Amy Grant

Born in Augusta, Georgia, Grant is the youngest of four sisters. Her family settled in Nashville in 1967.{{cite book|last=Amy|first=Grant|title=Mosaic: Pieces of My Life So Far|year=2007|publisher=Flying Dolphin Press|isbn=978-0-385-52289-2|pages=[https://archive.org/details/mosaicpiecesofmy00gran/page/198 198–203]|url=https://archive.org/details/mosaicpiecesofmy00gran/page/198}} She is a great-granddaughter of Nashville philanthropist A. M. Burton (founder of Life and Casualty Insurance Company, eponym of Nashville's Life & Casualty Tower, WLAC Radio, and WLAC-TV) and Lillie Burton.{{Cite news|title=Burton Pinched Pennies, then Gave most of Fortune Away.|last=Carey|first=Bill|date=December 7, 2003|work=The Tennessean}}{{Cite news|title=Learn Nashville|last=Zepp|first=George|date=September 6, 2006|work=The Tennessean}}{{Cite news|title=L&C Tower at 40|date=October 30, 1997|work=Nashville Banner}}{{Cite news|title=70 Years Aloft: 1]|last=Loew|first=Karen|date=November 17, 2002|work=The Tennessean}}{{Cite news|title=50 Years of Channel 5 Correction Appended|last=Beck|first=Ken|date=August 4, 2004|work=The Tennessean}} She has acknowledged the influence of the Burtons on her development as a musician, starting with their common membership in Nashville's Ashwood Church of Christ.{{cite news |first = Seth |last = Robertson |url = http://news.vanderbilt.edu/vanderbiltmagazine/amy-grant-82-finds-inspiration-and-purpose-in-the-power-of-community/ |title = Shining through: Amy Grant, '82, finds inspiration and purpose in the power of community |magazine = Vanderbilt Magazine |volume = 96 |date = Winter 2015 |pages = 30–35 |access-date = February 6, 2015 |archive-date = February 7, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150207012803/http://news.vanderbilt.edu/vanderbiltmagazine/amy-grant-82-finds-inspiration-and-purpose-in-the-power-of-community/ |url-status = live }} See esp. p. 32. According to the Singing Carrots website, based on her recorded songs, Grant has a mezzo-soprano voice type, also able to perform in the soprano and contralto ranges.{{cite web |url=https://singingcarrots.com/artist-range?artist=Amy%20Grant |title=Amy Grant vocal range |website=Singing Carrots |access-date=March 26, 2024}}

In 1976, Grant wrote her first song ("Mountain Top"), performed in public for the first time at Harpeth Hall School, the all-girls school she attended in Nashville. She recorded a demo tape for her parents with church youth-leader Brown Bannister. While Bannister was dubbing a copy of the tape, Chris Christian, the owner of the recording studio, heard the demo and called Word Records. He played it over the phone, and she was offered a recording contract five weeks before her 16th birthday.

In 1977, she recorded her first album, Amy Grant, produced by Bannister, who also produced her next 11 albums. It was released in early 1978, one month before her high-school graduation. Toward the end of 1978 she performed her first ticketed concert after beginning her first year at Furman University.

In May 1979, while at the album-release party for her second album, My Father's Eyes, Grant met Gary Chapman, who had written the title track. Grant and Chapman toured together in mid-1979. In late 1980, she transferred to Vanderbilt University where she was a member of the sorority Kappa Alpha Theta. Grant made a few more albums before dropping out of college to pursue a career in music—Never Alone, followed by a pair of live albums in 1981 (In Concert and In Concert Volume Two), both backed by an augmented edition of the DeGarmo & Key band. It was during these early shows that Grant also established one of her concert trademarks: performing barefoot. Grant continues to take off her shoes midway through performances, as she has said, "it is just more comfortable."Preston and Steve radio show excerpt; May 2008{{cite web |url=https://feet.thefuntimesguide.com/celebrity_barefoot_in_public/ |title=When Is It OK To Go Barefoot In Public?

|date=May 24, 2008|website=Feet and Shoes Guide |publisher=The Fun Times Guide |access-date=June 2, 2022 |archive-date=September 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925231517/https://feet.thefuntimesguide.com/celebrity_barefoot_in_public/ |url-status=live }}

In 1982 she released her breakthrough album Age to Age. The album contains the signature track, "El Shaddai" (written by Michael Card) and the Grant-Chapman penned song, "In a Little While". "El Shaddai" was later awarded one of the "Songs of the Century" by the RIAA in 2001. Grant received her first Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Gospel Performance, as well as two GMA Dove Awards for Gospel Artist of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year. Age to Age became the first Christian album by a solo artist to be certified gold (1983) and the first Christian album to be certified platinum (1985).

In the mid-1980s, Grant began touring and recording with young up-and-coming songwriter Michael W. Smith. Grant and Smith continue to have a strong friendship and creative relationship, often writing songs for or contributing vocals to each other's albums, and as of 2019, often touring together annually during November and December putting on Christmas concerts. During the 1980s, Grant was also a backup singer for Bill Gaither.{{cite web|url=http://www.americanprofile.com/article/5501.html|title=Bill Gaither: The Gospel of Giving|access-date=April 25, 2009|publisher=American Profile|author=Beverly Keel|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129120135/http://www.americanprofile.com/article/5501.html|archive-date=January 29, 2009}}

Grant followed this album with the first of her Christmas albums, which was later the basis for her holiday shows. In 1984, she released another pop-oriented Christian hit, Straight Ahead, earning Grant her first appearance at the Grammy Awards show in 1985. The head of NBC took notice of Grant's performance and called her manager to book her for her own Christmas special.

Shortly after Grant established herself as the "Queen of Christian Pop" she changed directions to widen her fan base. Her goal was to become the first Christian singer-songwriter who was also successful as a contemporary pop singer.{{cite magazine|url=http://amygrant.offramp.org/info/articles/ung/85jun6rollingstone.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120231852/http://amygrant.offramp.org/info/articles/ung/85jun6rollingstone.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 20, 2008|title=Amy Grant wants to put God on the charts|access-date=August 30, 2011|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=June 6, 1985|author=Michael Goldberg}} Unguarded (1985) surprised some fans for its very mainstream sound. "Find a Way", from Unguarded, became one of the few non-Christmas Christian songs to hit the Billboard Top 40 list, also reaching No. 7 on the Adult Contemporary chart. She also scored No. 18 on Billboard AC in 1986 with "Stay for Awhile".{{Cite web |title=Amy Grant Albums (Top Albums) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts |url=https://www.musicvf.com/Amy+Grant.alb |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=www.musicvf.com}} Grant scored her first Billboard No. 1 song in 1986 with "The Next Time I Fall", a duet with former Chicago singer/bassist Peter Cetera. That year, she also recorded a duet with singer Randy Stonehill for his Love Beyond Reason album, titled "I Could Never Say Goodbye", and recorded The Animals' Christmas with Art Garfunkel.

Lead Me On (1988) contained many songs which were about Christianity and love relationships, but some interpreted it as not being enough of a "Christian" record. Years later Lead Me On would be chosen as the greatest Contemporary Christian album of all time by CCM Magazine. The mainstream song "Saved by Love" was a minor hit, receiving airplay on radio stations featuring the newly emerging Adult Contemporary format. The album's title song received some pop radio airplay and crossed over to No. 96 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "1974 (We Were Young)" and "Saved By Love" also charted as Adult Contemporary songs. In 1989, she appeared in a Target ad campaign, performing songs from the album.{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3092/is_n19_v28/ai_8089589 |title=Rabbit stars in Target holiday promo |access-date=August 29, 2008 |publisher=Gale Group |year=1989 |author=Gale Group |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912051613/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3092/is_n19_v28/ai_8089589/ |archive-date=September 12, 2009 }}

File:Amy Grant in 1998.jpg

When Heart in Motion was released in 1991, many fans were surprised that the album was of contemporary pop music. Grant's desire to widen her audience was frowned upon by the confines of the popular definitions of ministry at the time.{{cite web|url=http://amygrant.offramp.org/info/articles/him/5.html#t|title=Christian Fans Ask Too Much of Amy Grant|access-date=August 29, 2008|work=The Arizona Republic|date=May 18, 1991|first=Kim Sue Lia|last=Perkes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313110334/http://amygrant.offramp.org/info/articles/him/5.html#t|archive-date=March 13, 2014|url-status=dead}} The track "Baby Baby" written for Grant's newborn daughter Millie, of whom Grant wrote, her "six-week-old face was my inspiration", became a pop hit (hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100), and Grant was established as a name in the mainstream music world. "Baby Baby" received Grammy nominations for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and Record and Song of the Year (although it failed to win in any of those categories).

Four other hits from the album made the Pop top 20: "Every Heartbeat" (No. 2), "That's What Love Is For" (No. 7), "Good for Me" (No. 8), and "I Will Remember You" (No. 20). On the Adult Contemporary chart, all five songs were top 10 hits, with two of the five ("Baby Baby" and "That's What Love Is For") reaching No. 1. Many Christian fans remained loyal, putting the album atop Billboard Contemporary Christian Chart for 32 weeks. Heart in Motion is Grant's best-selling album, having sold over five million copies according to the RIAA.{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=2&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=Heart%20In%20Motion&artist=Grant&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2008&sort=Artist&perPage=25|title=Amy Grant – RIAA|access-date=August 29, 2008|publisher=RIAA|year=2008|author=RIAA|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924154447/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=2&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=Heart%20In%20Motion&artist=Grant&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2008&sort=Artist&perPage=25|url-status=dead}} Grant followed the album with her second Christmas album, Home For Christmas in 1992, which included the song "Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)", written by Chris Eaton and Grant, and would later be covered by many artists, including Donna Summer, Jessica Simpson (who acknowledged Grant as one of her favorite artists), Vince Gill, Sara Groves, Point of Grace, Gladys Knight, and Broadway star Barbara Cook.

House of Love in 1994 continued in the same vein, containing pop songs mingled with spiritual lyrics. The album was a multi-platinum success and produced the pop hit "Lucky One" (No. 18 pop and No. 2 AC; No. 1 on Radio & Records) as well as the title track (a duet with country music star and future husband Vince Gill) (No. 37 pop) and a cover of Joni Mitchell's frequently covered "Big Yellow Taxi" (No. 67 pop) (in which she changed the line "And they charged the people a dollar and a half just to see'em" to "And then they charged the people 25 bucks just to see'em").

After she covered the 10cc song "The Things We Do for Love" for the Mr. Wrong soundtrack, Behind the Eyes was released in September 1997. The album struck a much darker note, leaning more towards downtempo, acoustic soft-rock songs, with more mature (yet still optimistic) lyrics. She called it her "razor blades and Prozac" album.{{cite web|url=http://amygrant.offramp.org/info/2001/50.html |title=Amy Grant's career comes full circle |access-date=August 29, 2008 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=September 15, 2002 |first=Rosa |last=Colucci |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612215414/http://amygrant.offramp.org/info/2001/50.html |archive-date=June 12, 2008 |url-status=dead }} Although "Takes a Little Time" was a moderate hit single, the album failed to sell like the previous two albums, which had both gone multi-platinum. Behind The Eyes was eventually certified Gold by the RIAA. The video for "Takes a Little Time" was a new direction for Grant; with a blue light filter, acoustic guitar, the streets and characters of New York City, and a plot, Grant was re-cast as an adult light rocker. She followed up "Behind The Eyes" with A Christmas To Remember, her third Christmas album, in 1999. The album was certified gold in 2000.

Following the 9/11 attacks Grant's "I Will Remember You" saw a resurgence in popularity as many radio DJs mixed a special tribute version of the song. In the same year Grant won $125,000 for charity on the "Rock Star Edition" of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?{{Cite magazine|url=http://ew.com/article/2001/02/09/mark-mcgrath-and-sisqo-rock-millionaire/ |title=Mark McGrath and Sisqo rock Millionaire |access-date=June 2, 2022 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |author=Liane Bonin |date=February 9, 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007163747/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C98722%2C00.html |archive-date=October 7, 2008 |url-status=live }}

Grant returned to Christian pop with the 2002 release of an album of hymns titled Legacy... Hymns and Faith. The album featured a Vince Gill-influenced mix of bluegrass and pop and marked Grant's 25th anniversary in the music industry.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/legacyhymns-faith-mw0000219271|title=Legacy...Hymns & Faith|author=Robert L. Doerschuk|website=AllMusic|access-date=June 2, 2022|archive-date=December 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202110635/http://allmusic.com/album/legacyhymns-faith-mw0000219271|url-status=live}} Grant followed this up with Simple Things in 2003. The album did not have the success of her previous pop or gospel efforts. Soon after Simple Things, Grant and Interscope/A&M parted ways. The same year, Grant was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame by the Gospel Music Association, an industry trade organization of which she is a longstanding member, in her first year of eligibility. Grant released a sequel in 2005 titled Rock of Ages...Hymns and Faith.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/rock-of-ageshymns-faith-mw0000209405|title=Rock of Ages...Hymns & Faith|author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|website=AllMusic|access-date=November 3, 2014|archive-date=December 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202102748/http://allmusic.com/album/rock-of-ageshymns-faith-mw0000209405|url-status=live}}

Grant joined the reality television phenomenon by hosting Three Wishes, a show in which she and a team of helpers make wishes come true for small-town residents.{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/shows/dyn/three_wishes/series_about.jhtml|title=Three Wishes|access-date=August 29, 2008|website=CMT|year=2008|archive-date=March 27, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327015526/http://www.cmt.com/shows/dyn/three_wishes/series_about.jhtml|url-status=dead}} The show debuted on NBC in the fall of 2005; however it was canceled at the end of its first season due to high production costs. After Three Wishes was canceled, Grant won her 6th Grammy Award for Rock of Ages... Hymns & Faith. In a February 2006 webchat, Grant said she believes her "best music is still ahead".

File:Amy Grant October 2008.jpg

In April 2006, a live CD/DVD titled Time Again... Amy Grant Live was recorded in Fort Worth, Texas, at Bass Performance Hall. (Grant's first paid public performance was at the Will Rogers Auditorium in Fort Worth.) The concert was released on September 26, 2006. In addition to receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, media appearances included write-ups in CCM Magazine, and a performance on The View.

In a February 2007 web chat on her web site, Grant discussed a book she was working on titled Mosaic: Pieces of My Life So Far, saying, "It's not an autobiography, but more a collection of memories, song lyrics, poetry and a few pictures." The book was released on October 16, 2007. In November, it debuted at No. 35 on the New York Times Best Seller list.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/books/bestseller/1104besthardnonfiction.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin|title=Hardcover Nonfiction|access-date=December 6, 2007|work=The New York Times| date=November 4, 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150209120156/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/books/bestseller/1104besthardnonfiction.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin| archive-date=February 9, 2015| url-status=live}} In the same web chat, Grant noted that she is "anxious to get back in the studio after the book is finished, and reinvent myself as an almost-50 performing woman".

2007 was Grant's 30th year in music. She left Word/Warner, and contracted with EMI CMG who re-released her regular studio albums as remastered versions on August 14, 2007. Marking the start of Grant's new contract is a career-spanning greatest hits album, with all the songs digitally remastered. The album was released as both a single-disc CD edition, and a two-disc CD/DVD Special Edition, the DVD featuring music videos and interviews.{{cite web|url=http://www.emicmg.com/press/printPress.aspx?id=529387|title=EMI Music Signs Worldwide Catalog Partnership with Amy Grant|access-date=September 10, 2007|publisher=EMI Christian Music Group|year=2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071014202127/http://emicmg.com/press/printPress.aspx?id=529387| archive-date= October 14, 2007 | url-status=live}} Grant appeared with Gill on The Oprah Winfrey Show for a holiday special in December 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.oprah.com/tows/slide/200711/20071130/slide_20071130_350_101.jhtml|title=The Holidays, Country Style|access-date=December 6, 2007 |website=Oprah|year=2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071203094302/http://www2.oprah.com/tows/slide/200711/20071130/slide_20071130_350_101.jhtml| archive-date= December 3, 2007 | url-status=live}}

In February 2008, Grant joined the writing team from Compassionart as a guest vocalist at the Abbey Road studios, London, to record a song called "Highly Favoured", which was included on the album CompassionArt. On June 24, 2008, Grant re-released her 1988 album, Lead Me On, in honor of its 20th anniversary. The two-disc release includes the original album and a second disc with new acoustic recordings, live performances from 1989, and interviews with Amy. Grant recreated the Lead Me On tour in the fall of 2008. On June 27, 2008, at Creation Festival Northeast she performed "Lead Me On" and a few other songs backed by Hawk Nelson. At the end of the concert, Grant returned to the stage and sang "Thy Word". She appeared on the 2008 album Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends singing "Could I Have This Dance".

File:AmyGrantHWOFSept2012.jpg

On May 5, 2009, Grant released an EP containing two new songs, "She Colors My Day", and "Unafraid", as well as the previously released songs "Baby Baby" and "Oh How the Years Go By". The EP, exclusively through iTunes, benefited the Entertainment Industry Foundation's (EIF) Women's Cancer Research Fund.{{cite magazine|last1=Price|first1=Deborah Evans|title=A Spirited Philosophy|magazine=Billboard|date=May 23, 2009|volume=121|issue=20|page=35|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E3Yx8-Sz2uAC&q=amy+grant+mother%27s+day+release&pg=PT34|access-date=October 29, 2020|archive-date=November 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118200808/https://books.google.com/books?id=E3Yx8-Sz2uAC&q=amy+grant+mother%27s+day+release&pg=PT34|url-status=live}} In 2010, Grant released Somewhere Down the Road, featuring the hit single "Better Than a Hallelujah", which peaked at No. 8 on Billboard Top Christian Songs chart. When asked about the new album during an interview with CBN.com, Grant says, "... my hope is just for those songs to provide companionship, remind myself and whoever else is listening what's important. I feel like songs have the ability to connect us to ourselves and to each other, and to our faith, to the love of Jesus, in a way that conversation doesn't do. Songs kind of slip in and move you before you realize it."[http://www.cbn.com/cbnmusic/interviews/amy-grant-somewhere-down-the-road-goodwyn.aspx Amy Grant: "Somewhere Down the Road"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100809161218/http://www.cbn.com/cbnmusic/interviews/amy-grant-somewhere-down-the-road-goodwyn.aspx |date=August 9, 2010 }}. CBN. In September 2012, Grant took part in a campaign called "30 Songs / 30 Days" to support Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, a multi-platform media project inspired by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn's book.{{cite web |url=http://www.halftheskymovement.org/blog/entry/30-songs-30-days-for-half-the-sky1 |title=30 Songs / 30 Days for Half the Sky |date=August 30, 2012 |access-date=September 2, 2012 |publisher=Half the Sky Movement |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014103757/http://www.halftheskymovement.org/blog/entry/30-songs-30-days-for-half-the-sky1 |archive-date=October 14, 2012 }}

Grant's next album, How Mercy Looks from Here, was released on May 14, 2013, and was produced by Marshall Altman.[https://archive.today/20130409034256/http://www.emicmgdistribution.com/products/detail.aspx?iid=1985134 "How Mercy Looks from Here "]. EMI. Retrieved March 8, 2013. The album reached No. 12 on the Billboard 200 chart,{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/how-mercy-looks-from-here-mw0002502267/awards |title=How Mercy Looks from Here |website=AllMusic |access-date=February 11, 2016 |archive-date=March 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314155015/http://www.allmusic.com/album/how-mercy-looks-from-here-mw0002502267/awards |url-status=live }} making it her highest-charting album since 1997's Behind the Eyes.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/278956/amy-grant/chart?f=305|title=Amy Grant|magazine=Billboard |access-date=April 14, 2016|archive-date=March 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319154847/http://www.billboard.com/artist/278956/amy-grant/chart?f=305|url-status=dead}} Two singles were released from the album: "Don't Try So Hard" and "If I Could See", both of which charted on the US Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/278956/amy-grant/chart?f=355|title=Amy Grant|magazine=Billboard |access-date=April 14, 2016|archive-date=May 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513023901/http://www.billboard.com/artist/278956/amy-grant/chart?f=355|url-status=dead}} On August 19, 2014, she released an album of hits remixed by well known engineers and DJs. The album was titled In Motion: The Remixes. It charted at 110 on the US Billboard 200 chart{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/278956/amy-grant/chart?f=305|title=Amy Grant|magazine=Billboard |access-date=February 12, 2016|archive-date=March 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319154847/http://www.billboard.com/artist/278956/amy-grant/chart?f=305|url-status=dead}} and at No. 5 on the US Dance chart.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/278956/amy-grant/chart?f=322|title=Amy Grant|magazine=Billboard |access-date=February 12, 2016|archive-date=March 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319154901/http://www.billboard.com/artist/278956/amy-grant/chart?f=322|url-status=dead}} To promote the album, several new remix EPs were released on iTunes the following month including "Find a Way, "Stay for Awhile", "Baby Baby, "Every Heartbeat" and "That's What Love Is For". Due to club play of the remixes of "Baby Baby" and "Every Heartbeat", they charted at No. 3 and 13, respectively on the U.S. Dance Chart.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/278956/amy-grant/chart?f=359|title=Amy Grant|magazine=Billboard |access-date=February 12, 2016|archive-date=March 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319154916/http://www.billboard.com/artist/278956/amy-grant/chart?f=359|url-status=dead}} This marked her first appearance on that chart in 23 years. On September 30, 2014, Grant released a new single titled "Welcome Yourself". In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, proceeds of the single go to breast cancer research.

On February 12, 2015, she announced a new compilation album titled Be Still and Know... Hymns & Faith, to be released. The album was released on April 14, 2015, and charted at No. 7 in the U.S. on the Billboard Christian Albums chart. .{{cite news |url=http://www.hallels.com/articles/12497/20150213/amy-grant-returns-with-third-hymns-album-announces-ryman-residency.htm |title=Amy Grant Returns with Third Hymns Album & Announces Ryman Residency |date=February 13, 2015 |access-date=February 26, 2015 |publisher=Hallels |last=Yap |first=Timothy |quote=Amy Grant will release her third collection. 'Be Still And Know... Hymns & Faith' will be released on April 14. |archive-date=February 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213201015/http://www.hallels.com/articles/12497/20150213/amy-grant-returns-with-third-hymns-album-announces-ryman-residency.htm |url-status=live }} Grant released a Christmas album on October 21, 2016, Tennessee Christmas, which is a combination of classic Christmas songs and original material. It charted in the U.S. at No. 31 on the Billboard 200{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/amy-grant/chart-history/tlp/|title=Amy Grant Tennessee Christmas Chart History|magazine=Billboard |access-date=November 29, 2017|archive-date=February 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207024601/https://www.billboard.com/music/amy-grant/chart-history/billboard-200/song/998883|url-status=live}} and at No. 3 on the Billboard Top Holiday Albums chart.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/amy-grant/chart-history/xml/|title=Amy Grant Chart History|magazine=Billboard |access-date=November 29, 2017|archive-date=July 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708213405/https://www.billboard.com/music/Amy-Grant/chart-history/holiday-albums|url-status=live}} The single from the album, "To Be Together", reached No. 32 on the Hot Christian Songs chart{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/amy-grant/chart-history/ico/|title=Amy Grant Chart History|magazine=Billboard |access-date=November 29, 2017|archive-date=July 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708203151/https://www.billboard.com/music/Amy-Grant/chart-history/christian-songs|url-status=live}} and No. 19 on the Holiday Digital Song Sales chart.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/amy-grant/chart-history/xdt/|title=Amy Grant Chart History|magazine=Billboard |access-date=November 29, 2017|archive-date=February 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207024635/https://www.billboard.com/music/amy-grant/chart-history/holiday-season-digital-song-sales|url-status=live}} She supported the album with a series of Christmas concerts with Vince Gill at the Ryman Auditorium. She also toured the U.S. and Canada with Christmas concerts accompanied by Michael W. Smith and season 9 winner of The Voice, Jordan Smith.{{cite web|url=http://amygrant.com/press-release-130000-celebrate-christmas-amy-grant-michael-w-smith-jordan-smith/|title=Press Release: Over 130,000 Celebrate Christmas with Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, and Jordan Smith |website=Amy Grant|date=December 21, 2016|access-date=November 29, 2017|archive-date=December 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201035635/http://amygrant.com/press-release-130000-celebrate-christmas-amy-grant-michael-w-smith-jordan-smith/|url-status=live}} In February 2017, she released a new song, "Say It With a Kiss", with accompanying video.{{cite web|url=http://www.thechristianbeat.org/index.php/new-music/3154-amy-grant-drops-new-song-say-it-with-a-kiss|title=Amy Grant Drops New Song 'Say It with a Kiss'|first=Herb|last=Longs|website=thechristianbeat.org|date=February 17, 2017|access-date=November 29, 2017|archive-date=December 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201035636/http://www.thechristianbeat.org/index.php/new-music/3154-amy-grant-drops-new-song-say-it-with-a-kiss|url-status=live}} During November and December 2017, Grant performed another series of Christmas concerts with Vince Gill at the Ryman and embarked on another U.S. and Canada Christmas tour with Michael W. Smith and Jordan Smith.{{cite web|url=https://ryman.com/christmasattheryman/|title=Amy Grant & Vince Gill|date=October 22, 2016|access-date=November 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201035856/https://ryman.com/christmasattheryman/|archive-date=December 1, 2017|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gospelmusic.org/amy-grant-michael-w-smith-announce-2017-christmas-tour-featuring-jordan-smith-winner-of-the-voice-full-symphony-orchestra/|title=Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith Announce 2017 Christmas Tour Featuring Jordan Smith, Winner Of 'The Voice,' Full Symphony Orchestra|date=August 8, 2017|access-date=November 29, 2017|archive-date=December 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201031433/http://www.gospelmusic.org/amy-grant-michael-w-smith-announce-2017-christmas-tour-featuring-jordan-smith-winner-of-the-voice-full-symphony-orchestra/|url-status=live}} Grant has been a guest narrator for Disney's Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World in 2012, 2013, and 2015.{{cite news |url=https://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/travel/florida/celebrity-lineup-for-epcot-christmas-includes-neil-patrick-harris-meredith/2252638/ |newspaper=Tampa Bay Times |date=November 4, 2015 |first=Sharon Kennedy |last=Wynne |title=Celebrity Lineup for Epcot Christmas |access-date=August 21, 2023}}{{Cite web |title=Candlelight Processional Overview |url=https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/candlelight-processional.htm |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=www.wdwmagic.com}}

File:Amy Grant and Vince Gill.jpg in 2004]]On June 19, 1982, Grant married fellow Christian musician Gary Chapman. Their marriage produced three children.{{cite web|url=http://amygrant.offramp.org/info/articles/sep/36.html#t |title=Amy starts over: Grant picks up pieces after divorce, with the help of her soaring career and, yes, Vince Gill |access-date=August 29, 2008 |publisher=John Lam |date=October 9, 1999 |first=Jay |last=Orr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080629014306/http://amygrant.offramp.org/info/articles/sep/36.html |archive-date=June 29, 2008 }} Article text from The Tennessean included in Lam's Amy Grant website. In March 1999 she filed for divorce from Chapman. On March 10, 2000, Grant married country singer-songwriter Vince Gill, who had been previously married to country singer Janis Oliver of Sweethearts of the Rodeo.{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20129901,00.html |title=Finally a Duet |access-date=December 25, 2008 |work=People |date=November 29, 1999 |author=Erik Meers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205020742/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0%2C%2C20129901%2C00.html |archive-date=February 5, 2009 |url-status=live }} Grant and Gill have one daughter together, Corrina Grant Gill, born March 12, 2001.{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20133970,00.html|title=In Perfect Harmony|access-date=December 25, 2008|date=March 26, 2000|work=People|archive-date=November 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081113131848/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20133970,00.html|url-status=live}}

In the November 1999 CCM Magazine, Grant explained why she left Chapman and married Gill: {{Blockquote|I didn't get a divorce because 'I had a great marriage and then along came Vince Gill.' Gary and I had a rocky road from day one. I think what was so hard—and this is (what) one of our counselors said—sometimes an innocent party can come into a situation, and they're like a big spotlight. What they do is reveal, by comparison, the painful dynamics that are already in existence.{{cite web|url=http://www.ccmmagazine.com/ccmmag/99nov/cover_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000301120523/http://www.ccmmagazine.com/ccmmag/99nov/cover_story.html|archive-date=March 1, 2000|title=Judging Amy|publisher=CCM (Contemporary Christian Music)|date=November 1999|author=Gregory Rumburg}}}}

In June 2020, Grant had an open-heart surgery to repair partial anomalous pulmonary venous return (PAPVR), a congenital heart condition.{{Cite news|title=Amy Grant undergoes open-heart surgery to fix rare condition|url=https://www.today.com/health/amy-grant-undergoes-surgery-fix-rare-heart-condition-t183213|access-date=June 4, 2020|website=TODAY|first=Gina|last=Vivinetto|date=June 3, 2020|publisher=NBC|archive-date=June 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604193219/https://www.today.com/health/amy-grant-undergoes-surgery-fix-rare-heart-condition-t183213|url-status=live}}

Along with praise for her contributions to the contemporary Christian genre, Grant has also generated controversy within the Christian community, from "complaints that she was too worldly and too sexy" to a "barrage of condemnation" following her divorce and remarriage.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/11/us/religion-journal-a-chastened-singer-returns-to-christian-basics.html |title=Religion Journal; A Chastened Singer Returns to Christian Basics |access-date=June 2, 2022 |last=Rabey |first=Steve |date=May 11, 2002 |work=The New York Times |archive-date=November 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118200720/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/11/us/religion-journal-a-chastened-singer-returns-to-christian-basics.html |url-status=live }}

In an interview early in her career, Grant stated, "I have a healthy sense of right and wrong, but sometimes, for example, using foul, exclamation-point words among friends can be good for a laugh."{{cite web |url=http://amygrant.offramp.org/info/articles/ung/8.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051018082843/http://amygrant.offramp.org/info/articles/ung/8.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 18, 2005 |title=Amy Grant: 'I'm Not a Prude.' |access-date=July 5, 2012 |last=Jahr |first=Cliff |date=December 1985 |work=Amy Grant Article Archive |publisher=Ladies' Home Journal }} The article which was based on that interview was constructed in such a manner so as to make it appear as though Grant condoned premarital sex. Later Grant reflected on how the article misrepresented her views, stating: "We probably talked for two hours about sexual purity, but when the interview finally came out he worded it in such a way that it sounded like I condoned premarital sex. So I picked up that article and thought, 'You've made me say something I've never said, and you've totally disregarded two hours of Bible put in one flippant comment that I made about a moan.{{'"}}{{cite news |url=http://www.todayschristianmusic.com/artists/amy-grant/features/amy-s-own-words/ |title=Amy's Own Words |access-date=July 12, 2012 |last=Styll |first=John |work=Today's Christian Music |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109021517/http://www.todayschristianmusic.com/artists/amy-grant/features/amy-s-own-words/ |archive-date=November 9, 2016 }}

{{Main|Amy Grant discography}}

File:Amy Grant and Michael W Smith.jpg in 2011]]

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|

• Amy Grant (1977)
• My Father's Eyes (1979)
• Never Alone (1980)
• Age to Age (1982)
• A Christmas Album (1983)
• Straight Ahead (1984)
• Unguarded (1985)
• The Collection (1986)
• The Animals' Christmas with Art Garfunkel (1986)
• Lead Me On (1988)
• Heart in Motion (1991)
• Home for Christmas (1992)
• House of Love (1994)
• Behind the Eyes (1997)
• A Christmas to Remember (1999)
• Her Greatest Inspirational Songs (2002)
• Legacy... Hymns and Faith (2002)
• Simple Things (2003)
• Greatest Hits 1986–2004 (2004)
• Rock of Ages... Hymns and Faith (2005)
• Time Again... Amy Grant Live (2006)
• Greatest Hits (2007)
• The Christmas Collection (2008)
• Somewhere Down the Road (2010)
• How Mercy Looks from Here (2013)
• In Motion: The Remixes (2014)
• Be Still and Know... Hymns & Faith (2015)
• Tennessee Christmas (2016)

}}

• Amy Grant's Heart to Heart Bible Stories; Worthy Pub (1985), {{ISBN|978-0-8344-0130-3}}
• Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song); W Publishing Group (2001), {{ISBN|0-8499-1732-8}}
• "The Creation" (narrator), in Rabbit Ears Beloved Bible Stories: the Creation, Noah and the Ark (audio book); Listening Library (Audio) (2006), {{ISBN|978-0-7393-3709-7}}
• Mosaic: Pieces of My Life So Far; Flying Dolphin Press (2007), {{ISBN|0-385-52289-4}}

{{see also|List of awards and nominations received by Amy Grant}}

{{awards table}}

|-

| align="center"|1979 || My Father's Eyes || Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational || {{nom}}

|-

| align="center"|1980 || Never Alone || Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational || {{nom}}

|-

| align="center"|1981 || Amy Grant in Concert || Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational || {{nom}}

|-

| align="center"|1982 || Age to Age || Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary || {{won}}

|-

| align="center"|1983 || Ageless Medley || rowspan="3"|Best Gospel Vocal Performance, Female || {{won}}

|-

| align="center"|1984 || "Angels" || {{won}}

|-

| rowspan="2" align="center"|1985 || Unguarded || {{won}}

|-

|"I Could Never Say Goodbye" || Best Gospel Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group, Choir or Chorus || {{nom}}

|-

| align="center"|1987 || "The Next Time I Fall" || |Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal || {{nom}}

|-

| align="center"|1988 || Lead Me On || Best Gospel Vocal Performance, Female || {{won}}

|-

| align="center"|1989 || "'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" || Best Gospel Vocal Performance, Female || {{nom}}

|-

| rowspan="4" align="center"|1992 || Heart in Motion || Album of the Year || {{nom}}

|-

| rowspan="3"|"Baby Baby" || Song of the Year || {{nom}}

|-

| Record of the Year || {{nom}}

|-

| Best Female Pop Vocal Performance || {{nom}}

|-

| align="center"|1994 || The Creation || Best Spoken Word Album for Children || {{nom}}

|-

| align="center"|2000 || "When I Look Into Your Heart" || Best Country Collaboration with Vocals || {{nom}}

|-

| align="center"|2005 || Rock of Ages... Hymns and Faith || Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album || {{won}}

|-

| align="center"|2012 || "Threaten Me with Heaven" || Best Country Song || {{nom}}

|-

|}

{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|

• 1983: Artist of the Year
• 1983: Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year – Age to Age
• 1983: Recorded Music Packaging – Age to Age
• 1984: Recorded Music Packaging – A Christmas Album
• 1985: Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year – Straight Ahead
• 1986: Artist of the Year
• 1986: Recorded Music Packaging – Unguarded
• 1988: Short Form Music Video of the Year – "Stay For a While"
• 1989: Artist of the Year
• 1989: Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year – Lead Me On
• 1989: Short Form Music Video of the Year – "Lead Me On"
• 1990: Country Song of the Year – "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus"
• 1992: Song of the Year – "Place in This World"
• 1992: Artist of the Year
• 1994: Praise and Worship Album of the Year – Songs from the Loft
• 1996: Special Event Album of the Year – My Utmost for His Highest
• 1998: Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year – Behind the Eyes
• 2000: Special Event Album of the Year – Streams
• 2003: Inspirational Album of the Year – Legacy...Hymns & Faith
• 2003: Song of the Year – "The River's Gonna Keep on Rolling"
• 2006: Inspirational Album of the Year – Rock of Ages...Hymns & Faith
• 2007: Long Form Music Video of the Year – Time Again... Amy Grant Live

}}

File:Amy Grant Music Room.jpgs in the Amy Grant Music Room at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital]]

File:Friend of West Point.jpg being awarded the Class of 1966 Friend of West Point Award in 2008]]

{{BLP sources section|date=August 2016}}

• 1992: Junior Chamber of Commerce Young Tennessean of the Year
• 1994: St. John University Pax Christi Award
• 1994: Nashville Symphony Harmony Award
• 1996: Sarah Cannon Humanitarian Award – TNN Awards
• 1996: Minnie Pearl Humanitarian Award – Columbia Hospital
• 1996: Voice of America Award – ASCAP
• 1996: Academy of Achievement Golden Plate Award{{cite web|title=Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement|website=www.achievement.org|publisher=American Academy of Achievement|url=https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/|access-date=December 8, 2020|archive-date=December 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215023909/https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/|url-status=live}}{{cite web |date=2009 |title=2009 Summit Highlights Photo |url=https://achievement.org/summit/2009/ |quote=Golden Plate Awards Council member Amy Grant sings "El Shaddai" at the St. George's Cathedral in Cape Town. |access-date=December 8, 2020 |archive-date=October 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025135556/https://achievement.org/summit/2009/ |url-status=live }}
• 1999: "An Evening with the Arts" Honor – The Nashville Chamber of Commerce, Nashville Symphony, and Tennessee Performing Arts Center
• 1999: The Amy Grant Room for Music and Entertainment – The Target House at St. Jude's Children's Hospital
• 2001: Easter Seals Nashvillian of the Year Award
• 2003: Inducted into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame
• 2003: Summit Award – Seminar in the Rockies
• 2006: Amy Grant Performance Platform – Nashville Schermerhorn Symphony Center
• 2006: Hollywood Walk of Fame star unveiled
• 2007: Charter member of Tiffany Circle – Red Cross
• 2007: Inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame{{cite web|url=http://hallmuseum.com/induction.htm |title=Christian Music Hall of Fame Inductees |access-date=October 16, 2008 |publisher=Christian Music Hall of Fame and Museum |year=2007 |author=Christian Music Hall of Fame and Museum |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090819062030/http://hallmuseum.com/induction.htm |archive-date=August 19, 2009 }}
• 2008: Class of 1966 Friend of West Point award with Vince Gill
• 2012: Honorary Doctorate Degree of Music and Performance – Grand Canyon University
• 2015: No. 52 in The Top 100 Female Artists of the Rock Era (1955–2015){{cite book|last1=Couch|first1=Rod|title=The Top 100 Female Artists of the Rock Era (1955–2015)|date=2016 |publisher=CreateSpace|isbn=9781530081219|pages=351–54|edition=First}}{{Unreliable source?|date=June 2016|reason=Seems like a fan, not an expert. Book is self-published so it's not more reliable than a blog}}
• 2022: Kennedy Center Honoree{{cite web | url=https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2022/07/22/amy-grant-kennedy-center-honors | title=Amy Grant tapped for Kennedy Center Honors | date=July 22, 2022 |website=Axios |first=Adam |last=Tamburin |access-date=August 31, 2022 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/07/21/amy-grant-kennedy-center-honoree-alongside-u-2-george-clooney/10115248002/ |title=Amy Grant to be Kennedy Center Honoree alongside U2, George Clooney |date=July 21, 2022 |newspaper=The Tennessean |first=Dave |last=Paulson |access-date=August 31, 2022 }}
• 2023 Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts – University of Notre Dame{{cite news | url=https://gospelmusic.org/news/amy-grant-receives-honorary-doctorate-from-university-of-notre-dame | title=Amy Grant Receives Honorary Doctorate From University of Notre Dame |date=May 22, 2023 |website=Gospel Music Association |access-date=May 25, 2023 }}

{{Clear}}

{{Reflist}}

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• {{Official website}}
• {{IMDb name | id=0004973 | name=Amy Grant}}
• {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p2295|label=Amy Grant}}

{{Amy Grant|state=expanded}}

{{Kennedy Center Honorees 2020s}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grant, Amy}}

Category:1960 births

Category:A&M Records artists

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