Since signing a record deal over 25 years ago, Amy Grant has been the undisputed Queen of Crossover, from contemporary Christian music into mainstream pop. She's broken records on both sides of the fence, from cumulative sales of nearly 24 million albums to five No. 1 secular smashes to a spot in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Most recently, she's released Greatest Hits 1986-2004, which includes cornerstones like "The Next Time I Fall" (a duet with ex-Chicago singer Peter Cetera) "Baby, Baby" and "House of Love" (with husband Vince Gill). Though Grant and Gill are currently on the couple's annual Christmas tour, she took time out to talk about her legacy, some previously untold tidbits and how her family celebrates the holidays.

What was your input level and impression of the new retrospective collection?

Amy Grant: There was no decision making on my part. Those were all the charting singles that A&M released and they didn't have to pick and choose one or another. Though the downside to me is that it doesn't include any of the singles Word did, which were more faith-oriented. As soon as the dust settles and contractual agreements clear, hopefully we'll be able to rectify that situation. [The collection as it stands] is about half the picture of those years, because a lot of songs talked about faith.

The songs are compiled in chronological order. How's that make you feel?

Grant: Boy, the time flies! It feels like it was just yesterday when I was in the studio with Michael Omartian or staying up late talking on the road all night with Wayne Kirkpatrick for what would become "Takes a Little Time." I've found that music allows years to fold like an accordion over each other, so I guess you don't feel the passage of time as much.

How have your kids reacted to all of this?

Grant: These songs are all brand new to my youngest daughter. It's funny because when I got the CD, I put it in my car and wanted to hear the sequence. Once would've been enough for me since I do these songs live still, but she is such a music lover she wanted to hear more. Well, it turns out she wants to play the CD all the time and drives her big siblings crazy because they toured that music from the time they were walking! I'll say "No honey, we can't drive into the parking lot blaring 'Every Heartbeat.'" That would look narcissistic!

"The Next Time I Fall" is a nice flashback. Are you still friends with Peter Cetera?

Grant: He and I have crossed paths over a half dozen times. He has a daughter and a former wife in Nashville, and they're on great terms. We've also sung the song on a few occasions, like at private parties and on TV. He was great to work with in '86, and as far as my introduction to the world of pop radio, he really gave me a leg up.

How did the fame following that song affect the music you made later?

Grant: I feel like I had the most prolific songwriting surges during the making of Heart in Motion and Behind the Eyes, and that's because I just made time to work on my craft. It got really crazy, so I had to do that if I wanted to get something done! Actually, during the making of Heart in Motion I was pregnant and would wake up at dawn and for two or three hours would just write, journal or work on a song's lyrics. I'm so proud of songs like "How Can We See That Far" and also "Ask Me," which I felt were part of a really important surge even though they were never big singles. Around Behind the Eyes, the record company as I knew it started dismantling, so then the last couple records released at that point were like limping across the finish line. I knew increasingly fewer people [at Word] as it went on and when Simple Things was released last year, I couldn't get a returned phone call.

Where does that leave your relationship with A&M at this point?

Grant: The release of this Greatest Hits is the end of that relationship, but there are no hard feelings. They were purchased by Interscope, which has a bulk of alternative artists making music and getting out there. Relationships are such a huge part of it and I choose to live in Nashville because my whole family is there. I couldn't re-engage with the ever-changing face of the company, so I'm not begrudging any of that. As the music business continues to change, I don't know if it would ever make sense to sign with two majors. Record companies just have to reinvent the wheel as they go.

Record labels used to spend tons of money to break an artist. Did that happen for you?

Grant: During the Heart In Motion years, the advertising budgets were unbelievable! They spent so much money, definitely in the six-figure range for each video. It was a huge company with everyone from Sting to Sheryl Crow and I was just one of several drops in the bucket for them.

With the economic dip in the music industry, how have things changed?

Grant: When we did the video for "Simple Things," I remember looking at the budget and thinking how modest it was—so modest that we did half of it in my side yard and the other half in a friend's yard. I could see the writing on the wall, but I'm not saying any of this from a "why can't things stay the same?" perspective. I'm in awe that I was ever a part of the crest in that gigantic wave. That was so thrilling.

Your music seems to be shifting away from pop to a more introspective direction. How have you seen your career change during the 18 years this CD covers?

Grant: The songs started out in the '80s as creative expressions of a young woman, but I'm 44 now and my mind hasn't been writing the same kind of stuff. Now I'm needing to find an appropriate fan base and outlet for that music. It's a little bit more laid back now, even though sometimes fans will want the more rousing pop again. But I look at it this way: If you went to your closet today, would you pull out the same outfit you wore ten or fifteen years ago? You wear feelings and faith differently as well, which is why I think the two new songs ["The Water" and "Come Be With Me" with Keb' Mo'] are more indicative of where my creative interests lie right now.

My favorite shows in Nashville now are actually at this little place called The Bluebird [Café]. I have to laugh, remembering my shows with five costume changes, and although that was so fun, I'd rather be doing shows at places like the Bluebird right now.

It's funny you say that because you're currently on a major Christmas tour with costume changes!

Grant: It is a very beautiful and lush show that actually does have three costume changes. But that's more of a specialty show, not my own solo, non-seasonal show. The response [to the Christmas show] has been great. It's basically a three-hour evening between myself, my husband, and comedian Henry Cho. We work music into his comedy, laughing at family dysfunction and celebrating faith by reading the Christmas story from Luke.

I've also heard about your commitment to sending the show, via satellite, to our troops overseas.

Grant: We did a show in San Antonio that was really amazing. The military helped us do a satellite to Baghdad where during intermission we had eight families seated in the front row and one by one they were able to communicate with their loved ones using the cameras to see each other. It was so emotional and nobody moved even though it was the intermission. As long as we had the link, we figured we might as well have them talk face to face!

How does your family traditionally celebrate Christmas?

Grant: This year all the children are coming out on the last two shows of the Christmas tour once they are out of school. That's become one of our newer traditions, as it is a time to go shopping for one another. We have days off before the performances, so we're always running to a mall together, then getting back and watching Christmas movies on the bus. Come Christmas Eve, we usually go to my mom and dad's. Everybody brings one gift and then we play that game when we all steal it from each other. Some are really cool, others are useful and some are a bit out there. Last year my 13-year-old nephew got 100 pounds of dog food, and Vince wound up with a talking scale because he's the biggest in the family. Christmas Day we'll keep the fire going and all be together as a family again.

What's coming up for you in the new year?

Grant: We're actually a few sessions away from finishing a second hymns record that will come out in April. I loved doing the first, but this one really has a great spirit to it that will be different. Then we'll clean the slate and I'm going to write some new songs, so we'll just have to wait and see what comes of all that!

For more about Amy Grant and her musical legacy, visit our artist page for her. Check out our review on her latest Greatest Hits: 1986-2004. To listen to sound clips and buy her music, visit Christianbook.com.

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