CECE WINANS:

Backstage with a Celebrity Mom

by

Mike & Amy Nappa

The voice becomes wistful, almost like a child making a Christmas list. The woman speaking is internationally known recording artist, CeCe Winans. Throughout her career she’s won numerous Grammy Awards, taken home even more Dove Awards, released several gold and platinum albums, toured the world, appeared on uncountable television broadcasts and charted a handful of number one songs. But right now, this mother of two is concentrating on more important things.

"If I could give children all over the world any three things," she says thoughtfully, "I would give them Christ first. It would change their lives for the rest of their lives. It would allow them to have Christmas all year round."

Voicing the heart of a mother, CeCe continues "[Second], I’d give them good health. We have so many kids suffering all over the world because they don’t have enough to eat. They’re sick. They can’t go to the doctor."

Now she pauses, not wanting to waste her last selection. Finally, she states firmly. "[Third], I would give them laughter. Our kids nowadays don’t laugh enough. They’re not allowed to be children for some reason. And laughter is a medicine. It’s a wonderful thing." She breathes a satisfied sigh. "Those are the three things I would give children."

You only have to speak with CeCe Winans for a few moments to realize why she takes such care answering questions about imaginary gifts for children. Simply put, this Mom cares about kids. Mention her two teenaged children—Alvin Jr. and Ashley—and CeCe’s face lights up with delight.

"Kids are just great, you know? They really are!" she smiles. "Motherhood is an exciting thing for me."

She continues, "Just to see them grow is an incredible experience to me. First of all, to carry them—what a great experience! Then to see their faces. To see them grow into young adults, to maturity. To see them laugh. To be there with them when they’re crying. To be able to make them feel better. It’s a wonderful feeling as a mom. To even get worn out! I don’t know why that’s a wonderful feeling, but it is. To be worn out by your children is great to me."

And, truth be told, CeCe Winans is very familiar with that worn-out feeling. As a working mom, her career creates unusual family strains. For CeCe, a day at the office could mean anything from long hours in the studio, to a trip across the world to perform a concert, to a publicity appearance on a radio or TV show, or more. But despite the hectic challenges of balancing her career and family, CeCe remains determined to keep her priorities in focus.

"It’s something I’ve had to fight for," she reports, "because people will not put your family first. They’ll put the business things first, and the appearances first, and I’ve had to demand that my family be a priority. And now they know what I stand for and what I believe in, so it works."

Because of that firm commitment to her family, CeCe works hard to make time with her family, often taking her children on the road with her and, with the help of another woman, homeschooling her kids.

She laughs when describing her homeschool experience, "I’m the principal! They hate to see the principal come ‘cause I’m the disciplinarian. But it works because they can come with me more often and they’re both very involved in the arts and they’re doing plays and they have a love for this thing. So the homeschooling’s been a real blessing."

CeCe credits her own childhood experience as the thing that’s instilled such strong familial priorities in her life today. Of course, that doesn’t mean she was always a perfect little girl. In fact, she admits to being a bit of a rebel in her youth.

Don’t believe it? Then check out CeCe Winans at the Grammy awards, surrounded by her buddies, Whitney Houston and Lauryn Hill. Growing up in a home that outlawed anything but gospel music, CeCe would’ve gotten in big trouble with her parents for bringing home a CD by either one of these red-hot mainstream divas.

"None of those friends of mine could I listen to then!" she laughs. "I mean we grew up in Detroit—you know, Motown sound [and] we heard it now…Stevie Wonder and the Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin—we definitely heard it. But we had to hear it at somebody else’s house! Don’t even think about bringing it into our house!"

Thankfully, it appears Mom and Pop Winans have forgiven their wayward daughter for her youthful indiscretions, but like an Alabaster Box that hides secret perfume inside, CeCe Winans is full of hidden treasure and talents.

For instance, her album, Alabaster Box, contains a few previously hidden gems. The title song was one she actually picked up years ago while touring in support of her first (and Grammy award-winning) solo album, Alone in His Presence. And the touching melody, "It Wasn’t Easy" is a song she carried around inside her for over five years before placing it on this new album.

She explains, "I was in church and my pastor was preaching on how we as Christians, a lot of times we take the crucifixion so lightly." During that sermon, the power of the gospel and Christ’s sacrifice entranced the singer once again, and before the sermon’s end she had the chorus for "It Wasn’t Easy" all mapped out in her mind. And what happened next?

"I never really finished it," she admits with a smile. "And every now and then, it would come back to me and I would just sing that. And so when I started doing [Alabaster Box], I was like—‘It Wasn’t Easy. Oh, I’ve got to finish this song.’ So we finished it for the album, but I had no recourse. It was just in my heart."

Her most recent album, simply titled CeCe Winans, holds a few secret treasures as well. For instance, the song "More Than What I Wanted," was originally written as a love song between a man and a woman. "When I heard ['More Than What I Wanted']," CeCe says, "it just moved me...I was like, ‘I’ve got to do this song! And I’m not saying 'baby,'  ’cause this is what I feel about the Lord.’ He is more than what I wanted. He has been so good to me. I don’t deserve how great He’s been."

Also, the song, "No One," appears on this album as a result of intense lobbying by CeCe's children. She reports, "My son, who was fourteen at the time, heard this song and said, ‘Mom, you’ve got to listen to this. I think it’s the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard.’" Now, looking back on the finished product, CeCe affirms her son was right. "Every time I hear ["No One"], I’m blessed by it," she says. "It’s my favorite song on the CD.

Another secret in the life of this busy mom is the work she does behind the scenes to encourage not just her fans, but brothers and sisters in the family of God. Picture, if you will, the poor young woman in a New York City hospital, suffering from a serious disease and unable to come to a CeCe Winans concert scheduled in her home city.

Unexpectedly, the phone rings in her hospital room. Reaching to answer the line, she hears a voice on the other end:

"Hello, this is CeCe Winans."

The response is immediate. "No you’re not. You’re playing. Who is this really?"

"Really. This is CeCe Winans."

The artist goes on to explain that she’d heard this young woman was ill and wanted to call and encourage and pray for her. And still, in the hospital bed lies unbelief that someone like CeCe Winans would really do something like this. So what does CeCe do? What she does best: She sings. A little melody, true, but something to remind the patient that God—and CeCe—really care about what she’s going through. The call only lasts a few moments, and ends with a prayer, but for the person in the hospital, life has gotten just a little bit better.

Press the divine Ms. Winans about it, and she’ll finally reveal she does this kind of thing more often than you’d expect. Sometimes singing, sometimes just talking, and always praying. She shrugs as if she’s uncomfortable talking about it and presses for the conclusion of this topic by saying, "You know, that’s great when you get to do something like that." And suddenly you realize that’s all she’s going to tell you about that part of her life.

The latest "big thing" in CeCe Winans life, however, is no secret. It’s her record label, Wellspring Gospel. CeCe describes her efforts as a record label executive this way, "Oh, it’s work. It’s work!" She smiles then continues, "But I felt like it was something that was needed in this industry and this world. We just need more God-fearing companies to put out music. I think a lot of things hit you differently when your children love music and the stuff that they have out there is a wreck. You know? It’s very scary…

"But I really plan on taking it slow and building as God brings those people in…So that’s where we are, but we hope to grow into something that is definitely going to give God glory."

That, it seems, is the foundation for all that CeCe Winans does—for the record albums, the books, the TV shows, the live performances, for her family, for her church, and so on. Asked to share her Life Mission Statement, she doesn’t hesitate, saying simply, "To serve… I’d like to be known as just a server of Christ, which is a server of people."

And that’s what you find when you look backstage at this celebrity mom—not so much CeCe Winans, superstar. But CeCe Winans, servant. And that’s just the way she likes it.

[SIDEBAR]

You can check out CeCe Winans’ web site at www.cecewinans.com, and leave a message for her in the web site’s guest book or by sending email to: webmaster@cecewinans.com

Or send a letter to CeCe at: CeCe Winans/Wellspring Gospel, c/o Sparrow Labels Group, 101 Winners Circle, Brentwood, TN 37024.