Bart Millard

Bart Millard is best known as the lead singer of the Christian rock band MercyMe, a group that has become one of the most recognized names in contemporary Christian music. Born Bart Marshall Millard on December 1, 1972, in Greenville, Texas, he initially pursued football during high school. After an injury ended those aspirations, he turned to music and began working with a church youth group worship band. That path eventually led him to help form MercyMe in 1994.

Millard’s songwriting has been shaped deeply by personal experience. He wrote “I Can Only Imagine” in response to the death of his father. The song became a landmark in Christian music—it was the first Christian song to be certified 4x platinum as of 2019. His life story and the inspiration behind that song were depicted in a 2018 motion picture of the same name. Other notable MercyMe songs in his catalog include “Word of God Speak,” which was named the No. 1 Song of the Decade (2000s) by Billboard in the Christian Songs and Christian AC Songs categories, and “Even If.” For its part, MercyMe was named Billboard’s Top Christian Artist of the Decade for the 2010s.

In addition to his work with the band, Millard has released solo projects focused on hymns and gospel music. He put out Hymned, No. 1 in 2005 and Hymned Again in 2008. The latter earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album. He has also appeared as a featured vocalist on songs such as “Safe” with Phil Wickham and “WaveWalker” with Citizen Way.

Beyond the stage and studio, Millard has served as a staff evangelist for Highland Terrace Baptist Church in Greenville, Texas, reflecting the ministry-minded foundation that has accompanied his musical career from the beginning.