years ago after their 7 year marriage, shouldnt she get rid of his name and be Faith McGraw??
Linda Bastien says:
Four of us will be traveling from Mattawa Ontario Canada for the Fan Fair…It’s our first time and Faith will one of the highlights of our trip…We have already started counting down the days.
Katie says:
Faith is the best. She is a great wife and mother. She has been out of the picture because she decided to stay home and raise her children. And as a wife, she allowed Tim to continue his career while she stalled her singing career, not because to compete with 20 year olds.
The reason why she kept Hill as her last name, as she mentioned, she was always known as Faith Hill before she married Tim and so she kept it, but uses McGraw for everything else. Almost every celebrity does that, look at all of them. I feel that I wish she could change it also, but, that is the celebrity world.
They focus so much on each other,family, friends & fans. Hope this last forever. You don’t find many celebrity couples lasting along time.
I can’t wait to get her Christmas CD & hear her sing the football theme! Way to go Faith! :)
amyrtis says:
Faith is a fantastic human being. She is human just like the rest of us. I for one am glad that she is the way she is. I love her music. These ladies in their 20’s have nothing on Faith Hill. Faith has confidence in herself and her abilities and she doesn’t live her life by other peoples standards. I am a big fan for life.