Over on Apple Music’s Proud Radio, host Hunter Kelly hosted a conversation about the LGBTQ community’s place in Country music. Among his guests was CCM icon Amy Grant, who told Kelly that she believes it’s important to “set a welcome table” to all people, regardless of sexual orientation.
Grant made the remarks while promoting the 30th anniversary of Heart in Motion, the album that broke her through to the Top 40 mainstream and made her a fixture of millions of evangelical cassette players in the 90s with hits like “Good For Me,” “Every Heartbeat” and, of course, “Baby, Baby.” Now, she’s expressing her feelings about God’s love of all people to Kelly, who himself is gay.
“Who loves us more than the one who made us? None of us are a surprise to God. Nothing about who we are or what we’ve done. That’s why, to me, it’s so important to set a welcome table. Because I was invited to a table where someone said ‘don’t be afraid, you’re loved.’ …Gay. Straight. It does not matter. It doesn’t matter how we behave. It doesn’t matter how we’re wired. We’re all our best selves when we believe to our core, ‘I’m loved.’ And then our creativity flourishes. We’re like, ‘I’m gonna arrange flowers on your table and my table.’ When we’re loved, we’re brave enough to say yes to every good impulse that comes to us.”
The conversation begins around the 137:00 mark here.
Grant has dealt with controversy from Christian audiences at several points in her career, both for embracing more mainstream pop and, later, her divorce from CCM artist Gary Chapman. These days, Grant has become more active in Nashville’s Country Music scene along with her husband Vince Gill, though her legacy as a trailblazing figure in Contemporary Christian Music is secure.
On social media, Grant’s words were celebrated by members of the LGBTQ community, including Kelly himself, who shared a very personal story of Grant’s impact on his life and faith, giving him the courage to seek therapy for the sexual abuse he suffered as a child.
It was a year before I saw Garth Brooks in 1992 and added an obsession with country music. Heart in Motion was my gateway to understanding how music was made and marketed and the single remixes on cassingle were my intro to dance music. (2/9)
— Hunter Kelly (@hunterkelly) July 11, 2021
That song made me put together what happened to me and tell my parents. I am fortunate we had the resources for me to go to a children’s counselor for about two years to start dealing with the abuse. (4/9)
— Hunter Kelly (@hunterkelly) July 11, 2021
I believe I had a leg up to wrestle with my sexuality at that point in my early 20s because the therapy I had as a kid let me know the abuse was not my fault. That wouldn’t have happened without “Ask Me” by Amy Grant. (6/9)
— Hunter Kelly (@hunterkelly) July 11, 2021
So, I left the church that didn’t accept gay people and went out into the world to be gay. To accept myself. That led me on to a delayed adolescence I can tell you about later. (8/9)
— Hunter Kelly (@hunterkelly) July 11, 2021
But, to hear Amy say on this episode that I am welcome at God’s table as a gay man is so affirming. Thank you, Amy Grant. You’ve changed my life in so many ways. God has worked many of Her greatest wonders in my life through you. (I call God “She” to fight the patriarchy.)(9/9)
— Hunter Kelly (@hunterkelly) July 11, 2021
Grant’s words were also cheered by Semler, a.k.a Grace Baldridge, a queer artist who is Christian and has publicly called for more Christians to affirm the LGBTQ community.
Trey Pearson, formerly the lead singer of the CCM band Everyday Sunday who came out as gay in 2016, also shared his appreciation of Grant, noting that “she’s the best.”
We had a pretty beautiful conversation at @WildGooseFest a couple years ago. She’s the best. 🌈❤️ pic.twitter.com/CO80EzoYFT
— Trey Pearson (@treypearson) July 11, 2021
Grant will be on tour to support Heart In Motion this fall.
