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's path to music was not a straight line. Growing up in Texas, his childhood was marked by an abusive father, a dynamic that shifted dramatically when his father found faith and transformed before dying of cancer. This complex relationship became the crucible for his songwriting. After a brief stint aiming for a football scholarship, he found his voice in the church and formed MercyMe. The band built a steady following in Christian music, but it was the song 'I Can Only Imagine,' written as a private meditation on his father's death and the hope of heaven, that shattered boundaries. Its crossover success on mainstream radio was unprecedented for a song with explicitly Christian lyrics, making MercyMe a household name and Millard a relatable voice for anyone 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.””
