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‘It’s Only By Grace’: Joe & Heather Nichols’ Love Story Is One of Faith in Each Other

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Tony Maples Photography

 

Country music singer Joe Nichols has found true love with wife Heather Singleton, but it didn’t come easy like the fairy tales would have you believe. Meeting as teenagers, they took their time, put the relationship on hold, eventually made sure things would be alright, and married in 2007. And, even then they needed to be strong and support one another through some tough times, including miscarriages and alcoholism.

In an interview with People magazine just prior to their marriage, Singleton said, “The timing was always wrong, but in hindsight, it was probably right, because we weren’t ready then. Now is the right time. I’m so sure, I’m not even nervous.” Ten years later, the chorus from his recent single, “Never Gets Old” explains exactly how Joe feels about his lovely bride: “Sometimes, it feels like we’re just 21, and I’ve barely begun lovin’ you…”

‘It’s Only By Grace’: Joe & Heather Nichols Love Story Is One of Faith In Each Other

Photo: Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune

When they met, Joe was singing in Longview, Texas, at Rio Palm Isle, which belonged to Heather’s father. College and his singing career caused them to put the relationship on the back burner, and wait until the age of 30 to tie the knot. By that time, Joe had released the hit songs “Brokenheartsville” and “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off,” with many more underway. It all appeared to be perfect, but just 30 days following their nuptials, Joe checked himself into rehab for alcoholism.

In the interview with People, Heather explained she had no idea about his problem with drinking, saying “He put so much energy into hiding it. It was complete devastation. Besides being sad, I had a lot of anger, like, ‘How could you have done this to me?'” Having serious doubts about the course of their life together, she turned to support from family. That’s when her father told her that Joe needed her now more than ever. She explained, “[Joe] told me, ‘In you, I see who I am. It really bonded us. We faced this ugly thing 30 days after our wedding. I felt like if we could get through that, that’s a good sign.”

‘It’s Only By Grace’: Joe & Heather Nichols Love Story Is One of Faith In Each Other

Photo: Facebook/Joe Nichols

With what appeared to be the worst behind them, they set out to grow their family, following which, they struggled through five miscarriages over the course of three years. It was an emotionally devastating time for Heather who now needed Joe’s support as he had needed hers. Joe has a daughter from a previous relationship, however, in a personal blog post, Heather identified, “Growing up, out of all of my friends I was the one that didn’t care about college or a high-powered job. All I ever wanted was children. My mother and my sisters all had babies so easily that it never crossed my mind that I would have any trouble.”

Eventually, through the care of doctors, undergoing IVF, steroid therapy, IVIG, and an overwhelming emotional struggle, they welcomed Dylan River, a healthy baby girl in 2012. And in 2014, they had their second daughter named Georgia Blue. After the trials and tribulations, all the ups and the downs, this couple has done their best to pull through. They show that true love can take time, support, growth, and understanding, and the end result can be so utterly amazing, you’ll believe it can only be by the grace of God, which is how Joe coined it in an interview cited by Taste of Country, saying, “There’s no way Heather should still be married to me. There’s no way. It’s only by grace.”

References:

Country Living

More Than a Nichols Worth