Kirk Franklin and Tammy Collins attend the 65th GRAMMY Awards on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.Photo:Amy Sussman/Getty
Amy Sussman/Getty
Kirk Franklinand Tammy Franklin have been married since 1996, when the gospel icon was in the early stages of his career.
Now, Kirk is a 19-timeGrammywinner, one of the inaugural inductees to the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame, and, asVarietycalled him, a “Reigning King of Urban Gospel.”
Three years later in 1995, they began dating again, and then married a year later. They both have a child from previous relationships and would go on to welcome two children together.
Faith is important to both Kirk and Tammy, and it plays a major part in their marriage. KirktoldToday’s Christian Womanabout their marriage, “God wants us to be, in our married lives, blueprints for people, especially young people … You can’t take a blueprint and just throw it on the ground. You have to make sure you keep it in a place that’s clean and covered because that’s the only thing you have to build the house upon."
So who is Kirk Franklin’s wife? Here’s everything to know about Tammy Franklin and her relationship with the gospel singer.
She first met Kirk when she was 18
Kirk Franklin and Tammy Collins attend the 12th Annual Soul Train Music Awards on February 27, 1998.Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty
Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty
Kirk and Tammy first met at a water park in their home state of Texas. Of her first meeting with Kirk, Tammy said on theTamron Hall Show, “He was cute, he had on Cross Colours, he was 18 years old. He had a vision, he had a plan and he was honest."
Four years later, they met again when Tammy’s cousin invited her to a taping of one of Kirk’s demos. When Tammy went along, she recognized Kirk from the water park, and they dated for several weeks.
“From that day on we talked on the phone …” Tammy toldToday’s Christian Woman, before Kirk interrupted, “You’re leaving out the good stuff. You’re leaving out the fact that you came in the back and gave me your number. I called her because, of course, I noticed her. I thought, ‘She’sbad.’ ”
She began dating Kirk again in 1995
Kirk Franklin and Tammy Collins attend the Kingdom Come Beverly Hills Premiere on April 5, 2001.Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty
Tammy moved to Minneapolis for her singing career, and though she tried to make a long-distance relationship work with Kirk, they decided to stay friends.
Things changed when Kirk stopped returning Tammy’s calls, which she views as a way God could let them mature spiritually during their time apart.
In March 1995, Tammy called Kirk and left him a message, saying: “You haven’t been returning my phone calls. I just wanted to say hi and see how you were doing. But I’m not going to call anymore.”
From then on, they began dating again.
She married Kirk in 1996
Kirk Franklin and Tammy Franklin on their wedding day.Tammy Franklin Instagram
Tammy Franklin Instagram
She has four children
Caziah Franklin, Kennedy Franklin, Kirk Franklin, Tammy Collins, Carrington Franklin, and Maxx Nakwaasah attend the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards on January 26, 2020.Frazer Harrison/Getty
Frazer Harrison/Getty
When Tammy married Kirk, she had a 9-year-old daughter, Carrington, while Kirk had a 10-year-old son, Kerrion. They then had two children together: daughter Kennedy was born in 1997, while son Caziah was born in 2000.
Through Carrington, Tammy is also a grandmother. Carrington has two children, a son, Shiloh, and a daughter, Levi, with her husband Maxx Nakwaasah.
Kirk Franklin, Kennedy Franklin, and Tammy Franklin.Kirk Franklin Instagram
Kirk Franklin Instagram
With her daughter Carrington, Tammy co-hosts the SiriusXM radio showIn Real Lifeon her husband’s gospel channel, Kirk Franklin’s Praise.
She is active on social media
Kirk and Tammy Franklin.Kirk Franklin Instagram
Tammy frequently posts on social media, where she has thousands of followers. She has nearly 300,000 followerson Instagramand has shared over 1,500 posts on the platform — including many with her husband and children.
She also shows off her passions for fashion and fitness on social media, with both having their own highlights section on her profile.
She follows Christianity alongside Kirk
Kirk Franklin and Tammy Collins attend the Black American Music Association and Georgia Entertainment Caucus Inaugural Induction Ceremony for Black Music And Entertainment Walk Of Fame on June 17, 2021.Moses Robinson/Getty
Moses Robinson/Getty
Her husband is well-known for making Christian music and for his faith, and Tammy is religious too.
She continued, “I was only taught about God’s wrath — not his love. As I began my own journey of just coming into relationship with God I began to understand who he really was.”
She supports and defends her husband
Tammy Franklin and Kirk Franklin attend Sony BMG Hosts a Celebration in Honor of its 2007 Grammy Award Nominated Artist on February 11, 2007 in Beverly Hills, CA.Andreas Branch/Patrick McMullan/Getty
Andreas Branch/Patrick McMullan/Getty
Tammy has often supported and defended her husband, in public and in private. In 2023, she defended Kirk after he was criticized for partying at a lounge in Atlanta, telling the radio stationPraise 102.5, “This was for our daughter. She just graduated with her master’s and so we were there celebrating. You know, when your child wants you to come with them, that’s a good thing, they’re not embarrassed of you.”
Years earlier, 11 months after the couple married, Kirk fell off stage and had a brain contusion, spending time in a coma as a result. While doctors weren’t sure if Kirk would be able to walk and talk again, he recovered faster than expected and was back on stage after six weeks.
He toldToday’s Christian Woman, “When I fell, it really showed me the other side of Tammy. When you say your vows, ‘Till death do us part,’ and you’re really faced with it … you know somebody’s there for better or for worse. It’s not just a saying.”
She credits therapy and being “good friends” with Kirk as the key to their long marriage
Kirk Franklin and Tammy Franklin visit Rock the Bells with host Roxanne Shante at SiriusXM Studios on May 10, 2023.Slaven Vlasic/Getty
Slaven Vlasic/Getty
Kirk and Tammy discussed the longevity of their marriage withEssencein 2023. When they were asked what the key to their success was, Tammy said, “Therapy. Being proactive as best you can as opposed to being reactive … But also too, Kirk and I are really, really good friends, and because we’re really good friends, we have the others’ best interest at heart and it makes you really care and sensitive, as best you can be, for the other.”
source: people.com
