Home Christian News Amy Grant Responds to Criticism for Hosting Niece’s Same-Sex Wedding

Amy Grant Responds to Criticism for Hosting Niece’s Same-Sex Wedding

Amy Grant
(L) Amy Grant U.S. Department of State from United States, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (R) Photo via Unsplash.com @digitalsofia

Amy Grant, Christian music’s queen of pop, has responded to criticism surrounding news of her hosting her niece’s same-sex wedding.

Her comments were published by PEOPLE earlier this week.

The 62-year-old “Baby, Baby” singer celebrates 23 years of marriage with notable country singer Vince Gill this coming March.

Responding to the backlash the she received after telling The Washington Post last November that she and her husband would be hosting her niece’s wedding at their 450-acre farm, Grant told PEOPLE that she doesn’t listen to what others think.

“I never chase any of those rabbits down the rabbit hole,” Grant shared. “I love my family, I love those brides. They’re wonderful, our family is better, and you should be able to be who you are with your family, and be loved by them.”

The same-sex wedding took place at the same location Grant and her husband said their vows to each other back in 2000.

“I own a farm that I bought back in the ’90s and they were just looking for a beautiful place to get married,” Grant said. “So, she and Sam got married on the same hillside where Vince and I got married.”

RELATED: Amy Grant To Host Niece’s Same-Sex Wedding, Believes Jesus Wants Us To ‘Love God and Love Each Other’

Grant’s initial announcement that she would host the wedding was met with sharp criticism from Franklin Graham, who leads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse. “Amy Grant announced that she & her husband Vince Gill are going to host a same-sex wedding on their farm for her niece,” Graham tweeted. “Yes, we are to love God & love each other. But if we love God, we will seek to obey His Word. Jesus told us, ‘If you love Me, keep My commandments’ (John 14:15). God defines what is sin, not us; & His Word is clear that homosexuality is sin.”

The Grammy Award winning singer, who has received over 20 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards during her career, was recently recognized by the Kennedy Center Honors.

Award-winning, multi-genre singer Brandi Carlile paid tribute to Grant onstage at the Kennedy Center Honors, performing with her band The Highwomen. During her appearance on the red carpet, Carlile shared how much Grant influenced her childhood.

Carlile said, “I didn’t really realize until I started digging into the catalog how much a part of my childhood Amy’s songbook is. It’s absolutely just intertwined with growing up. I always knew her as a faith-based artist, and as I got older and I joined the industry, she supported me—she came out in support of me. To have that kind of affirmation from a faith-based artist, I think it was really important and I think she is really brave. I couldn’t be more proud to be here to honor her tonight.”