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Amy Grant
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Amy Grant was not only one of Christian music's most influential performers, but ... became a secular pop star in the late '80s and early '90s. This dichotomy drew ire from some in the fiercely protective gospel/CCM community, while it affected her image in the secular world as a Christian first, and attractive pop star second. But Grant herself never gave in to either side. Despite personal adversity and numerous controversies, she continued to be successful in both music worlds, while ultimately being true to herself.
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Amy Grant is the biggest star CCM has ever produced -- a sensation as a strictly Christian artist in the 1980s and an equally successful AdCo figure in the years since she left Myrrh Records and "went secular," as they say. Grant's music has always been light, pop-styled and borne on the wings of her impressive voice, and the only major difference between her Myrrh work and her work on A&M is that her albums became more slickly produced. The song titles might not be so blatantly Christian as before, but Grant's beliefs have always been the main focus of her songs.
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Early copies of Amy Grant had a different cover photo, with a sepia-toned diffusion filter similar to that used in the opening credits of The Waltons. The photo was considered less than flattering, and was replaced with the cover photo used to this day. Albums with the original cover art are rare and considered to be collector's items.
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Although Amy Grant is truly a daughter of Nashville, she was actually born in Augusta, Georgia in 1960 during her father's doctor's residency there. Amy was still a baby when the family returned to Nashville. The youngest of four daughters, Amy and her sisters (Mimi, Kathy and Carol) grew up in a home of privilege, strong family loyalty and fervent religious faith. In church she learned the hymns and stories that would inspire both her life and her music. During her years at Nashville's most prestigious private schools, those inspirations found a home and an outlet as Amy began dabbling with songwriting and performing.
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Amy Grant began recording music in the 1970s, and became a successful singer in Christian pop music. By 1991 she enjoyed mainstream pop success as well with the song "Baby, Baby." By the end of the '90s Grant was a bona fide celebrity (with ties to pop, gospel and country music), with hit records, TV specials, a stab at acting and a public divorce. After her divorce she continued to record, and in 2000 she married country music star Vince Gill. Hymns & Faith, won a Grammy award for best southern, country or bluegrass album.
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Amy Grant was born in Nashville, the youngest of four children, and released her self-titled debut album at age 15 after signing with Myrrh/Word Records in 1979. In 1982, she married singer/songwriter Gary Chapman, who was to become her co-writer by the late '80s. Grant became a bona fide gospel star in 1982 following the release of her acclaimed album Age to Age, which won her a Grammy for Best Female Gospel Performance and three Dove Awards, including Artist of the Year. In 1984, she released a Christmas album and Straight Ahead, the latter winning Grant another Dove award; the cut "Angels," which she co-wrote, won her another Grammy. In 1985, Age to Age was certified platinum, and her other two albums went gold. Her 1985 album, Unguarded, soon followed suit and again won her a Grammy.
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Amy Grant