Veteran artist Amy Grant has explained why she prefers not to be identified as a "Christian singer" - despite enjoying nearly 30 years of success in the Contemporary Christian Music industry.
The 55-year-old "El Shaddai" singer told Fox News: "I don't put labels on anybody. Am I a person of faith? Absolutely. But I think all creativity comes from God, so whether somebody is in a place in their spiritual journey to acknowledge that or not, I just say everybody is artistic in someway and all that comes from God.
She added, "So I always steer clear of labels and it's not from an embarrassment standpoint, it's just because every good thing comes from one place."
While she doesn't want to be identified as a "Christian artist", the six-time Grammy winner said faith and prayer are the most important things in her life.
"I pray a simple prayer every day and I have for almost 30 years. And it's just this, 'Lord, lead me today to those I need and to those that need me and let something I do matter eternally."To me, faith, that's the adventure part of life. So it has nothing to do with how I plan my career and it just has to do with my day in and day out how I live."
Grant summed up her faith in this way: "I think my faith, the way I understand God's love is only two rules. Love God and love everybody no matter who they are no matter what they say and to me that's the most freeing way to live life."
The singer's latest album, "Tennessee Christmas," is available now at Cracker Barrel, and highlights both the joy and the sadness that often accompanies the Christmas season. The album was released Oct. 21 and its 13 tracks are a mix of Christmas hymns, Christmas mainstays and original songs.
As earlier reported, retailer LifeWay Christian Resources decided not to sell her latest album, deeming it not Christian enough.
At the time, Grant said she accepted LifeWay's decision, but encouraged her followers to continue discussing what it truly means to be a follower of Christ.
"We respectfully accept Lifeway's decision that my new Christmas album didn't meet their criteria. Let's all move on from that decision without arguing about it. But let's not stop asking the questions about what it means to live in faith and reflect love to the world around us," said Grant, in a post on her official Facebook account.
"Asking questions opens all of us up to the possibility of being willing to consider how we might live differently," the Nashville-based singer continued. "We are all loved by God...all of us...How we communicate that experience is unique to each of us...Unity is not about everybody being the same...it's about all of us coming together...with our differences."
LifeWay's competitor, Family Christian Stores, is selling "Tennessee Christmas," according to the retailer's website.
