The Kennedy Center has released the list of its 2022 honorees and Amy Grant has made the list amongst a group that includes George Clooney, Gladys Knight, and U2. The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts has bestowed its honors on well-known performers of the arts since 1978. Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein noted in a statement that Grant, “became the first artist to bring contemporary Christian music to the forefront of American culture, then equally thrived after crossing over into mainstream pop with hit after hit, and today is revered as the ‘Queen of Christian Pop.’” Aside from her music career, the Kennedy Center’s website lauded Grant’s philanthropic work, which includes work done for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, The Red Cross, and Compassion International. Grant, 61, began her career in music in the 1980s and then went on to crossover into mainstream music with her 1991 blockbuster album “Heart in Motion.” Songs like “The Next Time I Fall” and “Baby Baby” would top the billboard charts and propel her into being one of the most recognized names in both Christian and secular music circles.

Grant responded to the nomination in a statement saying, “Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine ever receiving this prestigious Kennedy Center Honors… I cannot wait to celebrate with my fellow honorees, friends, and family. Thank you for widening the circle to include all of us.” Amy Grant’s inclusion is notable said Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter because, “We’ve had gospel before. We’ve had plenty of R&B and soul… We’ve had country music, but we haven’t necessarily had Amy Grant and Christian pop in the same way.” This will be the 45^th Honors Gala presented by the Kennedy Center and will have its honorees saluted by some of today’s leading performers and a dinner. The event will take place on December 4 of this year.

Grant was also more recently in the news after she was hospitalized due to a biking accident. The singer had been riding her bike in her hometown of Nashville and ran into a pole. A post on her Instagram noted that she had been briefly hospitalized for two nights while doctors wanted to monitor her. The post announced that she was now being told to rest at home. The incident also required her to postpone some concerts she had planned for the next month until April and June of 2023.