Introduction – A Musical Legacy’s Unexpected Path
When most people think of celebrity children, they imagine red carpets and recording studios. Matthew Garrison Chapman had other plans. Born into Christian music royalty as the son of Grammy winner Amy Grant and musician Gary Chapman, he’s quietly built something entirely different – a thriving business empire in Tennessee’s hemp industry.
You won’t find Matthew chasing spotlight or building Instagram followings like many celebrity offspring. Instead, this 36-year-old entrepreneur has become a pioneer in the CBD space, co-founding LabCanna and securing Tennessee’s first hemp processing license. It’s a fascinating story of someone who grew up surrounded by music but chose to make his mark in boardrooms rather than concert halls.
What makes Matthew’s journey particularly interesting is how he’s managed to honor his family’s musical legacy while carving out his own path. From learning to walk on tour buses to running a cutting-edge cannabis company, his story shows there’s no single way to build on family success.
Early Life and Family Heritage
September 25, 1987 marked the arrival of Matthew Garrison Chapman in Nashville – a city where music flows through the streets like water. His timing couldn’t have been more perfect, arriving just as both parents were hitting their stride in Christian contemporary music.
The Chapman household wasn’t your typical suburban family setup. Creativity buzzed through every corner, and business discussions happened over breakfast. Matthew’s famous quip about learning to walk on a tour bus isn’t just a cute anecdote – it perfectly captures how unconventional his childhood really was.
Most kids grow up thinking they need to pick traditional careers. Matthew grew up watching his parents turn passion into profit, seeing firsthand how creativity and business sense could work together. This early exposure to entrepreneurial thinking would prove invaluable later.
But life wasn’t all smooth sailing. When Matthew turned twelve, his parents’ seventeen-year marriage came to an end. Divorce is tough on any kid, but going through it in the public eye added extra layers of complexity. This experience taught him early lessons about resilience and the importance of maintaining privacy.
The Blended Family Dynamic
Things got more complicated in 2000 when Amy Grant married country superstar Vince Gill. Matthew, along with sisters Gloria Mills and Sarah Cannon, weren’t exactly thrilled about the new family arrangement. Wedding photos from that day tell the whole story – Amy herself laughingly refers to her “grim-faced children” in those pictures.
It’s refreshing how honestly the family talks about those early struggles. Too often, celebrity families pretend everything’s perfect, but the Grants and Gills acknowledged the real challenges of blending families. Matthew and his siblings needed time to adjust, and that’s completely normal.
The game-changer came in 2001 with the birth of half-sister Corrina Grant Gill. Vince Gill wasn’t exaggerating when he called her “the glue of this whole family.” Sometimes it takes a new addition to help everyone see they’re stronger together than apart.
Being the only son in this blended family gave Matthew a unique perspective. He learned to navigate complex relationships while staying true to himself – skills that would serve him well in business partnerships later on.
Educational Background and Personal Development
While Matthew keeps details about his formal education under wraps, his real learning happened in the family business. Growing up around musicians, producers, and industry professionals gave him an MBA-level education in creativity and commerce.
His 2019 comment to The Tennessean really says it all: traditional jobs felt “like prison” to someone raised around creative entrepreneurs. When you’ve seen people build careers from scratch, following someone else’s predetermined path loses its appeal.
This mindset shaped everything about how Matthew approaches challenges. Instead of looking for existing solutions, he learned to create his own opportunities. That kind of thinking becomes essential when you’re entering emerging industries like hemp processing.
His parents’ work ethic clearly rubbed off too. Matthew developed that hands-on mentality where you don’t just delegate problems away – you roll up your sleeves and figure things out yourself.
LabCanna – Pioneering Tennessee’s Hemp Industry
2016 was a pivotal year for Matthew Garrison Chapman. While many 29-year-olds were still figuring out their careers, he was co-founding LabCanna and diving headfirst into the cannabis industry. Talk about perfect timing – he entered the market just as attitudes toward hemp and CBD were shifting nationwide.
Landing Tennessee’s first hemp processing license wasn’t just luck. It required navigating a maze of regulations, proving technical expertise, and convincing officials that hemp processing could be done safely and legally. Matthew and his team clearly did their homework.
The family support for this venture speaks volumes about the Chapman-Grant clan. Amy Grant didn’t just offer encouragement – she provided actual greenhouse space on her Tennessee farm for LabCanna’s first crop. That’s putting your money where your mouth is.
Matthew’s dual role as president and chief technology officer shows he’s not just a figurehead. He’s deeply involved in both the business strategy and technical operations. His business partner Derek Besenius (who happens to be married to sister Sarah) creates a family partnership that strengthens both personal and professional bonds.
Even Gary Chapman got involved, serving as community outreach director. His proud 2017 Facebook post about Matthew and his “brilliant young men” working on products that “will benefit many” shows this isn’t just a family business – it’s a family mission.
Musical Talents and Christian Music Heritage
Don’t think Matthew completely abandoned his musical roots. He still writes Christian music, keeping one foot in the family tradition while building his business empire. It’s a smart way to honor the past while creating the future.
His songwriting isn’t just a hobby – it represents the creative thread that connects his business success to his family legacy. The same skills that help craft compelling lyrics can be applied to developing marketing strategies or solving operational challenges.
Matthew’s approach to music mirrors his overall life philosophy: why limit yourself to one thing when you can excel at multiple pursuits? This diversified thinking has probably contributed to LabCanna’s success in ways that aren’t immediately obvious.
The creative problem-solving that drives good songwriting translates beautifully to business innovation. Both require seeing patterns, understanding audiences, and crafting solutions that resonate with people.
Privacy in the Public Eye
Here’s what sets Matthew apart from most celebrity children: he genuinely doesn’t want the spotlight. In an age where everyone’s building personal brands on social media, Matthew has deliberately chosen the opposite path.
His minimal social media presence isn’t an accident or oversight – it’s a strategic choice. While his family members maintain public profiles for their careers, Matthew focuses on building his business without the distraction of managing a public persona.
This extends to his personal life too. At 36, Matthew remains unmarried and keeps his romantic life completely private. That level of discretion is rare these days, especially for someone with his family connections.
The contrast is striking: while Amy Grant and Vince Gill necessarily live parts of their lives in public, Matthew has created clear boundaries that protect his personal space. It’s a masterclass in maintaining privacy while supporting family members who choose more public careers.
Personal Interests and Lifestyle
When Matthew isn’t running LabCanna, he’s usually working with his hands on some project or another. A 2021 company Instagram post revealed his love for camping – a perfect way to disconnect from business pressures and recharge in nature.
His home workshop sounds like a maker’s paradise. Matthew spends hours repairing, designing, fabricating, and automating various projects. These aren’t just hobbies – they’re extensions of the same innovative thinking that drives his business success.
This combination of outdoor recreation and technical tinkering paints a picture of someone who finds balance between professional demands and personal fulfillment. It’s the kind of well-rounded lifestyle that probably helps him stay grounded despite his family’s fame.
Matthew’s choices consistently prioritize meaningful work over traditional status symbols. Rather than chasing fame or public recognition, he focuses on building sustainable businesses and maintaining strong family relationships.
Future Prospects and Legacy
Matthew Garrison Chapman’s story offers a refreshing take on what success can look like for celebrity children. His LabCanna success proves that innovative thinking and hard work can create opportunities in any industry – you just have to be willing to take risks.
The CBD and hemp industry continues growing rapidly, positioning LabCanna well for future expansion. Matthew’s early entry into Tennessee’s market gives him significant advantages as regulations evolve and demand increases nationwide.
Perhaps more importantly, his approach provides a roadmap for other celebrity children seeking to establish independent identities. By honoring family heritage while pursuing personal interests, Matthew has created a unique professional path that reflects both family values and individual ambition.
Matthew’s journey from tour buses to hemp processing facilities ultimately demonstrates that success comes in many forms. When creative environments nurture entrepreneurial thinking and individual choice gets respected and supported, amazing things can happen.
