When country music legends Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White got married in 1981, they decided to forgo the traditional unity candle and belt out unity songs instead.
While talking to Billboard, Skaggs recalled, “Our pastor said, ‘What if you did your unity candle symbol in songs rather than candles? He sings one to you, you to him, and you sing together. We liked that idea, and this was the one we sang together. We had no idea how hard it was going to be to do. We were both very emotional.”
Skaggs and White went on to create more beautiful music together with their first released duet, “Love Can’t Ever Get Better Than This.” Released in 1986, the public acclaim for the single set the stage for the duo to create an album together.
Finally, in 2014, fans got their wish when the happy couple released Hearts Like Ours.
Husband-and-wife 1987 #CMAawards Vocal Duo of the Year Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White release first-ever studio album! pic.twitter.com/ot22IgpQrY
— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) November 11, 2014
That same year, the pair were singing at a wedding and offered a piece of advice for the newlyweds, saying:
“You fell in love with him the way he is for a reason. You were drawn to him. Celebrate that, and be thankful for that, and don’t be trying to change each other.”
“And number two: Be quick to forgive, and be quick to say, ‘I’m sorry,’ because none of us are perfect,” White recalled in an interview with Rolling Stone.
Skaggs says their love is stronger than ever and credits their faith with helping them through tough times. “Now, to have been married 33 years, and what we’ve been through together with children and each other, as well as the way we’ve grown as people and as Christians, our faith has grown, I feel like we really have something to sing about.”
Check out this very special 80s performance of “If I Needed You” below.