A Changed Man
Bebo Norman was the ultimate road warrior, making lots of friends—but few real relationships. Now that he's older—and married—all that is changing.
by Andy Argyrakis | posted 9/07/2004
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The day Bebo Norman got out of college, he packed his car with an acoustic guitar and some humble sound equipment to hit the coffeehouse and college circuit. At first, his acoustic folk base and poetry-laced lyrics were slow in spreading, but then a late '90s tour with Caedmon's Call helped boost the Georgian to a wider audience. In the five years since, Norman has risen to unimagined heights—headlining tours, playing concerts with MercyMe and Amy Grant, earning a Dove nomination for his smash single "Great Light of the World." And speaking of singles, Norman was long Christian music's unofficial poster child for, well, being single—and fawning female fans never let him forget it. But all that changed last year when Norman, 31, got hitched. We recently talked to him about his marriage and his new CD, Try.
You went from "get in the car and go" status to becoming a household name. How's that feel?
Bebo Norman In terms of being a "household name" or having more people know who I am, there really isn't that much difference. Maybe I have more people show up at shows, but the truth is it's all so external to what we do on a daily basis that I don't really know the difference. In terms of playing music, I've been doing it on tour for the past eight years. I don't think in the grand scheme that I notice a whole lot of difference.
How have your relationships with fans changed over the years?
Norman I've realized there are a handful of people in my life—five, six, seven people—who really know me, and that's where I direct my energy these days, because I spent several years pouring all my energy into all these people I didn't know. Everyday of my life I'd be with 99% strangers and I'd share so much with them that by the time I got home, I had nothing to offer the people that loved me the most. The last couple years I think that's just shifted a lot. I've had to say "no" to a lot more things. I don't always go out and talk to folks after shows anymore. I have to say "no" to some of those things so I'm not just faking it. I'd rather say "no" and mean it genuinely then say "yes" and fake a conversation with somebody.
With that in mind, my perspective on music has shifted so much because I realize it's not the end all for me. It's not where I really draw life from. This last year specifically was the first time in awhile when I was really excited about getting back on the road because I'm healthy at home. My wife had a ton to do with that, but in addition to that, [so did] my immediate family and my immediate friends who I tend to spend more time with.
How did fans react to your engagement and marriage?
Norman When the news first started breaking, I think people were at first sort of taken aback. Definitely a certain element of my fan base is female and I sort of became, not my by my own plan, this spokesperson for single people in a way. I talked about it at shows a lot and it became an issue for me. But singleness is not a disease. It's not something we have to just get through. Part of what I loved was that I got to live in it until I was 30 years old.
How did you know you were ready for marriage?
Norman The honest truth is I wasn't ready to be married a single day before I got married. It took every single bit of 30 years before I was capable of being what my wife needed me to be. I look back at being single in my twenties and you have those moments you think you caught the plague or something. But I think it's making me a better husband now and a better friend.
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