Amy Grant is opening up about her recent health scare and the events that led up to her having to undergo potentially life-saving, open-heart surgery.
During an interview on Good Morning America, the Queen Of Christian Pop revealed she was diagnosed with a genetic heart condition that exhibited symptoms for about a decade.
‘I had an irregular heartbeat for the last 10 years, and it exhibited every day,’ the 59-year-old explained to GMA anchor Robin Roberts.
‘It bothered me a little bit and then I’ve had a harder time singing in the last five years … everything kind of tightening up as I was trying to sing.’
Emotional: Amy Grant, 59, opened up about her genetic heart condition diagnosis and potentially life-saving, heart surgery in an interview with Good Morning America
During that 10-years, Grant never made the connection that her breathing problem during singing could be connected to a serious health issue.
In fact, she even insisted she was ‘fine’ when asked about her how she was doing during the doctor’s visit late last year with husband, and country music star, Vince Gill.
‘I remember a couple of times telling Vince, I feel like I’m suffocating. It’s the weirdest thing, I’m breathing as deep as I can, but in my mind, none of that had to do with my heart,’ she added.
Grant’s cardiologist ended up encouraging her to undergo further tests, which ultimately revealed a birth defect called partial anomalous pulmonary venous return ( PAPVR).
Scary: ‘I had an irregular heartbeat for the last 10 years, and it exhibited every day,’ the six-time Grammy winner explained during an interview with GMA anchor Robin Roberts
The diagnosis: Her doctor told Grant she needed have surgery to correct her heart problem called partial anomalous pulmonary venous return ( PAPVR ) before she turned 60, and that her condition would get worse, possibly suddenly, if it wasn’t addressed
In February, the six-time Grammy winner was told she needed to have surgery to correct the problem before she turned 60, and that her condition would get worse, possibly suddenly, if it wasn’t addressed.
‘They were doing an ultrasound of my heart and the doctor came in,’ Grant said.
‘He said, “Vince, this is the kind of situation where Amy would be fine, fine, fine and then one day it would be catastrophic.” And we don’t know when that would be, but it would have to be sooner rather than later.’
The singer confessed she was shocked to learn the news in February that she needed open-heart surgery
Silver lining: Despite being shocked by the news of her heart condition diagnosis, Grant was still grateful the doctor was able to detect it before it was too late
Grant confessed she was shocked with the news of her health condition, but added that she was still grateful the doctor was able to detect it before it was too late.
‘I just think sometimes in all of our jobs, we have what we’re trained for, and then beyond that, there’s an intuition and inspiration,’ Grant said of the steps taken before being diagnosed.
‘And I think Dr. [John Bright] Cage did everything that was required for testing for what he thought might be an issue for me because my father had [heart bypass] surgery, but beyond that, I don’t [know].’
Eventually the Tennessee native had open-heart surgery on June 3, which she first opened up about in an Instagram post 11 days later that included photos of the large scar down the middle of her chest.
‘For better and for worse’: Grant’s husband of 20 years, country star Vince Gill, was by her side during her diagnosis, surgery and recovery; they are pictured in October 2019
In the proceeding weeks of recovery, which she described as ‘a miraculous’ process, Grant maintains she’s ‘more energized than ever’ and thankful to be given the gift of another day.
By going public with her story, Grant hopes others will learn not ignore any warning signs that they might be seeing and feeling.
‘My message would be, take a minute and take care of yourself. You don’t know that something is wrong unless you make sure it’s right.’
She also shared about how grateful she is for all the love and support from fans all over the world.
Grant and Gill, who celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary in March, are the proud parents to daughter Corrina, 19. The Baby Bay songstress also three children: son Matthew, 33, and daughters Millie, 31, and Sarah, 28, from her 17-year marriage to musician Gary Chapman that ended in 1999.
Distinct honor: Grant is known to her many fans as the Queen Of Christian Pop