When love and calling meet, the result is often both beautiful and complex. For couples in Christian music, faith, marriage, and ministry are deeply connected—shown on stages, tour buses, and in quiet moments at home. In this NRT exclusive editorial, married artists share honest reflections on what it means to make music together while caring for their relationships, handling ministry pressures, and staying grounded in their purpose. From collaboration and creative tension to family life and faith-based unity, these couples offer a look into the heart behind the harmonies.
Jason and Hannah Kerr
How did you begin collaborating as a couple in music?
Hannah: At first, it was out of necessity. My brother used to travel with me as my guitarist, but when he got married and stepped back, Jason stepped in to fill the role. He already knew my songs and understood me, so it felt natural. Even before that, in 2016, we wrote our first song together while dating. Since then, we’ve continued to make music side by side.
How do you balance marriage and ministry?
Jason: It can be hard, especially on tour buses with twelve other people. We slip into work mode on the road, but at home, we’re intentional about going on dates and avoiding work talk. That’s been the most challenging part to navigate—keeping our romance alive while also maintaining a professional partnership.
Hannah: We don’t want to fall into a “roommate” phase. So, carving out intentional time together has been key.
What unique challenges have you faced in the Christian music industry as a couple?
Hannah: One big challenge has been people asking, “When are you having kids?” For years, that was tough to navigate. Before getting pregnant, we experienced a miscarriage. That made the question even harder to hear, despite people’s good intentions. It taught us that everyone’s journey to parenthood is different, and sometimes it’s best to ask couples about their marriage rather than their kids.
Garrett and Jacquelyn of CLINE
What’s it like working together in the music industry?
Jacquelyn: It takes a lot of patience and grace. Touring and ministry can be intense, and we are in it together. That means we’re both experiencing the highs and the struggles at the same time.
Garrett: We’ve learned that while we’re equal partners, we don’t have to share the same responsibilities. I handle the business side of things, and Jacqueline leads in ways I can’t. It’s about recognizing each other’s strengths.
What advice do you have for couples considering working together in Christian music?
Jacquelyn: Have grace for each other. This industry is tough, and you’ll face challenges at the same time. Be patient and know you won’t always have equal workloads, but you’re equally important.
Garrett: And don’t be afraid to take breaks. Your relationship is more important than any career move.
David and Nicole Binion
Have you ever faced misconceptions or stereotypes about being a married couple in Christian music?
Nicole: Not so much within the music industry, but in ministry, there can be assumptions about the roles of men and women. As a woman, I've had to juggle motherhood and ministry, and sometimes people assume my role isn't as significant as David's. But we've always been partners in this calling.
David: One time, someone told our admin, "I just wish David would step aside and let Nicole be a soloist." But we know what we bring together, and we're confident in it. Nicole is an incredible vocalist, and I'm the songwriter, but our combined gifts make our ministry what it is.
What are some of the unique challenges of being a couple in Christian music, and how do you overcome them?
Nicole: My biggest challenge has been balancing family and ministry, especially when our kids were young. We traveled full-time for 10 years, and I always prayed that God would provide trustworthy people to help with our children. He was always faithful in that.
David: For me, I had to learn over the years that if something mattered to Nicole, it needed to matter to me, too. Early on, I was a bit more laid-back, but I've grown to appreciate the importance of being intentional in navigating marriage, family, and ministry together.
Caleb and Kelsea of The Rock Music
What are some unique challenges you face as a couple in the Christian music industry?
Caleb: Our focus has always been ministry first, so balancing family, church, and music can be challenging. Kelsea homeschools our kids, which means she's not as involved musically as she was before we had kids. We must be intentional about scheduling time to record and write while prioritizing our family.
Kelsea: Sometimes I want to be more involved, but it's not always realistic. We must be okay with the fact that in different seasons, ministry looks different.
Can you share a particularly meaningful project you've worked on together?
Caleb: Our latest EP, No One Knows Me Like You, has been very personal. Some of the songs were written years ago, including one Kelsea wrote before we even met. There's also a song we wrote together early in our marriage. The title track is about struggling with insecurity and knowing that God understands us fully — our doubts, fears, and failures — and still loves us completely.
Kelsea: This project has also been woven with grief and healing, as my mom passed away last year from cancer. That experience has shaped our music in ways we didn't expect.
Walter and Holly Halliwell
What inspired you to collaborate as a couple, and how has it impacted your relationship?
Holly: In 2020, I challenged myself to write 100 songs. Whenever I loved one, I’d hand it to Walter to produce. Many became my first released songs. Now we collaborate more deeply in songwriting and direction.
Walter: Working together took trial and error, especially early in marriage. Giving creative feedback to your spouse is different than giving it to another artist. We had to learn timing, tone, and communication. Now it’s a blessing.
How do you handle artistic differences or conflict while creating?
Holly: Creativity is a long journey. We had to learn patience and how to gently introduce ideas like, “What if we try this direction?” Communication with grace is everything.
Walter: It’s not just what you say, but how and when you say it. Letting go of small things is important. And at the end of the day, I remind myself: I love this person more than I love this song.
Janice Rigel is a Christian author, speaker, podcast host, comedian, and everyone's bestie. She can be found at JourneyWithJanice.com. OpenAI's ChatGPT provided some assistance with this article.
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