Bart Millard
A worship leader whose raw, personal song of grief became a global anthem of hope for millions.
Born 1972 (age 54)·American singer and songwriter·Birthday: December 1·Generation X
Biography
Bart Millard wrote 'I Can Only Imagine' as a private meditation on his father's death and the hope of heaven. Born in Texas in 1972, his childhood included an abusive father who later found faith and transformed before dying of cancer. After a brief pursuit of a football scholarship, Millard found his voice in the church and formed MercyMe. The band built a steady Christian music following, but 'I Can Only Imagine' shattered boundaries with unprecedented crossover success on mainstream radio for a song with explicitly Christian lyrics. The song made MercyMe widely known and Millard a relatable voice for those grappling with loss and faith.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Bart was born in 1972, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bart Was Born
The biggest hits of 1972
#1 Movie
The Godfather
Best Picture
The Godfather
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Bart's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1972Born
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1977Started school
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1985Became a teenager
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Could drive
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1990Could vote
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Turned 21
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2002Turned 30
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 40
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 50
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 54 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Wrote 'I Can Only Imagine,' which became the first Christian song to be certified platinum for digital downloads.
- The film adaptation of his life and the song 'I Can Only Imagine' grossed over $85 million worldwide.
- Led MercyMe to win multiple Dove Awards, including Song of the Year for 'I Can Only Imagine.'
Did You Know?
He originally went to college on a football scholarship but switched to music after an injury.
Millard worked as a youth pastor before MercyMe became a full-time touring band.
The name 'MercyMe' came from his grandmother's favorite expression of exasperation.
““God can take the mess of your past and turn it into a message.””
