Tomlin has toured with many contemporary Christian artists, such as Delirious?, Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael W. Tomlin has also released one live album, recorded in Austin Music Hall, and two Christmas albums (2009, 2015), both of which topped the Holiday albums chart on Billboard. Tomlin has topped the Hot Christian Albums chart six times, and his 2013 album Burning Lights topped the Billboard 200, making the album only the fourth contemporary Christian album to do so. 2004's Arriving was the first to chart on Billboard's Hot Christian Albums chart and the Billboard 200. Since his signing onto sixstepsrecords, Tomlin has released nine full-length studio albums.

Tomlin performing at a concert in Johnson City, Tennessee He released the live EP 545 and his second studio album Not to Us in 2002. His first nationally released solo project, titled The Noise We Make, was released in 2001, featuring the song 'Forever'. In 2000, Tomlin signed onto newly founded sixstepsrecords, a subsidiary of Passion Conferences. In 1998, he released Authentic on Sparrow Records. In 1995, Tomlin released Inside Your Love, which was released independently. In 1997, Tomlin partnered with Giglio to found Passion Conferences. While at Breakaway, Tomlin participated in a Bible study led by then Choice Ministries founder Louie Giglio. After college Tomlin participated as a worship leader at various camps in Texas, including Dawson McAllister Youth Conferences. In 1994, Tomlin graduated from Texas A&M with a bachelor's degree in psychology. He grew active in a campus Christian group called Breakaway, where he became the worship leader. Tomlin graduated in 1992 and enrolled in Texas A&M University to study medicine.

After graduating from Grand Saline High School in 1990, he entered Tyler Junior College (TJC) planning for a medical or physical therapy career. During high school, he learned to lead worship in his youth group. Tomlin wrote his first worship song at age fourteen. Tomlin was given his first guitar by his father and learned how to play along with Willie Nelson records. He has two younger brothers, Ryan and Cory. Tomlin was born in Grand Saline, Texas in 1972 to Donna and Connie Tomlin.

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