What Was Amy Grant's Illness?: A Look at Her Health Journey

October 1, 2025 •

3 min read

In 2020, singer Amy Grant was diagnosed with a rare congenital heart defect that her doctor called a “ticking time bomb”. To understand what was Amy Grant's illness, one must consider not just this heart condition, but also a traumatic brain injury and subsequent throat surgery that marked a challenging few years for the celebrated musician.

Quick Summary

Amy Grant's significant health issues began with a rare congenital heart defect, followed by a traumatic brain injury from a 2022 bike accident that also triggered a throat cyst requiring surgery. She has navigated a challenging recovery from multiple procedures.

Key Points

Heart Condition (2020): Amy Grant had open-heart surgery for a congenital defect called Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (PAPVR), discovered during a routine checkup.
Traumatic Brain Injury (2022): A serious bicycle accident resulted in a traumatic brain injury (TBI), causing memory loss and balance issues.
Thyroglossal Duct Cyst (2023): The trauma from the bike crash caused a dormant cyst in her throat to grow rapidly, requiring five-hour surgery and forcing her to relearn how to sing.
Post-Accident Recovery: Grant experienced depression and slow cognitive processing following her TBI, but has since improved with time and specific strategies.
Renewed Perspective: Her health challenges have given her a renewed sense of gratitude and changed her perspective on balancing life, health, and career.
Advocacy for Health: Following her recovery, Grant has become an advocate for heart health and brain injury awareness, urging others to prioritize their well-being.

Amy Grant's Health Challenges: A Timeline

Amy Grant has openly shared her health journey, which began with a heart condition discovered in 2020, followed by a severe bicycle accident in 2022, and a subsequent throat cyst removal in 2023. Her story is one of resilience and perseverance through unexpected and life-threatening medical issues. Rather than one single illness, Grant's experience involved three distinct and serious conditions that required major medical intervention. Her recovery has been ongoing, and she has spoken candidly about the physical and mental toll of her ordeal.

The "Ticking Time Bomb" Heart Condition: PAPVR (2020)

In 2020, during a routine checkup with her husband, Vince Gill, a cardiologist discovered Grant had Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (PAPVR), a rare congenital heart condition. In PAPVR, some pulmonary veins connect to the right atrium instead of the left, making the heart work harder.

Discovery: Grant was asymptomatic and learned of the condition during a checkup. Her doctor described it as a "ticking time bomb".
The Surgery: She underwent open-heart surgery to correct the defect in June 2020.
Recovery: Recovery took several months. Grant viewed it as a "second chance" and became an advocate for heart health, especially for women.

Life After Heart Surgery

Following surgery, Grant adopted a healthier lifestyle, including swimming, and emphasized prioritizing health.

Traumatic Brain Injury from a Bicycle Accident (2022)

In July 2022, Grant suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) from a bike accident caused by hitting a pothole. She was unconscious for about 10 minutes and hospitalized.

The Effects: The TBI caused lasting issues, including short-term memory loss and balance problems. Her cognitive processing was slower, leading to concerns about recovery.
Mental Health Impact: She also experienced a period of depression during her physical recovery.
Rebuilding: Her memory improved with time and strategies like using calendars, though some issues remain.

Unforeseen Complication: Thyroglossal Duct Cyst (2023)

Following the bike accident trauma, a pre-existing thyroglossal duct cyst in Grant's throat rapidly grew. This type of cyst is a benign lump from remnants of thyroid gland development. The accident's impact accelerated its growth.

Discovery and Surgery: Discovered after her vocal coach noticed a change, Grant had a five-hour surgery in January 2023 to remove the cyst and a portion of her neck bone.
Vocal Recovery: The surgery was challenging, requiring her to relearn singing. She likened the experience to an "old, beat-up car that went in and got a paint job".

Contrasting Amy Grant's Health Challenges


Condition	Year of Diagnosis	Cause	Required Treatment	Recovery Challenges	Advocacy
Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (PAPVR)	2020	Congenital birth defect	Open-heart surgery	Physical stamina, rebuilding strength	Heart health, especially for women
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)	2022	Bicycle accident	Hospitalization, cognitive rest	Memory loss, balance issues, depression	Brain injury awareness
Thyroglossal Duct Cyst	2023	Trauma from bike accident	Throat surgery	Relearning how to sing	Resilience, overcoming adversity

The Path to Recovery and a Renewed Perspective

Through her health battles, Amy Grant has shown remarkable resilience, using her experiences to advocate and connect with others. Her journey has shifted her perspective, valuing family and personal connections more. She is more intentional about her health and balancing life and career. Grant has also openly shared the mental health challenges, like depression, that accompanied her physical recovery.

Conclusion: A Testament to Resilience

Amy Grant's health journey demonstrates her strength and determination. What was Amy Grant's illness, or rather, illnesses, reveals a multifaceted path of recovery. From a life-threatening heart condition to a traumatic brain injury and subsequent throat surgery, she faced each challenge with grace. Her story encourages prioritizing health and finding gratitude, proving that even a "beat-up car" can be restored. For more on her heart condition, resources are available from the American Heart Association.

Frequently Asked Questions

Amy Grant was diagnosed with Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (PAPVR), a rare congenital heart defect where some of her pulmonary veins were improperly connected to her heart.

Amy Grant underwent open-heart surgery in June 2020 to correct her PAPVR condition, which was described by her doctor as a "ticking time bomb".

Her traumatic brain injury (TBI) was caused by a bicycle accident in July 2022 when she hit a pothole near her home in Nashville.

Following her TBI, Amy Grant experienced short-term memory loss and balance issues. Her cognitive processing was slower for months, and she also went through a period of depression during her recovery.

Yes, after a thyroglossal duct cyst was surgically removed from her throat in 2023, Amy Grant had to work with a vocal coach to relearn how to use her voice.

She was diagnosed by chance during a routine medical checkup that she attended with her husband, Vince Gill. She was initially asymptomatic and unaware of the serious defect.

While she feels much better and has largely recovered, she has noted some persistent, though improved, issues with her balance and memory. She continues to manage her health with a renewed sense of purpose.

Her multiple health scares have shifted her perspective, making her more intentional about her health and family. She has expressed a profound sense of gratitude and appreciation for life.