The Birmingham News
May 23, 2002
KATHY SEALE, News staff writer
Before singing the first note Wednesday, Amy Grant issued a warning to the 2,200 fans who packed Kindred Christian bookstore in Center Point.
"I have not sung one song this morning and we didn't get much sleep," said Grant, dressed in gold suede jeans, a denim jacket and a straight, shoulder-length bob. "So I'll try to get the frogs out early."
With that, she settled into her first number, "Fairest Lord Jesus," with a sweet, pure voice. When she faltered at the beginning of her second song, the audience was treated to the first of many adoring husband-wife moments between Grant and her husband-accompanist Vince Gill.
"I was OK until you touched me," Grant said, stopping the song and laughing as Gill reached over and stroked her arm.
The audience whooped and clapped appreciatively after each number in the casual set promoting Grant's newly released collection of sacred music, "Legacy ... Hymns and Faith." The cavernous store where the couple and one additional guitarist sang and strummed from a small corner stage in the coffee shop was the second stop on an eight-city tour.
"This is really unplugged, unplugged," said Grant, explaining that they typically perform and record with about 10 musicians.
Grant bantered easily with the audience and tapped a beige-sandaled foot to classic hymns and modern Christian songs. When an audience member asked her to name her favorite song, she didn't answer, but grew misty-eyed and launched into "El Shaddai."
After singing one of her first hits, "My Father's Eyes," written by Grant's ex-husband Gary Chapman, she touched briefly on the divorce that shocked many of her Christian fans.
"I'm not a poster child for divorce," she said, but offered that Jesus was all about reconciliation, and she and Chapman are "getting along better than we have in a long time."
For the most part, it was Grant's show. But it was Gill, dressed in denim, black and a five o'clock shadow, who drew the biggest applause when he stepped on-stage a few minutes after his wife.
When the audience requested "Go Rest High On the Mountain," Gill complied, but appeared careful to keep the limelight on Grant, who stood while he sat on a stool. When an audience member asked him to stand, Gill said, "I can't. People couldn't see my bride and that wouldn't be fair."
At the end of the set, the couple kissed, then stayed for another hour and 45 minutes to sign autographs for their fans.
One of them, Michelle Jeffcoat of Homewood, clutched two "Legacy" CDs that she hoped to get signed.
"I've listened to her since I was 12," said Jeffcoat, a Nashville native who was an audience member during one of Grant's Christmas special tapings. "I feel like it's family."
Sherry Ohls of Hayden brought along her 11-year-old daughter and a friend, who skipped a morning of school to see one of their favorite singers.
"They don't have any non-excused absences, so we said, `Let 'em go.'" Ohls said. "It's worth it."
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