Amy Grant, the influential crossover Christian-pop artist, has spent nearly five decades resisting the labels others try to place on her. Her new album, The Me That Remains, released Friday, reflects her journey of healing after a serious bicycle accident in 2022 that caused a traumatic brain injury. In a recent interview with The Associated Press, Grant, 65, opened up about how the accident changed her, her willingness to explore darker themes in her music, and her enduring faith.
Healing Through Music
Grant explained that the album began taking shape two summers ago when she started writing again. She described the process as therapeutic, saying, 'It felt so good to write. I used to write as a therapy process, and I had kind of lost touch with that a little bit because I was in other kinds of therapy — like physical recovery.' She added that reengaging with her creative self felt magical, and the first lyric, 'You’re not who you used to be, but you are somebody,' set the tone for the rest of the album.
Life After the Accident
While Grant acknowledges lingering effects from the accident, she feels she is in great physical health. 'There are things that are different,' she said, noting that her processing has changed and she has to be patient with herself. She recently got back on a bicycle in a safe environment, an emotional experience. 'Everybody is in recovery of some kind,' she reflected.
Embracing Darkness in Songwriting
Grant has never shied away from darker lyrics, which she sees as a way to connect deeply with herself and others. 'To me, the superpower of music is that it connects you, first and foremost, to yourself, and then to others, to God. Why pretend?' she said. She believes that honesty in songwriting invites authenticity, and she appreciates that her creative journey has allowed her to show up as her true self.
The Song 'The 6th of January (Yasgur’s Farm)'
One track on the album, The 6th of January (Yasgur’s Farm), includes the line, 'I hear the words John Lennon said / Asking me to imagine.' Grant explained that the song, written by Sandy Lawrence, was inspired by the January 6 Capitol unrest but had been in development for 15 years, originally about unrest in general.
Views on the World and Faith
Grant commented on the current state of the world, emphasizing that there is always turmoil somewhere. She believes in the power of individual choices to affect change. 'You have to take a lot of deep breaths. And sometimes just sit in the unrest and know that the pendulum swings back and forth,' she said.
Regarding the label 'Christian artist,' Grant has long resisted it. 'Curiosity is such a great thing. Curiosity makes us lean in,' she said. She values her faith journey but prefers not to be pigeonholed, noting that everyone’s path is unique. 'I am staking everything on the fact that it’s God who finds us. And I trust that.'
