Martina McBride turns 60 — her stunning transformation through the years from pixie cut 90's star to now

Martina was born Martina Mariea Schiff on July 29, 1966 to parents Daryl and Jeanne Schiff. She and her siblings, Martin and Steve, grew up on a dairy farm in Sharon, Kansas. 

From a young age, Martina loved singing and performed alongside her dad in a band called The Schiffters. She was inspired by artists like Reba McEntire, Linda Ronstadt, and Patsy Cline.

Martina left the dairy farm behind, but maintained a close relationship with her parents until their deaths. Her mom passed away in January 2020 and last year, she lost her father at 86 years old.

With experience performing with her dad, Martina headed to Nashville to launch her career in country music. In 1992, she released her debut studio album called The Time Has Come. While it wasn't her most successful album, it paved the way for her blossoming career.

In 1993, Martina released her second album and became a powerhouse in country music. Her single "Independence Day" made Martina a star. There was some controversy around the song, as it was prevented from reaching the Top 10 after many radio programmers objected to the song's subject of a mother fighting back against abuse by burning the family home to the ground.

But, "Independence Day" won Video of the Year and Song of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards, earned Martina her first Grammy nomination, and has been streamed over 96 million times on Spotify.

The singer has had a storied career. While she's only won one Grammy for Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album in 1996, Martina's been a staple at the annual award show. In 1995, with her signature pixie cut, the singer made her debut performance at the Grammys when she performed "Independence Day."

The performance was talked about, but her hairstyle led the conversation. In January 2024, Martina posted a throwback photo of her short red hair to Instagram with the caption: "#ThrowbackThursday to my pixie cut days."

Martina and her husband, John McBride, have been married for 38 years. The two met in early 1987 through a friend after Martina asked for a space to rehearse in. While the singer tried to organize a rehearsal time with her band, she complained to John about the lack of progress.

"Here I was, crying on his shoulder about my band not coming together, and I thought, 'I'm in love with this guy. This is crazy. He lives in a warehouse,'" she recalled to People in 1998.

After tying the knot in 1988, the couple have been together ever since. Almost 40 years as husband and wife, Martina and John are as close as ever.

"John and I really like hanging out and experiencing new things together," she told People in October 2021. "We try to go out once a week, even if it's just to go grab a beer or a cup of coffee or go for a walk."

Martina and John are parents to three daughters: Delaney, 31, Emma, 28, and Ava, 21. And the singer absolutely loves being a mom.

"I wouldn't trade [my life] for anything. I really did get the best of both worlds," the "Valentine" singer revealed to People. "I got to have this amazing, exciting, fulfilling career, and I got to raise these human beings who are just the loves of my life."

Martina is close to her kids who have all grown up into strong women. In April, the singer announced that her oldest daughter Delaney was pregnant.

"My first baby is having a baby!!!!!" Martina wrote on Instagram. "We are so excited and happy to be welcoming our first grandchild. We are blessed indeed."

Her other daughters, Emma and Ava, are paving their own paths. Emma lives in New York City and works in the film industry, while Ava just celebrated her 21st birthday in June.

It's been 34 years since Martina released her debut album. Since then, she's released 13 studio albums, been nominated for 14 Grammys, won CMA female vocalist of the year four times, written two cookbooks and hosted a Food Network show, Martina's Table, and more.

But through it all, the singer only wanted "respect and longevity," she told People. These days, Martina is still touring, performing across America this summer. She was originally scheduled to perform at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to celebrate America's 250th birthday, but she dropped out.

"I asked lots of questions and was assured this was a nonpartisan event that was meant to celebrate ALL 50 states," Martina wrote on Instagram. "I've spent my entire career singing songs about real people with real issues. I've been blessed with the opportunity to be a voice for those who have felt like they didn't have one."

She continued: "It greatly upsets me that any fan who has been moved by my music may now feel like I'm abandoning the meaning behind those songs. I assure you, that is not the case."