Amy Grant’s Health Journey: Overcoming Heart and Brain Challenges

Amy Grant, the celebrated 63-year-old Grammy-winning singer, has been candid about the significant health challenges she has faced over the past four years, which she believes have fundamentally altered her perspective on life. Her experiences included undergoing open-heart surgery and a protracted recovery from a brain injury sustained in a bike accident.

In 2020, Grant underwent open-heart surgery after being diagnosed with a rare heart defect known as partial anomalous pulmonary venous return (PAPVR). This condition, where some of the lungs’ blood vessels attach incorrectly to the heart, requires the heart to work harder than usual, potentially leading to serious complications such as breathing difficulties, lung infections, and heart swelling. Speaking in a public service announcement, Grant described the condition as a ‘ticking time bomb’ within her chest.

The discovery of the heart defect was serendipitous, occurring during a medical evaluation prompted by her husband, fellow singer Vince Gill, who was experiencing shortness of breath. «After giving Vince the ‘great’ news—’You’re just fat and out of shape,’ the doctor then wanted to see me,» Grant recounted. The remark, while humorous, led to the life-saving revelation about her own health.

Following her surgery in June 2020, Grant embraced a healthier lifestyle, particularly through swimming, which she says has improved her physical fitness. «I was probably in the best shape I had been in a long time, maybe 20 years,» she remarked.

Despite her recovery from heart surgery, Grant faced another hurdle in July 2022 when she suffered a brain injury after hitting a pothole while cycling in Nashville, Tennessee. Even with the protection of a helmet, she experienced significant memory issues that persisted for months. Reflecting on this period, Grant expressed concern about the possibility of never fully recovering, but noted, «Now I feel fully in control of all my capacity.»

In light of these health scares, Grant has reshaped her priorities, finding a new balance between her music career and personal life. She expressed a desire to be more involved with her family, particularly with her adult children from her previous marriage to musician Gary Chapman. She also shares a daughter with her current husband, Vince Gill.

Grant and Gill, who have been married for over two decades, are set to commence their annual Christmas concert series in Nashville later this month. The singer mentions that her close-knit family unit has become even more important, stating, «This has made us all look at each other with a kind of appreciation.»