Amy Grant

"After meeting her I realized that religion aside, people should get to know her as a human being because she has a lot to say as a person...Amy [is] a singer of songs and a feeler of things....There are many people who aren't 'Christian' but are concerned with living a good life, and it's important for Amy to get to them because she exemplifies a good way to live."--David Anderle, A&M Records VP A&R, Billboard September 3, 1988

UNGUARDED (1985)

Unguarded achieved gold album status in 45 days.

Amy Grant was the first contemporary Christian artist to perform during the 1985 Grammy telecast. Her 1982 album Age to Age album was the first Christian album to attain platinum status in the U.S. in 1985.

"Find a Way" was a Top 30 hit song in the secular market. However, Grant's duet on "The Next Time I Fall" drew backlash from her original audience in the Christian music market even as it was a Billboard Hot 100 #1 song.

In 1988, Grant re-signed with both Word Records (via Myrrh Records for four albums) and A&M Records. She told RPM (August 6, 1988), "They're both appropriate to what I do. It's really a great relationship between the two companies...It's really unique and yet it works really well. Like they say, I talk about spiritual things, but I also talk about regular life, and I think it takes two companies to distribute that anyway....I felt such a shot of enthusiasm for writing when I thought about finding a new audience for my songs." 

LEAD ME ON (1988)

"I've never been as pleased with a mix, as I have with this album."

The album was supported by a year-long tour and a music video of "Lead Me On."

The album won the Grammy for Best Gospel Vocal Performance, Female.

HEART IN MOTION (1991)

Heart in Motion had five singles; was a multi-platinum album and spent 52 weeks on the Billboard 200 album chart. It also topped Billboard's Contemporary Christian chart. The album was nominated in the Album of the Year category at the Grammy Awards. This album so marked A&M's first international campaign for Amy Grant including tours of Europe and Asia. The album was supported by videos of "Lucky One," "House of Love" and "Say You'll Be Mine" along with an interview CD, video press kit and customized audio and video interviews.

For the second time Grant faced criticism for creating music that was secular and not specifically religious. A&M Records promoted the single "Baby, Baby" to radio while Word Records promoted "That's What Love Is For" to Christian radio. "Baby" went on to top both the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts. Christian radio stations balked at "Baby" for a number of reasons including the title, the upbeat tempo, the lack of religious content and their listeners preferences.

The music video for "Baby, Baby" also proved problematic with Christian stations because the male lead was an actor and not Grant's husband. 

After all of that, "Baby, Baby" received three Grammy nominations for Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. 

The third single "Every Heartbeat" was worked by both A&M and Word.

In the long run Grant opened the door for more Christian artists to crossover into the secular market. This phenomenon did not affect R&B artists who came from a gospel background and released mainstream music. 

HOME FOR CHRISTMAS (1992)

Home For Christmas went triple platinum and was a #1 Contemporary Christian album.

Amy Grant was a top Christmas artist with this album and it was in the Top 10 of Billboard's Top 200 album chart.

OFFICIAL PROMOTION BY A&M RECORDS

Home For Christmas press release
Behind the Eyes Biography 1997

DOVE AWARD NOMINATIONS AND WINS