Amy Grant was honored with musical performances by both Sheryl Crow and The Highwomen — the all-female group made up of Natalie Hemby, Maren Morris, Amanda Shires and Brandi Carlile — at the recent Kennedy Center Honors.
Crow performed “Baby, Baby,” Grant’s 1991 crossover hit, while The Highwomen performed “Somewhere Down the Road.”
Ahead of her performance, Crow said, “Amy, you inspire me as a musician, as a mom, as a great friend.”
Katie Couric paid tribute to Grant, recalling words that Grant once told her as part of her speech celebrating the Christian music icon.
“Amy, you once shared the four words your sweet mom said to you, words you’ve never forgotten: Sing something that matters,” Couric said. “Well, you’ve done it and you’re still doing it.”
Grant has a personal connection to The Highwomen. Hemby’s mother, Deanna, has been Grant’s personal assistant for 35 years, with Hemby growing up as a close friend of Grant and her family.
Grant previously said she was in awe that her career was being recognized by The Kennedy Center Honors, marking the first time a contemporary Christian singer received the accolade.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine ever receiving this prestigious Kennedy Center Honor,” Grant said of the recognition. “Through the years I’ve watched so many of my heroes serenaded by colleagues and fellow artists, always moved by the ability of music and film to bring us together and to see the best in each other. I cannot wait to celebrate with my fellow honorees, friends and family. Thank you for widening the circle to include all of us.”
Grant returned to touring in December, after canceling her fall tour dates while she recovered from injuries she sustained in a bike accident in July. Although disappointing at the time, the 62-year-old now says she is grateful for the season of rest.
“It has been the quietest season of my life,” Grant tells The Washington Post. Indeed, her recovery time included very little work, as she was told to limit screen time and focus on rest and healing. For someone who has worked nearly nonstop since her debut album came out 45 years ago, the break was not something Grant did easily.
“There are times in our lives where we can just be so busy that you’re present, but you’re also ticking off that list of things that need to be done,” Grant reflects. “Or somebody sits down for a conversation and you’re giving 100 percent attention, but you also can’t make the next thing on the calendar completely go away. That was the biggest adjustment.”
Grant was honored along with U2, Gladys Knight, George Clooney, and composer and conductor Tania León. The show is available at CBS.com.
