Vince Gill and Amy Grant’s 23-year-old daughter Corrina will release her debut album, House On Another Street, on February 7. The 10-song project is a glimpse of where she’s been and who she has become. It’s also a masterclass in lessons she’s learned from her parents about singing and songwriting.
“I am both a mix of my mom and dad and completely unique,” Corrina said. “I think many people assume that it must be hard or intimidating for me to follow in their footsteps, but the truth is that there is no comparison or competition between any of us. Their success is something that I am so proud of.”
Gill called Corrina’s voice undeniable and said Corrina knew how she wanted to use it from an early age.
About eight years ago, Gill asked Corrina to sing a harmony part on one of his albums. He can’t remember the song, but Corrina sang a note he wasn’t fond of.
“I hit the talk back and said, ‘Hey buddy, I need you to sing this note right here instead of that note. It’ll work a lot better,’” Gill said.
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Vince Gill Hilariously Taught Young Corrina Which Notes to Sing
Corrina argued with him, telling her Grammy-winning Country Music Hall of Fame dad that she liked the note she chose better.
“I said, ‘Well, I appreciate that, but right now, you probably have to sing that note that I prefer,’” Gill said, laughing. “She begrudgingly did it. When we finished, she said, ‘Well, I can tell you this. If you’re ever singing on one of my records, you’re going to sing the notes I want you to sing.’ I said, ‘That’s fair.’”
Corrina remembers her dad nearly fell on the floor that day he was laughing so hard. And while he isn’t singing harmonies on House On Another Street, he did play guitar on the opening track, “Little Painter.”
“I wept the first time I heard it,” she said. “To have a piece of him on this album is so meaningful to me. The album as a whole, I am not quite sure how to define it in terms of genre, but I do know that it is my heart laid out on the floor.”
Amy Grant Explained the Power of Words
The young singer said her mom taught her a valuable lesson in songwriting when she learned her first cuss words. Corrina asked Grant about them and why they were bad words.
“My mom took a moment and then replied, ‘Words are just words. What matters is the way you use them, why you use them, and where,’” Corrina said. “Even though that was one small glimpse at a few colorful words and their impact—I’ve found it rings true for all words. How we use them is so important. The possibilities are endless when it comes to the impact that words can have on a person, on an audience, on the world.”
Corrina believes it’s “the greatest gift” to have parents who are artists because they are kids who followed their dreams. She’s seen their dedication pay off, and it’s inspiring. She’s also thankful she got Gill’s “softie” gene. Corrina describes her parents as so genuine and “inspiringly empathetic” that it shines through in their music. Watching audiences watch her parents perform always makes her cry.
“I am so moved by the way that my mom and dad use their gifts to create spaces for listeners to feel known,” she said. “I will continue to listen, be inspired, create, and cry while doing all of it! I think being emotional is a gift. I think being sensitive is a superpower. I think crying is good for you.”
Photo via Corrina Grant Gill Instagram
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