Past Internet Chats with Amy Grant

FOA November 15, 2004 chat summary

Not allowed to post full transcript so here is a summary...

Nan asks the first question- What are you most thankful for as near thanksgiving & what is fav food/dish on Thanksgiving?
AMY- my family..mom & dad are still alive & well..everyday is precious...Vince & kids are doing well..turkey & dressing is vince's fav food of all time..Amy likes cranberry sauce

What can we expect to see in upcoming Christmas show w/ Vince & Henry Cho?
AMY-format of the show is combination of music, interwoven w/ comedy...reading the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke...Henry is not an opening act so don't come late...Vince & Amy start the show

Are you doing a live Christmas cd or record the Christmas show for a dvd release?
AMY-talking about possibly recording one of the shows for a future dvd but nothing is final yet

What is the direction of your musical career? and if planning to change your musical style what influenced your direction?
AMY-good question...don't know if have the answer for it..think I have a good pop sensibility in writing songs, choosing material..went to see the Ray Charles movie last night...he was a genius..occassionally changed his direction to keep it interesting..feel like the Americana format provides better platform for song content..trying to keep my music interesting..."Pop" days of hit driven radio songs is not where I see my music heading...do alot of unplugged performances & love the rawness of it.

tell us about the new single released and why in the single format? can we expect more?
AMY-didn't release new single...released 2 songs via internet for downloads..one on iTunes...one on walmart.com..reason for releasing extra songs is to help see & market the Greatest Hits album..not another single released to radio

what can we expect from Legacy Hymns & faith 2 release and when?
AMY-release date will be either April/May 2005...Vince is in studio tonight doing background vocals & guitar work on the record..little edgeier than Legacy..re-ctu a song called "Carry You" ...Wednesday night sisters, mom, & dad are singing "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" w/ Amy...Vince & Brown think we should take them out for margaritas before the session to loosen them up

What would u like to do after the release of the 2nd Hymns project?
AMY-looking forward to starting work on a new studio record..starting the songwriting process without a musical agenda...when I listen to Heart In Motion, which I rarely do..remember writing those songs..some silly "Hats" some deep "How Can We See That Far" & never worrying about how they were going to be received..an unconsciousness about the process..want to find that unconsciousness again

In Vince..seem to have found your true north...what advice can u share for keeping grace & joy in relationships especially marriage?
AMY-question hits me on so many levels...issue of learning how to love yourself so you can love your neighbor/family is difficult to grasp in time crunched/overly stimulated/overly taxed environment..other morning was working with 17 year old son who is homeschooling..waited 45 minutes at the table w/ study materials..he showed up after a leisurly shower, clean & in good mood..I'd been up since 5:45am..was now after 10am & I stunk..I was in the worst mood..after throwing several barbs at him..realized I was mad at me for not taking care of myself..asked if he could handle the next part of the lesson on his own & went & took a shower..a totally new woman emerged from that water..do not have an answer for the time crunch but if we don't take car of ourselves we have nothing to give people around us...simplify..As for Vince, he has taught me the amazing impact of kind works spoken continuously..in the moring..with humor..in conversation..as we fall asleep..kind, romantic, encouraging, honest words..set a high watermark for way you respect each other..

Will you do holiday concerts yearly now?
AMY-don't know if doing yearly or taking a year off but enjoy touring at Christmas time..

Would you ever consider having backup dancers for any of your concerts?
AMY-1 Christmas in Nashville had dancers for 2 songs - BOH and Most Wonderful Time Of the Year..not much room on stage that we tour with..had the Nashville Pipe & drum corp w/ kilted dancers year we opened the Nashville Arena

Have issues with current record label been resolved to promote you better?
AMY-haven't said this publically but have terminated my recording contract with A&M records..not a matter of hard feelings at this point..just not right fit anymore..all people built relations with at that company have moved on..real support at a record company comes from relationships...already talking to other labels about future products..will share more details as I know them..

30 songs recorded for BTE, is it possible to get a listing of all the song titles you recorded during these session that were not released? and thanks for the downloaded songs.. ag-have to understand that some songs that don't wind up on a record don't wind up for a reason..Would you be interested in my streaming some of those songs on the website?
lpvmusic says YES!
AMY-hitch is that some of those songs are not fully completed..but if we just streaming it who cares..we will get one up before Christmas..

Anything special you and Matt enjoy doing w/o the girls apart from homeschooling?
AMY-talking late at night..what we enjoy doing together..also enjoy sharing music..

What is your most relaxing & enjoyable thing to do at home?
AMY-sit on the front porch..go visit my neighbors..live on a dead-end street...sit around & do nothing..build a fire..put on a pot of coffee..or have a glass of wine..rest..

Girls of FOA wonder if you follow a diet..how do you keep inshape?
AMY-feel a little puffy right now..have no exercise routine but am trying a yoga class at 8:15am tomorrow morning..hoping Vince will go w/ me..last week we visited his family in Oklahoma City..woke up a little stiff from a weird night's sleep..Vince's mom got me down on the floor doing yoga for 40 minutes..she is more limber than I am..& she's 79..I'm inspired..

Australia & NZ need to see you again..make sure your new record company will let you travel here from Lynnie
AMY-would love to go back to Australia...one of daughters told me she wants to go to college in Australia..asked her if it was because that is the farthest distance from all of us in the family..has..

Happy Birthday..tell us about your favorite gift ever & who gave it to you?
AMY-great feeling about turning 44..love that number..jennifer is sitting here and she wants me to say coasters that she gave me when I turned 33..aren't we party animals..can't name a favorite gift sorry

What is one Christmas family tradition that Vince & you adopted together with a blended family?
AMY-on Christmas morning or whatever morning we've designated as Christmas morning...I take a picture of the 5 kids before we go in & open gifts..now that everybody is old enough to put thought into what they are giving each other...just the process of giving & receiving is a tradition..a sweet one..followed by a massive Christmas breakfast..just found a Christmas morning from 2 yrs ago as I was cleaning off a pile on my desk...I'll post it after the chat..picture I mean..

Are there any songs you wish had made it onto the Greatest Hits CD?
AMY-because these were singles released by A&M, none of the singles released by Word were include on the project & all those songs are important to me

ag-is there another question...
When was the last time you laughed so hard it hurt and what did you find so funny?
AMY-laughed hard? hardest I laughed in a long time was over some bathroom humor...Corrina loves to stand up in the bathtub dripping wet...and "poot" or fart if you prefer that word..after about 7 expulsions..she would slap her leg & scream"Oh Corrina!"..Vince walked into her bathroom..I said "oh my gosh, you just missed the show of shows"..little did I know, she had more in her..guess how many sounds that little toot had in her..33..and nothing solid..

Which songs are hardest for you to sing in concert whether technically or emotionally?
AMY-breath of heaven is most emotionally charged song for me..sometimes get dizzy singing it..technically? they are all hard for me..some singers are effortless & some of us are not..

Hollylouya_surprise reporter
AMY-hello Holly from Mississippi

Mercy Ministries..heard once that you helped them/are associated with them...how long?
AMY-when in college, highschool friend of amy's set up a lunch meeting w/ Nancy Alcorn, the director of Mercy Ministries..before it was even a place..I was moved by her dream before it became real..young women can find themselves in desperate situations because of a shame pattern..have alot of confidence that in the program to break that pattern..& help those young women value themselves properly..have a relative there & several friends..just recorded about 3 hours of bible readings for a bible on cd that benefits Mercy Ministries..it's not out yet..

Nan thanks everyone for this evening..any last thoughts for Amy-
ag-has been alot of fun..great questions..Have a happy thanksgiving and merry christmas..we'll chat again in the new year..take care everybody..