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.

Before, when I first met people, my goal was to make them my best friend, but I never followed up. My brother told me once that I was always really good at making first impressions. That's okay if there's follow-up, but I would always hit a city and be gone the next day. I could make my mark, smile and know I didn't have to follow up. That started affecting my personal life. I'd swing through my town and say "hey" to everybody with a big smile, knowing I didn't have to get any deeper because I'd be gone the next week. I've since realized what commitment needs to go into a relationship—and how that affects how I love my wife right now.

You've also made a lot of changes with your music, starting with using producers other than Ed Cash for the new record. How did he feel about that?

Norman: It was easy because Ed and I are such good friends, and it was the best thing for both of us. Ed and I described it as kind of like breaking up with a girlfriend in the sense that you've already been broken up and know that eventually they're going to date someone else. He was like "I knew this day would come. You need to go stretch your wings and see what else is out there."

Your lyrics are so straightforward on Try instead of more poetic, as on previous projects. Why?

Norman: I think I'm less afraid to just say what I mean to say. There were a lot of times in my life, especially as a younger man, where I would come in with something I wanted to say but never really went there. I think I had an ability to circle an issue more than really getting to the heart of an issue. I don't ever want to lose the poetic part of writing songs, but now I feel like I'm not as afraid to say what I really think about things.

In some older songs, all I really wanted to say was I was "pissed off," but it came out as me kind of going around the issue and just sounding confused. I think it has less to do with being married and more to do with getting older. Now I'm willing to say things outright. The best-case scenario is that I'll find a balance between those two things—the poetry and the straightforwardness—and paint a picture, one that paints a little bit more clearly what I'm trying to say rather than something ambiguous and mysterious.

How did you link up with Jason Morant and Bethany Dillon for the Try tour?

Norman: I honestly picked them because I loved their songwriting. They are the type of songwriters that make me jealous. Bethany's writing songs as a 15-year-old that I'll probably never write! And Jason as a 23-year-old's doing the same kind of thing. The biggest attraction for me was how I respected them as songwriters. Jason is playing electric guitar in my band and sings with me the whole time and I imagine Bethany will come up as well, besides just both of their opening spots. I haven't done a full band tour in two years, so that will give songs like "Stand" and "Disappear" the chance to get bigger. There'll be a whole section in the middle of the show when I'm on guitar alone and I'll probably talk a bit more than I should. But I promise it will be a good deal!

For more about Bebo Norman, check out his artist page on our site for biographical information and reviews. You can click here to read a review from his latest album, Try. Visit Christianbook.com to hear sound clips and buy Bebo Norman's music.

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