As a father of three daughters, it’s no wonder Tim McGraw is a little protective of his teenage girls dating. The country star is a dad to Gracie, 20, Maggie, 19, and Audrey, 15, with his wife of 21 years, Faith Hill.

During a recent visit to The Tonight Show, Tim told host Jimmy Fallon a funny story about when he first met Gracie’s boyfriend. “I was on the road working,” he began. “They gave me a call and they said, ‘You know, Gracie’s going out on a date. Do you mind if she goes before you meet the guy?’ They said, ‘I’ve met him. He’s a really nice guy. We’ve done all our research — everybody. He’s a really nice guy. We put our Secret Service guys on it. They checked him out. Everything’s good. They can go out tonight, but I’ll be home tomorrow.'”

tim mcgraw family getty images

However, Tim had one request after he agreed to let her go out. “Around noon, I want him to come by the house so I can say hi to him — look him in the eye and shake his hand,” he added. “We’re doing a barbecue, so I’m in the kitchen and I forget that he’s coming. I have a white apron on and a knife and I’m trimming meat up, so I’ve got chunks of meat all over this white apron, blood everywhere. The doorbell rings and I go and answer the door, and here’s this kid who’s dating Gracie standing there. I’ve got a knife in my hand and a bloody apron on.” He quipped, “It worked out really well!”

In another previous interview, Tim shared what he requires every guy that dates his girls. “[Guys have to] pick them up… come inside… talk to me, and they have to talk to their mom,” he said. The “Live Like You Were Dying” singer also once told Rachael Ray that he’s “not too tough” when it comes to allowing his daughters to date. “I want it to be visceral… I’m not that tough. I try to act like I am, but I just want them to be happy.”

But luckily for the girls, Faith is much sweeter to any boy they bring home! “She’s pretty sweet actually… they love her,” Tim said of his wife. “They like her better than they do me, of course.”