If you're an Amy Grant fan, it has been a long five years.
Yes, she had been active since her last studio recording, 2005's "Rock of Ages . . . Hymns & Faith," most notably releasing her first book, "Mosaic: Pieces of My Life So Far," three years ago.
But for someone usually on an every-two-years album cycle, who is a frequent touring presence and, for a few months in 2005, was a prime-time star with the feel-good reality show "Three Wishes," the past half-decade has been one of the quietest patches in Grant's 30-year career.
"I think I'm back now," she said with a soft laugh. "I can't even figure out how so much time went by. [But] if you're doing music, it helps to take a step back. You need to live a big chunk of life so you have something to write about."
Grant found plenty to write about for "Somewhere Down the Road," her 19th album, which arrived in March.
The disc is a combination of new, previously unreleased and reworked classic songs and features Grant's 17-year-old daughter, Sarah Chapman, doing a duet with her on "Overnight."
"I had so much adrenaline," she said of working in the studio with Sarah. "I was like this giddy, neurotic, jumping-around-the-room mom. I was so proud of her, and I loved watching her go through this process."
Family has always been Grant's focal point. Her recent break allowed her to spend more time with oldest daughter Millie before she left for college, and also with her mother, Gloria, whose health has been in decline.
Also, Grant and her husband, Vince Gill, recently turned a couple of detached rooms at their Franklin, Tenn., home into a recording studio, which allowed for more normalcy.
"I noticed while recording the three songs [on this album] that I did here [at home], that there is always downtime. So instead of sitting for 30 minutes and calling home to check on everyone, I'd go in the house, throw in a load of laundry and have dinner with my family," she said.
A couple of weeks after this interview, the unprecedented Nashville floods occurred, and Grant offered immediate and visible assistance.
She participated in several flood telethons, and donated, with Gill, $150,000 to flood relief organizations. On June 22, Grant will perform with Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Miley Cyrus and others at the "Nashville Rising" benefit concert at the city's Bridgestone Arena.
Though Grant has achieved many milestones -- six Grammys, 22 Dove Awards, induction in the Christian Music Hall of Fame and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame -- and is perhaps the most recognizable name in contemporary Christian music, she is, after all, human . . . and will turn 50 in November.
"Welllll . . . ," she said with an audible smile, "time flies. I've had a new inspiration to try to be a little healthier turning 50 than I was turning 49."
An avid biker, Grant said she's constantly redirecting herself toward a more active lifestyle.
She'll get to pedal through some extraordinary scenery in September when she and Gill travel to Italy -- her first non-work-related visit to the country -- for an early birthday celebration.
Then, for the event itself, it will be back to a family focus.
"I'll probably have some kind of dinner with my sisters and their spouses," she said. "I'm not really a big party kind of girl."
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