She Broke Every Rule: Why Glennon Doyle’s Life Story Feels Like a Revolution

New York: In a world that often demands silence, conformity, and emotional restraint—Glennon Doyle chose to speak, evolve, and break free. Once known as a Christian mommy blogger and pastor’s wife, she transformed into one of the most recognisable voices in modern-day personal empowerment. Her memoir Untamed didn’t just hit bestseller lists—it hit nerves, offering readers permission to question the roles they were handed and rewrite the script entirely.

The evolution of Doyle’s life—from a traditional marriage to authoring soul-baring books, divorcing her husband, coming out, and marrying Olympic soccer star Abby Wambach—isn’t just dramatic. It’s deeply human. Millions have followed her journey not because it’s perfect, but because it’s real. The mistakes, the self-doubt, the love, and the mess—it all forms the core of what many now call “the untamed life.”

As she continues to speak publicly on relationships, addiction, parenting, intimacy, and spiritual freedom, Doyle has carved a unique space in the public eye: that of the reluctant leader who never claims to have it all figured out. She doesn’t preach answers—she asks better questions. And in doing so, she’s helped countless others come home to themselves.

Who Is Glennon Doyle?

Glennon Doyle is a bestselling American author, activist, and podcast host known for her honest takes on love, religion, mental health, and womanhood. She first gained national attention in the early 2010s with her Christian blog Momastery, before publishing her breakout memoirs Carry On, Warrior (2013) and Love Warrior (2016). These raw, autobiographical works established her as a powerful voice in personal storytelling—especially among women navigating faith, family, and selfhood.

Her biggest global breakthrough came with Untamed (2020), which has sold over two million copies and been translated into multiple languages. The book became a cultural moment, with viral quotes like “We can do hard things” and “You are not crazy. You are a goddamn cheetah.” In Untamed, Doyle chronicles how she left her husband after learning he had been unfaithful, fell in love with Abby Wambach, and reclaimed her sense of agency as a woman.

Today, Doyle runs a highly successful podcast (We Can Do Hard Things), contributes to charitable causes through her nonprofit Together Rising, and continues to write and speak about vulnerability, truth, and spiritual alignment.

Her First Marriage—and the Shattering of Expectations

Doyle’s first marriage to Craig Melton, a former model and sales executive, lasted over a decade. Together, they had three children. From the outside, their life mirrored traditional success: a loving family, church involvement, and public service. But under the surface, Doyle struggled with bulimia, anxiety, and a deep sense of disconnection. Her 2016 memoir Love Warrior details the fallout from Craig’s long-standing infidelity and her internal unraveling that followed.

The book was praised for its raw honesty and went on to become an Oprah’s Book Club selection. However, just weeks after it was published, Doyle announced she was ending the marriage—an act that startled many followers, but which she later said was “the first time I told the full truth out loud.” In retrospect, Love Warrior was not a declaration of healing—it was a confession before a leap.

This leap led not only to personal freedom, but a complete reinvention of her public persona and private identity. What came next stunned the world.

Glennon Doyle’s Wife: Love, Abby Wambach, and the New Story

In late 2016, Glennon Doyle publicly confirmed her relationship with retired soccer champion Abby Wambach. The announcement came as a surprise to many, given Doyle’s religious background and prior public alignment with traditional family values. But for Doyle, it marked a beginning—not just of a new relationship, but of a new life defined by self-trust.

The couple married in 2017 and quickly became an emblem of modern love. Their relationship—built on shared values, emotional transparency, and deep respect—has been widely embraced by their fans, especially within LGBTQ+ communities. In interviews, both Abby and Glennon often speak candidly about the work involved in maintaining intimacy and honesty in their marriage. “We don’t play roles,” Doyle told Time. “We show up. Raw, vulnerable, flawed.”

Together, they co-host We Can Do Hard Things, where they explore topics like emotional burnout, parenting challenges, and sexual boundaries. Their visibility as a queer couple navigating everyday life has expanded what representation in media can look like—equal parts messy, joyful, and healing.

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Untamed: The Book That Sparked a Cultural Shift

When Untamed launched in March 2020, it became more than just a memoir—it became a spiritual anthem for women, queer individuals, and anyone feeling trapped in a life that no longer felt true. The book debuted at No. 1 on The New York Times bestseller list and stayed there for over a year, powered by word-of-mouth and Instagram quotes that deeply resonated.

Its central message was simple yet radical: Your job is not to be good. It’s to be free.

In Untamed, Doyle urges readers to listen to their own inner voice—even if it disrupts their marriage, friendships, or faith community. She likens the journey of self-liberation to being a cheetah in a zoo who remembers what it feels like to run wild. The metaphor stuck. “Cheetah” became a rallying cry for readers breaking cycles, ending marriages, coming out, and quitting jobs that didn’t serve them.

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Where She Stands Now

In 2021, Doyle expanded her reach by launching We Can Do Hard Things, a podcast where she discusses emotional and relational topics with Abby and her sister Amanda Doyle. The show quickly climbed the charts, praised for its intimacy, humour, and authenticity. It has since hosted guests like Liz Gilbert, Brene Brown, and Jane Fonda.

Most recently, Doyle has hinted at working on another book and is reportedly involved in a TV adaptation of Untamed. She’s also active in activism, including LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive freedom, and refugee support through her nonprofit Together Rising, which has raised over $45 million to date.

As of 2025, her estimated net worth stands at roughly $4 million—a mix of publishing royalties, podcast income, speaking engagements, and media collaborations. But to most of her fans, it’s not her earnings that matter. It’s her permission slip—to tell the truth, walk away, fall apart, and rebuild without shame.

Why Her Story Resonates

• She didn’t wait to be perfect to speak—she spoke through the pain.
• She redefined success and family on her own terms.
• She modelled vulnerability, not as a flaw, but as a practice.
• She built a community, not a following.

In the age of curated wellness influencers and aesthetic self-help, Glennon Doyle remains something rare: a human who shows up messy, honest, and ever-evolving. That may be the most radical thing of all.