Way to go, girl!

Amy Grant to Receive Star on Walk of Fame

After selling over 25 million albums worldwide and winning numerous GRAMMY® Awards, Amy Grant will be honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in September. She is the first artist with roots in Contemporary Christian Music to receive this honor (Urban/Gospel great Al Green previously received a star).

Amy Grant is considered by many to have put Contemporary Christian music "on the map," paving the way for many of today's CCM artists. So all us fans of CCM out there have to give her a lot of credit for being the trailblazer in a field long considered to be impenetrable for Christian artists.

Of course, this recognition did come at a personal cost to her. Many labeled her "a traitor" for "going secular" in the 80's and 90's in an effort to widen her fan base. Christian fans were later even more disappointed when she divorced her husband of 16-years, Gary Chapman, to then marry her longtime boyfriend Vince Gills, whose relationship with Amy was likely the cause of his divorce from his wife 2 years earlier.

So, Amy is probably not the best example of strong Christian morals in Hollywood. As for "going secular", being the first Christian artist to enjoy both secular and contemporary Christian success, we need to remember that this was during a time that CCM was struggling, and I think it'd be unfair to judge her for her career decisions then. It was a different time. It's likely that if it weren't for Amy Grant's success, groups like Jars of Clay and Switchfoot may never have been able to so seemlessly stay faithful to the message of the gospel while still enjoying secular commercial success.

Congratulations, Amy! Looks like your blazing yet another trail for future Christian artists onto the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Now, here's hoping Michael W. Smith is next... Go Smitty! :D