Why Not Getting This Gig Might Have Saved Faith Hill's Life

Faith Hill is one of the hottest stars in country music, but she comes from humble beginnings. Like most stars in Hollywood, Hill had one defining moment in her career where she got discovered. In 2006, the wife of country crooner Tim McGraw told Larry King that her major moment came in Nashville — where most of the biggest country singers get their start. "My big break came when I was singing at the Bluebird Cafe, a great little cafe in Nashville that's mostly songwriters go and kind of share their new material," Hill told King, adding that she was singing background for another singer/songwriter, Gary Burr.

She continued, "And Martha Sharp, an executive from Warner Brother Records happened to be in the audience that night and she came up to me afterwards and asked if I wanted to, if I wanted to make a record, if that's what I was striving to do, what my ambitions were," she said, adding that she didn't have a demo tape to share, but she made one fast. The rest, as they say, is history!

Hill has enjoyed a great career in the country music industry, including five Grammy wins and an impressive 17 nominations. Her first award came in 2000 for her hit "Breathe." She's certainly come a long way from her modest start at the Bluebird Cafe, and while she's gotten plenty of gigs since getting discovered, it was one that she didn't get that may have changed her whole life.

Faith Hill can thank her lucky stars for a gig she didn't get. In an interview with "Larry King Live" in 2006, the "This Kiss" singer shared that she auditioned for the role of one of Reba McEntire's backup vocalists, but she sadly, she didn't get it. Instead, the part went to Paula Canya Evans. As many know, Evans and several other members of McEntire's band were killed in a plane crash in 1991 when they were on their way to a show. Had Hill gotten the role, she would have likely been onboard.

"Well, I didn't get it because I wasn't good enough. I don't think it was because — I don't think fate had anything to do with that for me," Hill shared, adding that she "wasn't a great background singer, and I didn't get the part." While Hill didn't think fate prevented her from being on the plane, she still shared her sadness. "The first thing I thought when that happened obviously is I thought about the families of those that were lost and I thought about Reba and Narvel," Hill told King. In 2019, McEntire remembered the crew she had lost. "​​28 years ago today...If I had only known. Rest in peace, my friends," she wrote on Instagram.

It's wild to think that if Hill had been on that plane, she would not have ever met Tim McGraw and they wouldn't have one of the best love stories in country music.

It's no secret that Faith Hill can sing, but did you know she can act, too? Tim McGraw and Hill are one of the few couples in Hollywood who have made their marriage last, and they've managed to mix work life and personal life without a problem. The two have come together for hits like "It's Your Love," and they also teamed up for the "Yellowstone" spin-off "1883."

"There are times when the cameras just disappear for us, but it can be difficult as well because we are married and we do bring that chemistry to the table," McGraw told Forbes in December 2021. "At the same time, we don't want people to look at Tim & Faith – we want people to look at James & Margaret. So, there's a fine line of carrying the chemistry that we have together as a married couple and erasing who we are as famous people to become these characters." We love seeing their romance on and off-screen.

Hill enlisted the help of one of her BFFs, Rita Wilson, to star alongside her in the series. Wilson took to Instagram to share the exciting news with fans. "The secret is out—I'll be joining my friends @faithhill and @thetimmcgraw on the show @1883official this season!" she wrote. "Keep up with episodes every Sunday on @paramountplus to catch a glimpse of yours truly." We can't wait to see what Hill may have up her sleeve next!