You know the songs. "How Great Is Our God," "Good Good Father," and "Holy Forever" are basically the soundtrack to modern Sunday mornings. But for Chris Tomlin, the guy whose voice echoes through thousands of sanctuaries every week, the most important "audience" is actually a small group of people in a house near Franklin, Tennessee.
Honestly, it’s easy to look at a guy with 21 number-one singles and a Grammy and assume he’s living some untouchable rockstar life. But if you look at Chris Tomlin and family, you see a much more grounded, "dad-mode" reality that involves school runs, messy living rooms, and a very unexpected third child who changed everything.
The Nashville Life: Lauren and the "Peacefield" Vibe
Chris didn't rush into marriage. He was 38 when he married Lauren Bricken on November 9, 2010. They’ve been together for over fifteen years now, and according to Lauren, their story is one of "waiting on the Father’s timing."
They live in a home they’ve nicknamed "Peacefield." It sounds fancy, but it's really just a place where they try to keep the chaos of the music industry at bay. Lauren isn't just a "supportive spouse" in the background; she’s been incredibly vocal on podcasts like Get Real with Caroline Hobby about the trials of parenthood and keeping a marriage healthy when one person is a global touring artist.
Basically, they’ve made a conscious choice to stay rooted. You won’t see them chasing the typical Hollywood-style celebrity circuit.
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The Three Daughters: Hurricanes and Miracles
The couple has three daughters: Ashlyn, Madison, and Elle Grace.
Ashlyn, the oldest, was born in 2011. Chris has joked in interviews that she’s a "Category 5 hurricane" (nicknaming her Cat-5) because of her fiery spirit and high energy. Then came Madison in 2014, who Chris describes as having a much calmer, sweeter disposition.
But it was the arrival of their third, Elle Grace, in December 2020 that really threw them for a loop.
Imagine being 48 years old, your older kids are finally out of the toddler phase, and you think you’ve reached the "easy" part of parenting. Then, surprise. Chris called Elle the "surprise of all surprises."
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- Ashlyn Tomlin (Born 2011): The spirited firstborn who Chris says he has to "foster that fire" in.
- Madison Tomlin (Born 2014): The middle child with a "sweet spirit" and a constant smile.
- Elle Grace Tomlin (Born 2020): The Christmas miracle baby who inspired the song "Miracle of Love."
Parenting three girls isn't just about tea parties. Chris has been open about how it shifted his entire perspective on God. It’s one thing to sing about a "Good Good Father," but it’s another thing to try and be one when your kid is having a meltdown or you’re missing a bedtime because of a show in another time zone.
Why Chris Tomlin and Family Values Impact the Music
The music and the family aren't separate. They bleed into each other.
Take the "foster uncle" thing, for instance. Chris’s brothers, Ryan and Cory, both adopted children with special medical needs through foster care. Watching his brothers take in children who needed 24-hour care deeply moved Chris. It’s why he’s used his platform to promote foster care initiatives at his concerts. He’s seen firsthand what it looks like for a family to provide a "second chance" at life.
He even mentioned once that he and Lauren have "kicked around" the idea of fostering themselves. However, he’s also realistic. He knows that with his touring schedule, the bulk of that weight would fall on Lauren, and he’s gone on record saying it wouldn’t be fair to her to add that responsibility while he’s away. That’s the kind of nuanced, real-life honesty you don’t always get from celebrity PR.
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Moving Into 2026: The New Chapter
As of early 2026, Chris is still at the top of the charts. His latest project, the Jesus Saves EP, just dropped, and his 18th studio album The King Is Still the King hit No. 1 on the Billboard Christian/Gospel charts.
But even with the massive success of "How Good It Is"—which was his biggest radio debut since 2020—the focus remains local.
He’s 53 now. His oldest is a teenager. His youngest is just starting school. The dynamic of Chris Tomlin and family is shifting from diapers to driving lessons and deeper conversations. He’s spoken about a "renewed spiritual hunger" he sees in the world right now, but he’s also very clearly focused on the spiritual hunger within his own four walls.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Families
- Prioritize Presence over Platform: Even at the height of his career, Tomlin emphasizes being a "dad first." If you're struggling with work-life balance, look at how he sets boundaries around his "Peacefield" home life.
- Embrace the Unexpected: The birth of Elle Grace at age 48 shows that some of life’s best moments aren't planned. Don't let a "surprise" derail your joy.
- Support Foster and Kinship Care: Follow the lead of the Tomlin family by looking into local foster care needs. You don't have to adopt to help; you can be a "funcle" (foster uncle) or "fauntie" by supporting families in your community who are doing the heavy lifting.
- Stay Rooted in Community: The Tomlins credit their longevity to long-term partnerships and staying connected to their local church and friends like Louie Giglio. Success is better shared.
The story of Chris Tomlin isn't just a list of accolades. It’s a story about a guy from Grand Saline, Texas, who is trying to lead his family with the same heart he leads a stadium of 50,000 people. It’s messy, it’s loud, and according to him, it’s exactly where he’s supposed to be.
What to do next
If you want to see the family side of Chris, his Instagram often features low-key "dad moments" that never make it into the official music videos. You can also listen to Lauren Tomlin’s interview on the Raising Boys and Girls podcast for a deep dive into how they handle the "power of blessing" their children in a high-pressure environment.