Amy Grant will host her gay niece’s wedding, a move sure to draw mixed reactions from Christians.
Grant’s decision is being made at the same time as U.S. President Joe Biden signed the controversial Respect for Marriage Act into law.
In an interview with the Washington Post, Grant, a pioneer of Christian music, said that the word “welcome” comes up frequently when talking to Grant. In recent years, she has voiced support for the LGBTQ community, where she has had a large fan base for decades. Now, she talks about her and Gill’s plans to host her niece’s wedding at their farm, which is her family’s “first bride and bride” nuptials.
Grant recalls her reaction when she learned her niece had come out: What a gift to our whole family to just widen the experience of our whole family.
“Honestly, from a faith perspective, I do always say, ‘Jesus, you just narrowed it down to two things: love God and love each other,’ ” Grant said. “I mean, hey — that’s pretty simple.”
The news is drawing mixed reactions, especially given that she is offering to host the event, rather than simply attend it.
Grant added to her career-encompassing list of accolades earlier this month when she was recognized for her achievements in the arts at the 45th annual Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C.
Accompanied by her husband – country-music superstar, Vince Gill – Grant, a trailblazing singer/songwriter in her own right, became the first contemporary Christian artist to receive a Kennedy Center Honor.
Other honorees included acclaimed actor and filmmaker George Clooney; contemporary Christian and pop singer-songwriter Amy Grant; legendary singer of soul, Gospel, R&B, and pop Gladys Knight; Cuban-born American composer, conductor, and educator Tania León; and iconic Irish rock band U2, comprised of band members Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr.
Grant was also forced to re-schedule her August tour after a bicycle accident while riding with a friend in Nashville, Tennessee. She has reportedly made a full recovery.
»
