Wooten Hill Share How Romance Cost Them Their Christian Music Careers: ‘We Honestly Have Zero Regret’ (Exclusive)

**Kim Hill and Paulette Wooten: A Journey of Love and Music Beyond Boundaries**

Sixteen years ago, a profound love blossomed between Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Kim Hill and talented songwriter and musician Paulette Wooten. Their relationship not only changed their personal lives but also led them to step away from the Christian music scene that had marked their careers. As they return with their new album, *How Did We Get Here*, the duo, performing under the name Wooten Hill, reflects on their journey with a mix of nostalgia and liberation.

In a recent interview, Hill, now 62, disclosed the challenges that accompanied their departure from the Christian music world. “We disqualified ourselves from Christian music,” she shared. Leaving behind what was once a familiar landscape, they encountered significant fallout. Hill explains, “It cost us relationships with lifelong friends and our careers in that genre, along with various family challenges. It felt like we had relocated to another world.”

Despite the upheaval, the couple has forged a new life that has allowed them to grow both personally and creatively. “We’ve spent a lot of time doing a lot of work internally and changing our life and rebuilding our life,” Hill continued, expressing their readiness to reveal their new musical direction to the world.

Their recent album, *How Did We Get Here*, comprises 12 tracks that blend gospel roots with heartfelt storytelling, reflecting their distinct Southern experiences and the hurdles they’ve navigated together. “We used to be in the bubble,” Hill recalled, referring to the insular nature of the Southern Christian milieu where they once thrived.

Before their love story unfolded, Hill was already a successful artist, celebrated for numerous number one singles in Christian music. Wooten had also made a name for herself, establishing a successful path as a songwriter, musician, and film composer. However, once they embraced their relationship, both women faced significant personal and professional ramifications.

“I left Nashville thinking I was done with music,” Hill admitted. “I had achieved my dream and was viewed as the black sheep instead of the hero in my family. This shift opened our eyes to injustices we had previously ignored within our privileged, predominantly white Christian environment.”

Building a life together, Hill and Wooten established a creative retreat centre and even launched a culinary product—Wooten’s famed pecan bacon rub. Their newfound happiness, however, sparked an insatiable desire to return to music. “We have to do what we are created to do,” Hill insisted. “It’s time for us to speak up and show up.”

Their single “Rise” marks this significant return to music. Hill explained that the song emerged from reflections on their upbringing, as they grappled with inherited beliefs that they began to see differently. “We realised we had been blind to so many things until we became ‘the other’,” Hill said, emphasising the awakening they experienced together.

Wooten added that the song became a powerful anthem representing their journey. “We don’t know everything, but we know what is true,” she said. “Recognising who we truly are led to a broader perspective, which became the song’s foundation.”

In a way, “Rise” embodies the essence of Wooten Hill. “We were told we were broken,” Hill noted. “This song allows us to reclaim that narrative, asserting, ‘No, we’re not broken.’”

The accompanying lyric video for “Rise,” which premiered exclusively on PEOPLE, showcases the duo performing in a striking church in downtown St. Augustine, Florida. Hill remarked jokingly, “We can still sing in church,” underscoring their ongoing connection to music.

Both artists convey a sense of groundedness in their identity and a peace that accompanies their love. “There’s no shame. There’s nothing to hide,” Wooten stated, reflecting on their newfound freedom and authenticity.

Looking back on the love that transformed their lives, Hill expressed her amazement at their journey. “I never dreamed I could experience this. We often wonder, ‘How did we get here?’”

Wooten added, “The road has been challenging, but being together and feeling peace and love through our trials has been worth it. We honestly have zero regrets.”

With their hearts and voices united in a powerful musical expression, Hill and Wooten are ready to reconnect with their audience as they embark on this exciting new chapter. Their story is a testament to love’s ability to not only change lives but also inspire a fresh musical awakening.