Grant's first album in 13 years is out now
Credit: Ed Rode
NEED TO KNOW
- Amy Grant released her first studio album in 13 years, The Me That Remains, on Friday, May 8
- The album explores themes of healing, connection, and grace, reflecting her 50-year career and faith perspective
- “I got a lot less life in front of me than what’s already passed. I’ve loved my life,” she says
Amy Grant is back — and she's celebrating the journey that's led her here.
On Friday, May 8, Grant released her first studio album in 13 years, The Me That Remains. Ahead of its release, the singer-songwriter opened up about writing an album that embodies "life the way it is right now."
When Grant, 65, started working on the album, she didn't have a record deal. She just went to the studio one day with a friend and decided to have some fun. After a few sessions, she had the 10 songs that became The Me That Remains.
"I went and met with different people, I got signed to a new record company I'd never worked with," she tells PEOPLE exclusively. "I say all that because I just was leaning into life and leaning into things I used to love a long time ago and just started making music."
Credit: Amy Grant
She continues, "The real fun for me was just making it and then putting these songs out and somebody else going, 'Oh my gosh, that's my same experience.' It's just like, God, music connects us. And now I got some new songs to sing next time I walk out on stage. That's fun."
Over the album's 10 tracks, Grant sings about healing, connection, endurance and grace — qualities she developed over her 50-year career.
Reflecting on the album's title, Grant — who experienced a traumatic bike injury four years ago — put it simply: she's just "a woman."
"I'm creative. I love being barefoot outside. I love music. I'm married. I have kids. I've got grandkids. I'm just living life just like everybody else," Grant, who's married to Vince Gill, explains.
When drawing inspiration for the album, Grant says that she's "an observer of life" and views it from a "faith lens."
"I just trust that we are all part of an epic story of love and redemption that has incredible purpose and intention, and all of that comes because of my faith journey," she says.
"And even as I'm saying it, I go, 'Man, you sound like a weirdo.' But I think when I was younger, I just talked about it in a different way. The older I get, I try to avoid phrases that draw lines between people because I don't want people to walk into a conversation and feel like it's us or them. We're all in this together," Grant continues. "Whether it's solving a problem or a matter of conversation or a matter of prayer, we are all in this together and I want to write songs that reflect that."
When she wrote "The Me That Remains," which was the first song for the album, Grant says it felt like prioritizing herself for the first time in a long time: "At some point you just have to wrap your arms around your own life and show up for yourself first and then for other people."
Now, she hopes that through these songs, listeners will feel "more connected to their own life."
"At this stage for me, songs are all about connection. And that was not always the case. I'm 65. There was a time when I was like, 'Come on, you got to move.' But for me, I feel like I'm right on time and I got a lot less life in front of me than what's already passed. I've loved my life, the good, the hard, the beautiful, the tragic, all of it. But at this point, to be present and to feel connected is the biggest gift of all," she concludes.
The Me That Remains is out now.
Read the full article here
