The Road Home
Sandi Patty celebrates 25 years in Christian music with a new CD—and talks about her journey to restoration after a very public fall from grace in the early 1990s.
by Maryann B. Hunsberger | posted 9/13/2004
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The liner notes of Sandi Patty's new album, Hymns of Faith … Songs of Inspiration, go beyond typical mentions of thanks. They provide a glimpse into the heart of the singer, who admits to having felt far away from God in times past. Her praises to the God of second, third and fourth chances reveal that changes have taken place.
Twenty-five years have passed since Sandi's Song came out in 1979. In that time, she amassed five Grammy Awards, 39 Dove Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, became a Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee and sold 11 million albums. Yet, eleven years ago, shock waves jolted the church when she admitted to an adulterous relationship that ended her marriage. Now married to Don Peslis, their blended family consists of eight children, ages seven to 19. They adopted Sam, the youngest, together.
Patty recently spoke with us about the ups and downs of her past 25 years.
How is Hymns of Faith … Songs of Inspiration a reflection of your 25 years in Christian music?
Sandi Patty It goes back to the very foundation of why I'm involved in music in the first place. My dad was a minister of music and my mother was the church pianist. We were at church all the time. Those hymns that I heard as a child have really become a foundation for my faith these past 25 years. Also, our kids go to a separate youth service and don't know a lot of these hymns. There are some wonderful, new worship and praise choruses, but I wanted them to understand their heritage as well. That was another catalyst for this project.
What noticeable differences do you see in Christian music in the past 25 years?
Sandi Patty Under this umbrella of Christian music, there are so many varieties of music from rap to R&B to Southern gospel and everything in between. That great variety is the biggest change I have seen. From the musical standpoint, the technical capabilities that are available now are just wonderful. They help make the projects more professional.
Let's talk about your memories, high points and low points of the past 25 years.
Sandi Patty Working with Bill and Gloria Gaither and traveling with them for a few years was definitely a big high point. Watching them work felt like I was going to school. I learned so much about how to relate to an audience. Singing "The Star Spangled Banner" for the rededication of the Statue of Liberty was a big high. I enjoyed being part of that. Being on The Tonight Show was special.
Starting out, did you ever dream you'd have moments like those?
Sandi Patty Never in a million years. I always thought I'd be a schoolteacher. It's where I thought my music would take me. Everything that I've been so privileged to do feels like extra and I'm so grateful.
What were the low points of the past 25 years?
Sandi Patty For many years, I thought I had to portray that life was perfect, I was perfect and my family was perfect. That's just ridiculous because nobody is. You try to portray that, and then it all comes crashing in. That [her adultery] was a very rough season in my life. It was nobody's fault but my own. I learned things about myself that I'm not real proud of. I learned things about God that I don't know that I would have learned any other way.
What did you learn?
Sandi Patty I have learned that I'm not perfect. I've learned that I am always a choice away from going down the wrong path. Every day, there's a choice to be all that God wants me to be. I've learned that God is faithful in the midst of it. I've learned that God's people are loving, caring and supportive.
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