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Amy Grant music biography continued...

Augusta, Georgia on Nov. 25, 1960, Grant grew up in a deeply religious family and got her first taste of music in church. As a teenager, Grant taught herself how to play guitar and worked part-time at a recording studio. She made a tape of her music for her parents, which was discovered by a producer with Word Records, a Christian music label. This led to a recording contract, and her first album was released in 1977. Grant became a gospel star in 1982 following the release of her acclaimed album Age to Age, which won a Grammy for best female gospel performance and three Dove Awards, including artist of the year. In 1985, Age to Age was certified platinum. Throughout the '80s, Grant's success continued, as she garnered five Grammys between 1982 and 1988. She signed to A&M in 1990 and began focusing less on her squeaky-clean gospel singer persona, trying to project a more contemporary, sexy, yet wholesome pop image. In 1991, she had three hit singles on the pop charts: "Baby Baby," "Every Heartbeat" and "That's What Love Is For" as the album Heart in Motion sold 5 million copies and firmly established Grant as a viable commercial artist in the secular world.



In the early 90s, Grant's divorce from her husband of sixteen years and subsequent marriage to Vince Gill created controversy in the Christian community. But in the late 90s and early 00s, Grant began to refocus on her spiritual roots. In 2001, she came out with the gospel album A Special Wish, and followed it up with a 2002 release of Legacy ... Hymns and Faith. Considered a landmark recording by music critics, Legacy was a tasteful look back at the music that both influenced and guided Grant throughout her 25 years as an entertainer. In August 2003, Grant returned with Simple Things, her first album of new material in six years. The album dealt with Grant's personal battles in the context of faith, love and forgiveness. In June 2008, Grant re-released her 1988 album, Lead Me On, in honor of its 20th Anniversary and planned a new tour that sparked great interest amongst her legions of fans.