When DreamWorks execs asked pop songstress Amy Grant to sing a ballad for "The Prince of Egypt" soundtrack (released yesterday), little did they know that the five-time Grammy winner has been preparing for an Old Testament-themed project since childhood. "Of course, I grew up as your typical Southern church kid, having seen every version of the story of Moses," Grant tells EW Online. "I'm just glad I was invited to the party."

Widely considered the first lady of Contemporary Christian music, Grant, 38, took her sweetly soulful voice to the top of the charts in 1991 with "Baby Baby," making her one of the first Christian singers to break into mainstream music. Now preparing for her sixth annual Christmas concert (with Michael W. Smith and CeCe Winans), which tours 20 cities starting this Friday in Omaha, Grant says the emergence of such Contemporary Christian musicians as Kirk Franklin and DC Talk on the mainstream pop charts is a reflection of listeners' needs. "It's hard to live very long as a human being and not confront a crisis in faith and deal with your own sense of hopelessness," she says. "This music can feed people who are spiritually malnourished."

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