You’ve probably heard her voice echoing through a cathedral or seen her beaming next to Bill Gaither on a Homecoming stage. Janet Paschal is gospel royalty. Pure and simple. But for someone who has spent nearly fifty years in the spotlight, her private life is surprisingly, well, private. When people start digging into the details of Janet Paschal first husband, they often expect a dramatic saga or a hidden Hollywood-style divorce.
The reality is actually much more grounded. Honestly, it’s a story about timing, faith, and a long wait for the right person.
The Mystery of Janet Paschal First Husband Explained
Here is the thing that trips most people up: Janet Paschal didn't get married young. In an industry where many artists marry their high school sweethearts or fellow musicians in their early twenties, Janet took a different path. For decades, she was the "single lady" of Southern Gospel. She was busy. She was touring with the LeFevres (later the Rex Nelon Singers) at eighteen. Then she was in Baton Rouge with Jimmy Swaggart. Then she was a solo powerhouse.
Because she wasn't married during her rise to fame in the 70s and 80s, fans often assume there must have been a "starter marriage" they missed. There wasn't.
John Lanier is the man who holds the title. He is Janet Paschal's first husband, and her only husband. They didn't meet at a church social or a music festival, either. In 1998, Janet met John, who was a commercial airline pilot. Think about that for a second. After years of traveling the globe to sing, she falls for the guy who actually flies the planes.
They tied the knot in 1999 in her hometown of Reidsville, North Carolina. She was in her early 40s at the time. It wasn't a "secret" wedding, but it certainly wasn't a tabloid event. It was the beginning of a partnership that has lasted over two decades, through some of the hardest trials a couple can face.
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Why the "First Husband" Search is So Common
Why do so many people search for "Janet Paschal first husband" if she’s only been married once?
It basically comes down to a few things:
- The Swaggart Years: During her time as a lead singer for Jimmy Swaggart’s crusades, she was constantly on screen. People naturally assumed a beautiful, talented woman in her 20s must be married. When they find out she’s married to John Lanier now, they assume he’s the second one.
- Late Marriage: In the conservative gospel world of the late 20th century, marrying at 42 was unusual. Fans often fill in the blanks with "she must have been married before."
- Privacy: Janet doesn't plaster her husband all over social media. He has his own career. This lack of "celebrity couple" branding makes people curious about her past.
Life with John Lanier: Beyond the Stage
John Lanier isn't a "gospel industry" guy in the traditional sense, though he’s been her rock. Shortly after they married, life threw them a massive curveball. In 2005, Janet was diagnosed with breast cancer. This is where the strength of that first and only marriage really showed up.
She had to step away from the Gaither Homecoming tour. She had to undergo grueling chemotherapy and radiation at Duke University Medical Center. Through that entire year of silence—when she couldn't sing, couldn't tour, and didn't know if she’d ever return to the stage—John was there.
It’s easy to be the "husband of a star" when she’s winning Dove Awards. It’s a lot harder when she’s fighting for her life in a hospital bed. Their marriage survived the "in sickness and in health" test very early on.
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A Quiet Life in North Carolina
Today, the couple still resides in North Carolina. Janet eventually went back to school—a move most people didn't see coming. She earned her Master’s degree in accounting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2017.
Why accounting?
Because she’s Janet Paschal. She’s always been more than just a voice; she’s a thinker. She and John live a relatively quiet life when she isn't performing at a Homecoming event or recording new material. They’ve managed to keep their relationship out of the "gossip" lane by simply being normal people who happened to meet later in life.
Common Misconceptions About Janet’s Personal Life
If you go down the internet rabbit hole, you’ll find some wild stuff. There was another Janet Paschal who passed away recently in Ohio, and her obituary mentions a "Rev. Willie Frank Paschal." People saw that and immediately thought the singer had been widowed.
Nope. Different Janet Paschal.
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Our Janet—the one who sang "I Am Not Ashamed"—is very much alive and still married to her pilot.
Then there’s the confusion with John Starns or other male singers she performed with. In the gospel world, if you sing a duet with someone for five years, people assume you’re married. Janet sang with some of the best, but she kept her professional and personal lives strictly separate until John Lanier came along in '98.
What We Can Learn from Janet's Story
Honestly, Janet Paschal's "marriage story" is kind of an inspiration for anyone who feels like they're "behind" in life. She didn't rush into a marriage just to fit a mold. She built a massive career, traveled the world, and established her own identity first.
When she did marry John, it was a choice made in maturity.
For those looking for a scandalous "first husband" story, you won't find it here. What you'll find instead is a remarkably stable relationship that has weathered cancer, career shifts, and the pressures of the music industry.
If you're a fan of Janet’s music, the best way to support her isn't by digging for non-existent ex-husbands, but by diving into her newer work or her book, Treasures of the Snow. It gives a much better look at her heart than any Google search ever could.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Verify your sources: When looking at obituaries or "biography" sites, ensure the birth date matches (October 18, 1956).
- Listen to the lyrics: Many of Janet's songs post-1999, especially those dealing with trials, are deeply influenced by her life with John and her battle with cancer.
- Support her writing: Read The Good Road to understand her spiritual journey before she met her husband.