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LAS VEGAS The love story of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill started on a tour two decades ago and that sparkling chemistry onstage has made them one of the genres biggest headliners.

The country couple with movie star glamour have sold more than 63 million albums in the U.S. between their two careers, earned two Grammys for duets they sang together, and have three children. This year, they are releasing their first-ever duet album together and started their third installment of their highly successful Soul2Soul World Tour (it launched last week).

Faith Hill, left, and Tim McGraw appear at the 52nd annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas.

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I havent been on a stage like this in 10 years and that is no lie, Hill said of the tour. I can tell you right now I am fired up.

During an Associated Press interview with the couple, Hill and McGraw were giddy with anticipation.

Shes ready to turn it loose, McGraw said.

Age is not an issue, added Hill, who together with her husband will be turning 50 during the tour that runs through October, including stops in Cleveland, Columbus, and Detroit.

The Mississippi-born Hill and the Louisiana-born McGraw fell in love when she opened for him on his 1996 Spontaneous Combustion tour and they married that year.

In 2000, the first Soul2Soul tour grossed $48.8 million, making it the best grossing country tour in North Americathat year, according to Pollstar. The Soul2Soul II tour was even more successful, grossing $88.8 million in 2006, and made it the 3rd highest grossing North American tour that year.

McGraw credited their success on the road to the fact that they are very different singers who push each other to expand their ranges onstage.

Faith, I would say, is more of an R&B, sort of gospel-inspired singer, McGraw said. And I think I am more a 70s rock, arena rock, Merle Haggard meets arena rock kind of singer. She brings me a little bit more to the R&B side, and I bring her more to the arena rock side, and I think it creates a sort of magic.

Their first duet together, Its Your Love, was on McGraws 1997 Everywhere album, which was followed by Just to Hear You Say That You Love Me, from Hills multiplatinum album Faith. Since then, they have had several popular duets, including their latest, Speak to A Girl, which jumped into the Top 10 of Billboards Hot country songs chart after they performed it on the ACM Awards.

But they say they dont always agree in music, or in marriage, but McGraw said commitment is key.

Look, there is no secret, Hill said. Either you like one another or you dont. You want to stay married or you dont. You work at it, or you dont. Simple as that. It is not always easy and there are moments that are rocky.

See the article here:
Chemistry onstage makes Faith Hill and Tim McGraw a top tour - Toledo Blade