Past Internet Articles About Amy Grant

Family Christian Stores catches up with Amy Grant March 2005

Family Christian Stores: What made you as an artist want to return to the hymns?

Amy Grant: At this point in time, if I have albums to make and creative energy to do it, I would rather do something timeless. I plan to make music until I die so it�s not a matter of a change of direction, but right now, my love of hymns is authentic. I love this music and I feel like it�s helpful.

FCS: That love isn�t something new either. You�ve been recording hymns for decades haven�t you?

Amy Grant: Yeah, In fact, Rock of Ages contains a little piece of a hymn that I recorded back in �86. I recorded a dozen hymns a cappella for my parents for Christmas that year. Our longtime nanny still had the project on cassette and she kept saying, �You ought to put some of these old ones on there.� And so the first verse of �Sweet Will of God� is from that almost 20-year-old recording.

FCS: This project is a true family affair, with your sisters and your parents all appearing on it. How did that happen?

Amy Grant: My dad wound up saying a prayer on the first record that wasn�t meant to be on it. We were all kind of horsing around in the studio before we sang �Marching to Zion� and I just said, �hey, would you say a prayer?� Vince was in the control room and he called out to the engineer to hit �record.� So when this project came around we all asked �Okay, how are we gonna use my dad again?� And I think it was Vince who said, �Why don�t we use your whole family?�

FCS: We understand your dad�s contribution in particular meant a lot to you. Why is that?

Amy Grant:My dad�s just finishing up some cancer treatment and I don�t have any thoughts that this particular illness is going to lick him, but at some point in time there is a goodbye for everybody and to have him speaking once again on a record means so much to me. If I live to be 90 how amazing to think I can put on a CD and hear the voice of my father saying words that are so true and important.

FCS: And you also sing a duet with Vince on this project.

Amy Grant: Yes, we sing �Rock of Ages� along with the Fairfield Four so it�s really wonderful. I sing the melody fairly straight �cause I don�t have all the vocal gymnastics, but boy, Vince cuts loose. He�s so soulful.

FCS: How would you say Rock of Ages most differs from Legacy?

Amy Grant:I feel like the production is bolder, and the whole record just feels like there�s a different kind of intensity. Last time, I was so vulnerable personally. This time, the record in general just feels a little more confident -- even the songs. It�s like it has moments of boldness spiritually that the first one didn�t have. But that�s the cycle of life. You kind of go from vulnerable to bold and back to vulnerable again.

FCS: Rock of Ages has barely hit store shelves, but can you give us an idea of what�s next for you in the way of recording?

Amy Grant: I�m really trying to be patient and wait on the songs that really move me for the next all-new studio stuff. If people are waiting on the next record, I don�t take that lightly. And for years they�ve said, �I feel like your songs chronicle my life.� So what have I got to say to somebody else? It�s not worth making a record unless you�ve really got something to say.

FCS: Where does your music come from? How does Amy Grant write a song?

Amy Grant: Well I almost never sit down with a goal of writing a song, I mean life is just too busy (Amy�s children and Vince�s daughter range in age from four to 22.) But I�ve been doing this for a long time and my wheels are always turning so if I get an idea or some incredibly moving experience happens I write a lot of things down.

FCS: With this project following so closely on the heels of The Greatest Hits album, do you feel like Amy Grant is back in the spotlight?

Amy Grant: I guess, but you know I don�t really look at it like that, because whether I have songs on the radio or not, I�m always doing some kind of music, whether it�s benefit work or touring so I guess the appearance is she�s back! (laughs) but I was never really not at it.

FCS: I know you don�t like attention about this, but you do so much charity work, is that something you see yourself always doing.

Amy Grant: Oh yeah, I mean singing is the easiest thing to do to help people out. I got involved with St. Jude�s years ago and Danny Thomas does amazing work for that hospital. I also plan to do more with Habitat for Humanity, I mean you get to see the results right away from pounding siding on a new home, in all types of weather I�ve been there (laughing).

By Family Christian Stores' very own Curt Harding. Curt spends a frightening amount of time spinning 80's CD's and citing obscure Detroit Tiger trivia. He is also the father to twin daughters. They know surprisingly little about 80's pop music.