On sunday November 16, 1997, Nashville CitySearch organized the first ever online chat with Amy. In the days before the chat fans all over the world had been posting questions for Amy. The moderators from CitySearch selected some of these questions and posed them to Amy so she could give answers. Below is a transscript of the event. About 350 people took part in this event!!! After the chat there was 1 hour mini concert held at the Blue Bird cafe in Nashville. This event was broadcasted by a local radio station and through the internet.

Lucas Hendrickson -- Here's the moment you've all been waiting for.

Lucas Hendrickson -- If you need any introduction to this person, you've been under a rock for the past 20 years.

Lucas Hendrickson -- Please welcome to Nashville CitySearch (and here the part where you cheer from behind your desktops)...Amy Grant.

Amy Grant -- So great to be here. This is a first for me. I understand I have friends in Holland, Germany and Spain who have joined us.

Amy Grant -- By the way, this is not me typing!

Lucas Hendrickson -- So the first question comes from me. Why haven't you done something like this before?

Amy Grant -- It didn't occur to me

Amy Grant -- But now that I'm in the middle of this, it's really exciting.

Amy Grant -- You really have to make every word count here, don't you?

Amy Grant -- This could be real trouble for me since I'm a rambler!!

Lucas Hendrickson -- So let's get right to the questions here...

Lucas Hendrickson -- Kellie Harriss asks, "What is your all-time favorite song that you have recorded, and what makes it special to you?

Amy Grant -- El Shaddai. The meaning fades. Most popular music is written to capture a certain moment. A song about God is timeless.

Amy Grant -- I meant the meaning never fades!!!

Lucas Hendrickson -- Dyan Reynolds asks, "How does it feel to know your music has such an impact on people?"

Amy Grant -- I know what it feels like to have music have an impact on me.

Amy Grant -- It doesn't happen to be my own music that affects me that way.

Amy Grant -- But I know what it feels like to find companionship, meaning, and comraderie through songs.

Lucas Hendrickson -- Speaking of fans from around the world, and we were not along ago. Arald den Braber asks, "Are you coming to Europe with the Behind The Eyes tour?"

Amy Grant -- No current plans, but we have barely started the US tour plans.

Amy Grant -- Just don't know what the future holds at this point.

Lucas Hendrickson -- Reba Baskett asks, "What is your favorite song on Behind the Eyes, and what is your favorite song that didn't make it on the album?"

Lucas Hendrickson -- She's consulting her manager Jennifer…

Amy Grant -- Favorite on the BTE album is "Cry a River" - or maybe "Somewhere Down the Road."

Amy Grant -- Favorite song that didn't make it on the album is a song called "What is the chance?"

Lucas Hendrickson -- You did 30 songs for this, didn't you? It's hard to choose one that didn't make it...

Lucas Hendrickson -- For those of you just getting here, if you want to just read the questions and Amy's responses, click on The Stage. Or just the pull-down menu to select "Hide Enter/Exit

Lucas Hendrickson -- Back to the questions...Tommy Battles asks, "I'm glad to see you're coming to the Internet for us fans. If the record companies weren't involved in the decision, would you have chosen different songs for Behind The Eyes?"

Amy Grant -- Maybe yes - maybe no, It's not like the record company is a big heartless machine.

Amy Grant -- These are all people I trust. The story about James Taylor critiquing one of the songs poorly made me pull it off the record.

Amy Grant -- Maybe yes - maybe no. It's not like th record company is a big heartless maching. These are all people I trust. The story about James Taylor critiquing one of thes ongs poorly made me pull it off the record.

Lucas Hendrickson -- You should be seeing Amy's responses in the other rooms now. Sorry, about that, technology combined with human problem.

Lucas Hendrickson -- This question is from me. How long did that filtering process take?

Amy Grant -- I would record 4-5 songs and pick one or two for the record.

Amy Grant -- The whole process lasted 2 years.

Lucas Hendrickson -- Chuck Plante asks, "Do you ever do barefoot concerts anymore?"

Amy Grant -- Deana Carter has pretty much taken over that banner.

Lucas Hendrickson -- Heather Wright asks, "What about your career do you enjoy the most?"

Amy Grant -- The people that I meet. It always surprises me whose path mine winds up crossing. A year ago I played at a benefit golf tournament and wound up meeting Kevin Costner. This past week he and I recorded a song for a sound track to his new movie "Postman."

Amy Grant -- Who would have thought?

Lucas Hendrickson -- Which begs the question, can Kevin Costner sing?

Amy Grant -- Have you ever heard of Pro Tools?

Lucas Hendrickson -- That's a music industry joke. Not Kevin Costner, but ProTools.

Lucas Hendrickson -- I hope somebody out there's laughing...

Lucas Hendrickson -- We've all heard the story about A&M's David Anderle's influence on these songs. Denise Van Peursem asks, "Do you think the album has had the effect that David Anderle was looking for?"

Amy Grant -- I know he likes it.

Amy Grant -- I'm one of several artists that he works with. In fact the whole time I was working on this record, Sheryl Crow was working on her record.

Amy Grant -- So I would hear through the grapevine about her dilemmas and it made me feel more comfortable with mine.

Lucas Hendrickson -- Which is a great segue for this question. Shellie Kepley asks, "Would you like to join a Lilith Fair if there was another one next year?"

Amy Grant -- Sure.

Lucas Hendrickson -- Just to let you know, we've got 345 users in 15 rooms for this chat.

Lucas Hendrickson -- Again along the Lilith Fair lines...Jeff Murphy asks, "Would you ever considering doing an all-out rock album, ala Sheryl Crow or Sam Phillips?"

Amy Grant -- I don't think that my voice really lends itself to that.

Amy Grant -- And my writing style is just more laid back.

Amy Grant -- When I really want to get juiced up, I buy other people's records and listen to them

Amy Grant -- But I just do what I do.

Lucas Hendrickson -- If your voice doesn't lend itself to that, then who did the little scream in the middle of "Takes A Little Time"?

Amy Grant -- Me.

Lucas Hendrickson -- And how many takes did that take?

Amy Grant -- One.

Lucas Hendrickson -- Steve Hunter asks, "What music are you listening to lately?"

Amy Grant -- I always listen to a steady diet of Lyle Lovett, Bonnie Raitt.

Amy Grant -- This morning getting ready for church I was listening to Nancy Griffith.

Amy Grant -- I like my labelmates, Jann Arden and Patti Griffin.

Lucas Hendrickson -- Once again, if you're just joining us, if you want to just read the questions and Amy's responses, click on The Stage. Otherwise, chat away with your fellow fans in the room you're in.

Amy Grant -- Lately I've been listening to a lot of Rich Mullins.

Lucas Hendrickson -- Talk a little bit about Rich, if you don't mind. What do his songs mean to you now that he's gone?

Amy Grant -- You can always count on Rich for a good dose of honesty.

Amy Grant -- He never seemed to worry about posturing on any level.

Amy Grant -- I think I posture sometimes even when I'm on my knees.

Amy Grant -- I don't want to. His music reminds me that God knows I'm human.

Amy Grant -- I'd also say that people always want to make more out of something than it is.

Amy Grant -- He sang powerful songs, but he talked about his job like he was a plumber.

Lucas Hendrickson -- Do you have a favorite song of his, other than ones you recorded?

Amy Grant -- Hold Me Jesus.

Lucas Hendrickson -- I think we're all going to miss his music very much...

Lucas Hendrickson -- Back to the questions...Steve Rimbey asks, "You have traveled a great deal and seen a lot. Which cross-cultural experience has had the most profound impact on you?"

Amy Grant -- By far my visit to Guatemala.

Amy Grant -- I visited two children that my family has sponsored through Compassion International

Lucas Hendrickson -- Along that same line...Greg Birgy asks, "How did the trip affect your own three children?"

Amy Grant -- I guess you'd have to ask them.

Amy Grant -- Before we left, I asked Sarah (my 5 year old) what she thought we'd be doing in Guatemala.

Amy Grant -- She quickly responded "Visiting the poor."

Amy Grant -- These people were poor in opportunities for education, for experiencing the world, but they were rich in family and rich in laughter.

Amy Grant -- And rich in the love of God.

Amy Grant -- I was struck by the fact that my kids almost always prefer a trip to Toys R Us than sitting on the front porch talking.

Amy Grant -- We came back deciding to own less and talk more.

Amy Grant -- That would obviously be my decision - not theirs. But I have the car and the cash.

Lucas Hendrickson -- Kyle Hankins asks, "How do you manage being on the road and giving your children the attention they need?"

Amy Grant -- Are they getting the attention they need?

Amy Grant -- I think that's every parent's concern.

Amy Grant -- My kids have 3 primary care-givers. My husband, our nanny, and myself.

Amy Grant -- We'll what the counseling bills are someday!

Amy Grant -- As busy as I am, what I have given up is a social life. So when I'm not on the road, I am at home. We do ok.

Amy Grant -- Sorry - back up...I have a lousy typist.

Amy Grant -- I meant - we'll see what the counseling bills are someday.

Lucas Hendrickson -- Back to some questions about the music...Carrie Casey asks, "If you could do a duet with anyone, who would it be, and what kind of song would it be?"

Amy Grant -- I've done a lot.

Amy Grant -- With people that I liked...Peter Cetera...Vince Gill...Michael Smith...and now Kevin.

Amy Grant -- Not a bad list.

Lucas Hendrickson -- Michael Trybun asks, "I especially love your music videos. Are there plans for others?"

Amy Grant -- Yes.

Amy Grant -- I'll be filming a video for the next single "Nobody Home" in January '98.

Lucas Hendrickson -- You have heard that "Takes A Little Time" is going to be on VH-1's Pop-Up Video, right?

Amy Grant -- Yeah. I'm thrilled.

Amy Grant -- That's the most innovative video treatment I've seen in a long time.

Amy Grant -- Learn while you watch.

Lucas Hendrickson -- It only took somebody 15 years to come up with something inventive for music videos. It's about time...

Lucas Hendrickson -- Chris Charles asks, "What do you think you'd be doing today if the magic of music never touched your life?"

Amy Grant -- I have no idea...I can't even figure out how to answer that.

Amy Grant -- It would be like saying "who would I have married if I'd been born a boy?"

Lucas Hendrickson -- Now there's an interesting twist...

Lucas Hendrickson -- I know you've answered this in other places, but Linda Schuman asks, "What advice do you have for teens today?"

Lucas Hendrickson -- Pick one area, just for time's sake...

Amy Grant -- I would say, I can't imagine some teenager is waiting with baited breath for my answer to life

Amy Grant -- If they are anything like me, if I said one thing, they'd do the opposite.

Amy Grant -- I would say your life is shaped by what you believe.

Amy Grant -- Care enough to find what you believe.

Lucas Hendrickson -- Manisha Ropheka asks, "How long do you think you will keep recording?"

Lucas Hendrickson -- And let me append this on to that, is it still fun?

Amy Grant -- Of course it's fun. I have 3 more records in my current contract. After that, I'm not telling.

Lucas Hendrickson -- What do you want to do that you haven't had a chance to? In or outside the entertainment world?

Amy Grant -- Can you talk about this on the Internet?

Amy Grant -- That would be between God, my birthday candles, and me!

Lucas Hendrickson -- That would be suitably vague. Thanks.

Lucas Hendrickson -- Here's another more personal one...J. Stevens asks, "What do you look for in a friend? What are those characteristics that draw you to other people and want to get to know them, and do you struggle with people just wanting to know you just for 'who you are' and not really as 'a friend'?"

Amy Grant -- What kick-starts a friendship is that you are intrigued with another person.

Amy Grant -- Friends are not projects.

Amy Grant -- Trustworthiness is at the top of my list.

Amy Grant -- I feel really lucky to have the friends that I have.

Amy Grant -- In fact, I constantly find myself amazed that we found each other.

Amy Grant -- It's not a long list.

Lucas Hendrickson -- One more, and then Amy has to get ready for the show...Dan Terry asks, "What message do you want your music and your life to leave people with?"

Amy Grant -- Hope.

Lucas Hendrickson -- Simple, direct, and to the point. Any last words?

Amy Grant -- Stick around for some music.

Amy Grant -- I'm not so great at chatting - so stick around for the music.

Lucas Hendrickson -- Thanks again, and like she said, stick around for the music. Click on the Listen--AudioNet button to connect to the River. I'll be back with you in a second...