Amy_Grant

{{Refimprove|date=September 2007}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| Name = Amy Grant
| Img = Amy_Grant_in_1998.jpg
| Img_size =200 px
| Img_capt = Amy Grant during her ''Behind the Eyes'' tour in 1998.
| Background = khaki
| Birth_name = Amy Lee Grant
| Born = {{birth date and age|1960|11|25}} [[Augusta, Georgia | Augusta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state) | Georgia]]
| Genre = [[Contemporary Christian music|Contemporary Christian]], [[Gospel]], [[Adult contemporary music|Adult Contemporary]], [[Pop music|Popular]]
| Years_active = [[1977 in music|1977]] – present
| Instrument = [[singer|vocals]], [[guitar]]
| Label = [[Myrrh Records|Myrrh]] (1977–1999) [[Word Records|Word]] (1977–2007) [[A&M Records|A&M]] (1985–2004) [[Warner Music Group|Warner/Curb]] (2005–2007) [[EMI CMG|EMI/Sparrow]] (2007–present)

| URL = [http://www.amygrant.com AmyGrant.com]
}}
'''Amy Lee Grant''' (born [[November 25]] [[1960]] in [[Augusta, Georgia | Augusta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state) | Georgia]]) is an [[United States|America]]n [[singer-songwriter]], best known for her [[Contemporary Christian Music]] and [[pop music]], as well as a [[New York Times Best Seller|New York Times Bestselling]] [[author]], TV personality, and occasional [[actress]].

Grant made her debut in 1977 as a teenager, and scored her first number-one Christian radio hit two years later. In 1982, she released her breakthrough album, ''[[Age to Age]]'', which became the first Contemporary Christian music album to be certified [[Music recording sales certification|platinum]].

By 1985, her music began to reach a wider audience, when her album ''[[Unguarded]]'' crossed over onto mainstream charts. This feat was reproduced in 1991 when her album ''[[Heart in Motion|Heart In Motion]]'' became a best-seller and the single "[[Baby Baby (Amy Grant song)|Baby Baby]]" became a number one pop hit.

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Grant continued to record pop-oriented albums and did not make another full gospel album until 2002, with the record ''[[Legacy...Hymns and Faith]]''. In 2006, Grant hosted her own reality television show on [[NBC]], called ''[[Three Wishes]]''.

As of 2007, Grant remains the best-selling Contemporary Christian music singer, having sold over 30 million units worldwide. Grant has won six [[Grammy Award|Grammy Awards]], 21 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, and had the first Christian album ever to go Platinum.<ref name="cnn">{{Cite web|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0312/06/lkl.00.html|title=Interview With Amy Grant, Vince Gill|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=September 8|publisher=CNN|year=2003|author=Larry King|language=English}}</ref> ''Heart in Motion'' is her best selling album, which has exceeded sales of 5 million.

== Early Career ==
After she signed to a record company at the age of sixteen, Amy Grant's first, self-titled [[Amy Grant (album)|album]] (largely self-composed) in 1977, was a runaway success in terms of the Christian music market of the time. She is a graduate of [[Harpeth Hall School]] and was an [[English language|English]] major at [[Furman University]] and later [[Vanderbilt University]], where she was a member of the sorority [[Kappa Alpha Theta]]. Grant then made a few more albums before dropping out of college to pursue a career in music. These albums included 1979's ''[[My Father's Eyes (album)|My Father's Eyes]]'' (the title track written by Grant's future first husband, singer-songwriter [[Gary Chapman (musician)|Gary Chapman]]) and ''[[Never Alone]]'' in 1980. During the 1970s, Amy was also a backup singer for [[Bill Gaither (gospel singer)|Bill Gaither]], and the [[Bill Gaither Trio]].

1982 marked a turning point in both Grant's career and her personal life. After she married Chapman in June, her album ''Age to Age'' forced critics to notice. The breakthrough album contained the signature track, "[[El Shaddai (song)|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.

Grant followed up this album with the first of her Christmas albums - albums that later would be the basis for her trademark holiday shows. In 1984, she released another pop-oriented Christian hit, ''[[Straight Ahead (Amy Grant album)|Straight Ahead]],'' earning Grant her first appearance at the [[Grammy Awards]] show.

== Widening audience ==

Hardly had Grant established herself as the "Queen of Christian Pop" when she changed directions to widen her fan base (and hence her musical message). Her goal was to become the first Christian singer-songwriter who was also successful as a contemporary pop singer. ''[[Unguarded]]'' (1985) surprised some fans for its very mainstream sound (and Grant's leopard-print jacket, in four poses for four different covers). "[[Find a Way]]," from ''Unguarded'', became the first Christian song to hit [[The Billboard Hot 100|Billboard's Top 40]] list, also reaching #7 on the [[Adult Contemporary]] chart. Amy Grant scored her first Billboard Number One hit in 1986 with "[[The Next Time I Fall]]", a duet with former [[Chicago (band)|Chicago]] singer/bassist [[Peter Cetera]]. That year, she also recorded a duet with singer [[Randy Stonehill]] for his ''[[Love Beyond Reason]]'' album, entitled "I Could Never Say Goodbye", and recorded ''[[The Animals' Christmas]]'' with [[Art Garfunkel]].

''[[Lead Me On]]'' (1988) contained many songs that were about Christianity and love relationships, but some interpreted it as not being an obviously "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 #96 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "1974 (We Were Young)" and "Saved By Love" also charted as Adult Contemporary songs.

== In the mainstream ==

Nevertheless, when ''[[Heart in Motion]]'' was released three years later, many fans were surprised that the album was so clearly one of contemporary [[pop music]]. Amy's desire to widen her audience was frowned upon by the confines of the popular definitions of "ministry" at the time. The track "[[Baby Baby]]" (written for Grant's newborn daughter, Millie, whose "six week old face was my inspiration,") however, became a massive hit (hitting number 1 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 pop chart), 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]]" (#2), "[[That's What Love Is For]]" (#7), "[[Good For Me]]" (#8), and "[[I Will Remember You (Amy Grant song) | I Will Remember You]]" (#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") making it all the way to #1. Many Christian fans remained loyal, since the album also topped the Billboard's Contemporary Christian Chart for 32 weeks. ''Heart in Motion'' is her best-selling album, having sold over 5 million copies according to the RIAA. She followed this album with her second Christmas album, ''[[Home For Christmas (Amy Grant album) | Home For Christmas]]'', in 1992, containing "[[Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)]]", written by Chris Eaton and Grant, which was later 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]], and Broadway star [[Barbara Cook]].

''[[House of Love (album)|House of Love]]'' in 1994 continued in the same vein, boasting catchy pop songs mingled with spiritual lyrics. The album was a multi-platinum success and produced the pop hit "[[Lucky One]]" (#18 pop and #2 AC; #1 on [[Radio & Records]]) as well as the title track (a duet with country music star and future husband [[Vince Gill]]) (#37 pop) and a cover of Joni Mitchell's frequently-covered "[[Big Yellow Taxi]]" (#67 pop).

She participated in Lifetime's 1st Annual "[[Girls & Guitars]]" benefit, singing numerous songs, including a duet with [[Melissa Etheridge]] on "You Sleep While I Drive".

After she covered the [[10cc]] song "The Things We Do For Love" for the ''[[Mr. Wrong (film)|Mr. Wrong]]'' soundtrack, ''[[Behind the Eyes]]'' (1997) was released in September. 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. 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 certainly a new direction for Grant; with a blue light filter, acoustic guitar, the streets and characters of [[New York City]], and a plot, Amy 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.

Grant and Chapman separated and [[divorce]]d in 1999.<ref name="tenn">{{Cite web|url=http://amygrant.offramp.org/info/articles/sep/36.html#t|title=Grant picks up pieces after divorce, with the help of soaring career - and Vince|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=September 8|publisher=The Tennessean|year=1999|author=Jay Orr|language=English}}</ref> In 2000, Grant married [[Vince Gill]], who had divorced country singer [[Janis Gill]] of [[Sweethearts of the Rodeo]].

== Return to gospel ==

After giving birth to her fourth child Corinna Grant Gill, Grant returned to her [[gospel music]] roots with the 2002 release of ''[[Legacy... Hymns and Faith]]''. The album featured a Vince Gill-influenced mix of [[Bluegrass music|bluegrass]] and gospel and marked Grant's 25th anniversary in the music industry. Grant followed this up with the pop release ''[[Simple Things (Amy Grant album)|Simple Things]]'' in 2003. The album did not have the success of her previous pop or gospel efforts. However, soon after ''Simple Things'', Grant and [[Interscope]]/A&M parted ways. True to all of her work, spiritual themes weave in and out of the everyday experience. 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 to her [[hymns]] collection in 2005 titled ''[[Rock of Ages...Hymns and Faith|Rock of Ages... Hymns & Faith]]''.

== Looking ahead ==

Although neither of her latest hymn releases have captured the popularity of her previous gospel career, Grant still remains a popular concert draw and enjoys popularity amongst both fan bases. For years in the 1990s and early 2000s, she toured in November and December for her Christmas and holiday tours. Often her husband and many special guests performed along with her on stage. Grant is known for her live performances of many of her hit songs. She also has been known to perform songs of fellow female vocalists, most notably, "Big Yellow Taxi", made famous by Joni Mitchell, which she covers at most large venues and recorded for the House of Love album.

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. The show debuted on [[NBC]] in the fall of 2005 and was canceled at the end of its first season because of 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, Amy stated she believes her "best music is still ahead".

In April 2006, a live CD/DVD entitled ''[[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, TX.) 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, Amy discussed a book she was working on entitled "[[Mosaic: Pieces of My Life So Far]]": "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 #35 on the [[New York Times Best Seller list]].<ref name="book1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/books/bestseller/1104besthardnonfiction.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin|title=Hardcover Nonfiction|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=December 6|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|year=2007|author=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> In the same web chat, Amy 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 (Amy Grant album)|greatest hits]] album, with all the songs digitally remastered. The album was released as both a single-disc CD edition, and a 2-Disc CD/DVD Special Edition, the DVD featuring music videos and interviews.<ref name="EMI">{{Cite web|url=http://www.emicmg.com/press/printPress.aspx?id=529387|title=EMI Music Signs Worldwide Catalog Partnership with Amy Grant|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=September 10|publisher=EMI Christian Music Group|year=2007|author=EMI|language=English}}</ref>

Grant appeared with Gill on [[The Oprah Winfrey Show]] in December of 2007, for a holiday special.<ref name="oprah">{{Cite web|url=http://www.oprah.com/tows/slide/200711/20071130/slide_20071130_350_101.jhtml|title=The Holidays, Country Style|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=December 6|publisher=Harpo Productions, Inc.|year=2007|author=Harpo Productions, Inc.}}</ref> Grant has plans to appear on [[Country Music Television|CMT]], a [[Food Network]] special, the Gospel Music Channel, and [[The Hour of Power]].<ref name="TV">{{Cite web|url=http://www.wespreadtheword.net/musicnewsarticles/tvalertamygrantcmtfoodnetworkspecialgospelmusicchannellhourofpower.html|title=TV ALERT: Amy Grant (CMT, Food Network special, Gospel Music Channel, Hour of Power)|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=December 6|publisher=WeSpreadTheWord|year=2007|author=WeSpreadTheWord|language=English}}</ref>

== Discography ==

''For a complete discography, see [[Amy Grant discography]].''

== Bibliography ==

Grant is the author of several books, including a memoir, ''[[Mosaic: Pieces of My Life So Far]]'', and a book based on the popular Christmas song ''[[Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)]].''
<div class="references-small">
*{{cite book | last = Grant | first = Amy | title = Amy Grant's Heart to Heart Bible Stories | publisher = Worthy Pub | year = [[1985]] |pages=96 pages| isbn = 9780834401303}}
*{{cite book |author=Amy Grant |title=[[Breath Of Heaven (Mary's Song)|Breath of Heaven]] |publisher=W Publishing Group |location=[[Nashville]] |year=[[2001]] |pages=64 pages |isbn=0-8499-1732-8 |oclc= |doi=}}
*{{cite book | last =Grant | first = Amy (Narrator)| title = Rabbit Ears Beloved Bible Stories: the Creation, Noah and the Ark | publisher = Listening Library (Audio) | location = | year = [[2006]] | isbn = 9780739337097 }}
*{{cite book |author=Amy Grant |title=[[Mosaic: Pieces of My Life So Far]] |publisher=Flying Dolphin Press |location= |year=[[2007]] |pages= 240 pages|isbn=0-385-52289-4}}
</div>

== Popular culture ==


* The cover for the comic book ''Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #15'' (March 1990) featured an unauthorized image of Grant, leading to a lawsuit against publisher [[Marvel Comics]].<ref name="suit">{{Cite news|title=Amy Grant Sues Marvel|publisher=[[The Comics Journal]]|work=No. 136|date=July, 1990}}</ref><ref name="lawsuit">{{Cite web|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB372DBA6203D26&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Plus Entertainment|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=December 6|publisher=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|year=1990|author=Chicago Sun-Times |work=archived - Excerpt available}}</ref>
* In 2001, Grant sang God Bless America in front of a sellout crowd at the Owen County Fair Grounds in [[Spencer, Indiana]]. She dedicated her performance to the victims of [[9/11]], and officially started the Demolition Derby.
* In a [[Saturday Night Live]] skit, [[John Goodman]]'s character tells [[Cheri Oteri]]'s character that she makes "[[Courtney Love]] look like Amy Grant," a reference to Love's wild antics and Grant's conservative reputation.
* 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 2001, Grant won $125,000 for charity on the "Rock Star Edition" of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire".

== Awards ==

* [http://hallmuseum.com Christian Music Hall of Fame and Museum] inductee, 2007

== References ==
{{reflist}}
<references/>

== Sources ==
* Ruhlmann, William (2005). [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:n9x8b5p4tsqe~T1 Allmusic.com]

== External links ==

* [http://www.amygrant.com/ Official Amy Grant website]
* [http://www.amy-grant.com/ German/English Amy Grant archive website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/amygrant Amy's MySpace page]
* [http://amygrantchristmas.alegroit.de/ Official Amy Grant Christmas website]
* [http://behindtheeyes.alegroit.de/ Official Amy Grant Behind The Eyes website]
* {{imdb name | id=0004973 | name=Amy Grant}}
* {{amg | id=11:rzadqj1bojja | label=Amy Grant}}
* [http://www.chonnie.com/amy/ Amy Grant Media Gallery]
* [[CCM Magazine]]
* [[Best selling music artists]]
* [[CCM_Presents:_The_100_Greatest_Albums_in_Christian_Music|CCM 100 Greatest Albums]]

{{Amy Grant}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grant, Amy}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Performers of Christian music]]
[[Category:Christian songwriters]]
[[Category:American female singers]]
[[Category:American pop singers]]
[[Category:People from Augusta, Georgia]]
[[Category:Georgia (U.S. state) musicians]]
[[Category:American Christians]]
[[Category:Hollywood Walk of Fame]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:People from Franklin, Tennessee]]
[[Category:People from Nashville, Tennessee]]

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