Ann-Margret Interview: 'I know why I'm still here'
Ann-Margret is celebrating 10 years of partnership with Greenhaw Records, and the Christian Post was fortunate enough to speak with the legend about her faith and why it's so important for her to record Gospel music.
Many young people may not immediately recognize the name Ann-Margret, but to anyone who does, you know she is a legend in her own right. She has acted with Elvis, Sophia Loren, Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon; performed with entire choruses, Della Reese and Kitty Kallen.
Life has certainly had its ups and downs for the star, but through it all she has held on to the faith that was installed at a young age. "I always went to Sunday school, sang in the choir. When I came to America from Sweden, mother and I, we went to Chicago, where our relatives lived. We went to Trinity Lutheran Church, and when we moved, we went to Trinity Luther Church in that town."
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She has recorded several albums with Art Greenhaw, and this year marks the 10-year anniversary of their partnership. Ann-Margret told the CP that God had a hand in their initial meeting. "I knew Art; he happened to be a friend of one of our crew members, and all of a sudden I got a beautiful bouquet from Mr. Art Greenhaw. He wrote some beautiful things, and then this crew member said he wanted to introduce us."
"I was doing the tour for 'Best Little Whorehouse in Texas' and this gentleman (Greenhaw) came backstage and said he wanted to do a Gospel album with me. 'How do you know?' I asked him. That was something that had been so deep, deep inside of me. I mean, my mother and father, aunts and uncles all knew, but nobody else did. 'I know,' Art said. It just blew my mind."
In 1972 Ann-Margret fell 22 feet during a stage show, fracturing several facial bones, breaking her jawbone in two places, injuring a knee and breaking her left arm. She was back on stage within 10 weeks and says that there was a reason for the accident. "I've always tried to do my very best, and I want to be the very best age, whatever age I am. I know there's a reason. I knew there was a reason for the accident."
"When I woke up and realized I was alive, that there was a reason. Through the years I have been able to talk to people who have wanted my help in some way. I do know [why I'm here] and I've known since then [1972] why I am still here."
She is always mindful of her upbringing and gives full credit to her parents for giving her "so many values, so many that I can't even explain." Ann-Margret is preparing for her next project, which will take her back to her Swedish roots. "I am going to do something that I am very excited about," she said. "I am going to do a film in Sweden; they're still writing the script, which is halfway done. That should be starting in June."
When asked about the movie's plotline, Ann-Margret laughed and said, "I'm not going to tell you anything! You'll just have to wait and see."
