Getting to Know Aunt CeCe (Winans)

Summary

With The Perrys Podcast: “Getting to Know Aunt CeCe (Winans)” — Episode Summary Date: December 15, 2025
Hosts: Preston Perry and Jackie Hill Perry
Guest: CeCe Winans

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Episode Overview

In this engaging and heartfelt episode, Preston and Jackie Hill Perry share the couch with the legendary gospel artist CeCe Winans—affectionately “Aunt CeCe.” The conversation delves into CeCe’s faith journey, her family background, her influential music career, the balance between public ministry and private responsibility, lessons on boundaries, and the transformative power of prayer—especially as a parent. Packed with wisdom, laughter, and authentic storytelling, the episode offers a rare, personal glimpse into CeCe’s heart, her humility, and her enduring, Christ-centered vision.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. CeCe’s Roots: Family & Salvation Story

• Given Name & Family History
  • CeCe’s real name is Priscilla ([00:53]) and her brother BeBe is Benjamin.
  • The Winans family has a tradition of September birthdays—“Every day in September is almost somebody” ([01:43]).
• Faith Foundations
  • Grew up in a large, musically gifted, faith-centered family.
  • Salvation was not a single dramatic event:

    “I fell in love with the Spirit of God first… probably about nine years old, I asked the Lord to come into my heart, you know, but I fell in love with him, I think before then.” ([04:00])

  • Prayer with her grandmother had a lasting impact ([03:40]).
  • Early understanding of God’s love gradually overrode her childhood fear of hell ([05:14]).
• Staying "in" the Church
  • Never had a rebellious “outside” phase:

    “I had a lot of friends who did...and I just kind of stayed in and prayed for.” ([06:32])

2. Musical Journey: Motown to Gospel Icons

• Early Days
  • Singing was ever-present at home: “Singing was always a part of our lives…I was in the kids choir…My first solo was at 8” ([07:14]).
  • No one leveraged her talent as a child; she found joy in the background until later opportunities ([07:14]).
  • Andre Crouch’s mentorship pivotal for her and the Winans ([08:34]).
• Becoming BeBe & CeCe
  • Formed as a duo somewhat by accident when a performance was particularly well received ([08:34]).
  • Their cross-genre appeal (gospel and R&B) drew both acclaim and criticism:

    “We got a lot of flack...because in our home, all we could listen to was gospel…but we also grew up on Motown” ([10:11]).

3. Christ-Centered Influence Amidst Industry Pressures

• Staying True to the Message
  • CeCe’s music remains biblically sound, even as it’s embraced by the secular world ([13:48]).
  • Shared meaningful connections: e.g., Whitney Houston showing up at a BeBe & CeCe concert—

    “She came…on stage with us singing our songs better than we've ever sang them in our lives.” ([16:34])

• Blending Excellence and Integrity
  • Navigates fame by maintaining boundaries and the fear of the Lord:

    “When the fear of the Lord dictates what you do, you’re gonna have to say no to some lucrative stuff.” ([28:50])

  • The temptation to say yes must be balanced by responsibilities at home:

    “God is first, and then it’s my family…and then it’s everything else” ([18:01]).

4. Boundaries, Humility, and Prioritizing Home

• Respectful Boundaries
  • CeCe helps others set boundaries respectfully, e.g., teaching younger artists how and when to say no ([20:44]).
  • "People didn’t see me as CeCe Winans, the singer. There I was just, CeCe, sit down and hush up… They didn’t treat us like we were stars.” ([25:54])
• Keeping Home Central
  • The importance of home and church life as grounding forces:

    “Home humbles you.” ([32:17])
    “If you’re not…the home church—it’s the same thing.” ([32:53])

• Balancing Public and Private Roles
  • Open about the challenges of prioritizing marriage and parenthood while sustaining a public ministry ([17:48], [18:01]).
  • “When you honor God, he will honor you. And people might be mad at you… but then they’ll come around too.” ([31:13])

5. Celebrity, Church, and Real Community

• Boundaries at Church
  • CeCe asserts her boundaries at her own church:

    “I have to tell a lot of people no, because again, I fear the Lord. I’m not going to be in the church and y’all taking pictures. It’s not my concert.” ([34:50])

  • Encourages others to “show up as human” and not buy into celebrity culture ([38:02]).

6. Bridging Generations & Evolving Creatively

• Staying Relevant
  • Collaborating with younger artists (e.g., Brandon Lake) comes from embracing generational wisdom and input:

    “Having younger people around you…they’ll keep you in touch.” ([43:37])

  • Open to adapting her music without losing her identity—"I'm not trying to be 12" ([43:55])—and focuses on what God wants her to do ([45:02]).

7. Testimony: Prayer, Parenting, and Transformation

• Alvin III’s Redemption Story
  • CeCe shares the moving account of her son’s spiritual transformation in Australia:

    “He was messed up…He told God, whoever gets me first, me or the devil, that's the way I’m going…Got over there, hooked up with a friend…goes to this little church and God gets a hold of him.” ([46:51]–[48:00])
    “The Holy Spirit said, ‘I did all of this, and you were nowhere around.’” ([49:59])

  • Encourages parents to trust God deeply:

    “Love your kids, but don’t compromise for your kids. I love you, but I’m not going to hell for you either.” ([51:10]) “God will do it…and he’ll do it to the extent that you don’t even recognize them.” ([52:22])

8. Practical Wisdom for the Next Generation

• Parenting & Simplicity
  • “Keep it simple…You never get too educated for that.” ([55:35])
  • “The goal is to be like Jesus…As long as that’s your goal, you’re going to be fine.” ([56:14])
  • “Careers and popularity, that'll go up, that'll go down…But your relationship with Jesus…remains the same. It’s stable. It’s the only thing you can trust.” ([57:17])

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• CeCe on Motivation:

  “The Lord just allowed our music to go places that we didn’t know it would go. R&B radio. We had more R&B hits than we had in the gospel.” ([14:43])

• CeCe on God’s Faithfulness:

  “When you honor God, he will honor you.” ([31:13])

• On Celebrity & Authenticity:

  “The way people will be able to get rid of the facade of who you are is you actually showing up as who you are. Human. And saying no to things that continue to prop up this image.” ([38:02])

• On Parenting and Prayer:

  “If I compromise, who’s going to bring you back, you know? …Every kid has to choose Him for themselves.” ([51:10], [54:59])

• On Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing:

  “I don’t worship what I do. I worship who He is.” ([56:51])

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• CeCe’s Name, Family, Early Faith: [00:53]–[06:32]
• The Winans, Early Music Career: [07:14]–[08:34]
• Impact & Integrity in Music Industry: [13:19]–[16:43]
• Motherhood, Marriage, Priorities: [17:48]–[19:43]
• Boundaries and Church Life: [20:44]–[25:54], [33:08]–[35:40]
• Money & Ministry: [28:28]–[31:13]
• Home and Humility: [32:17]–[33:14]
• Navigating Modern Church & Fame: [34:38]–[38:53]
• Creativity Across Generations: [41:23]–[45:08]
• The Story of Alvin III: [45:18]–[54:11]
• Advice for Parents, Spiritual Anchoring: [54:57]–[57:32]

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Episode Tone & Takeaways

Rich with humor, affectionate storytelling, theological depth, and hard-won wisdom, the conversation pulses with warmth and authenticity. CeCe’s humility and principled consistency, in both her personal and public life, serve as an inspiration for listeners navigating calling, family, faith, and influence.

Final word:

“Just keep it simple and be consistent in the things that matter.” — CeCe Winans ([57:18])

Transcript

[Host 1]

Foreign. How are you?

[Host 2]

What up with y'?

[CeCe Winans]

All?

[Host 1]

Preston is very green.

[Host 2]

I am.

[Host 1]

You know what I'm saying?

[Host 2]

You know what I'm saying? Like it.

[Host 1]

Remember the whiz? Green.

[Host 2]

It worked. Did you ever see the Whiz with Michael Jackson?

[Host 1]

Yes.

[Host 2]

Yeah. Yeah. It was. That's the only wizard Oz that I like.

[Host 1]

Okay.

[Host 2]

Because I didn't like the first one.

[CeCe Winans]

Why not?

[Host 2]

It was creepy.

[Host 1]

Why?

[CeCe Winans]

It was just a creepy show.

[Host 1]

I mean, it's about a witch.

[CeCe Winans]

Oh.

[Host 2]

That's probably why my spirit wasn't. Wasn't being witness.

[Host 1]

You might have been discerning something. I don't even honestly, truly, genuinely want to banter long because we have Ms. CeCe Winans.

[CeCe Winans]

Ms. CeCe on the couch. Auntie Cece, Miss Priscilla. How are you all Miss Priscilla?

[Host 1]

Because people be thinking that's what your mama named you is Cece.

[CeCe Winans]

That's right. And that is not what she means. So that's your real name. Priscilla. Priscilla. Well, I didn't know that.

[Host 1]

I told somebody that one time. They said. Really? I said, cece is so drilled into our minds that we think that's on the birth certificate.

[CeCe Winans]

And it's not. It is not Priscilla.

[Host 2]

And you gotta tell us, if he don't mind, you gotta tell us Bibi. Real name now.

[CeCe Winans]

Benjamin.

[Host 2]

Benjamin.

[Host 1]

I was gonna say Bernard.

[CeCe Winans]

You didn't get it. It's Benjamin, Uncle Bibi. Benjamin.

[Host 1]

I didn't deserve that.

[CeCe Winans]

Actually, Priscilla, he just had a birthday.

[Host 2]

I saw on.

[CeCe Winans]

Yeah, Yeah. A lot of Winans are in September. My mom was right after him. But Debbie. Debbie's, like, in the. Well, she's September 3rd. Then Ashley, she's not a Winans, but she's the fifth, and then Joy, my niece, is the sixth, and then BB's the 17th.

[Host 1]

That's an expensive month.

[CeCe Winans]

It's a lot. My mom's the 22nd, and Debbie's son Jackson's 23rd. It's like every day in September is almost somebody. Wow. Yeah.

[Host 1]

Well, we are grateful that you are here. We have.

[Host 2]

Thanks for coming, man. This. This means a lot.

[CeCe Winans]

You're welcome.

[Host 1]

A ton of questions. I just told Ms. Cece, I said, we don't plan out our questions now.

[CeCe Winans]

I want you to know, Auntie Cece.

[Host 2]

Every time somebody asks me about you, I say, this is one of the sa people I ever met in my life. You like?

[CeCe Winans]

Like, that's great.

[Host 2]

Like, I remember. I remember you came to our event.

[CeCe Winans]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

In Nashville. And you didn't greet us with a hey. You said, come here, let me pray.

[Host 1]

For you.

[Host 2]

You guys are so nasty. You just prayed and it was so. It was so beautiful and sincere and I felt. And so every time I'm around you, it's always a joy.

[CeCe Winans]

Oh, well, praise God. I'm so proud of y'. All. You guys are amazing. What God is doing in you and through you is just incredible.

[Host 2]

And Auntie Cece read my book. I gotta say it.

[CeCe Winans]

Oh, it's so good.

[Host 2]

Tell us about it.

[CeCe Winans]

Yeah, I mean, it's good in every way. Telling your story, how you came to know the Lord, your grandmother.

[Host 2]

You really read it?

[CeCe Winans]

Oh my goodness. So good. How you say you were supposed to listen. We evangelize. Not only did I read it, I learned a lot.

[Host 2]

It was really. I'm going to be struggling with pride.

[CeCe Winans]

You need to say, no, no, you gotta be humble.

[Host 2]

After. I'm just playing.

[CeCe Winans]

There she goes.

[Host 1]

She's in it now.

[Host 2]

He resisted rebuke me and gives grace to the humble. No, I'm really, I'm, I'm really, I'm really.

[CeCe Winans]

No, really great. Really great book. Really.

[Host 1]

Thank you.

[Host 2]

I appreciate it.

[CeCe Winans]

We'll talk about it some more later.

[Host 2]

Thank you.

[Host 1]

So I think one of my questions, people may be familiar with this, but I'm, I'm not.

[CeCe Winans]

Okay.

[Host 1]

You come from a really big family, a very talented family, a very God oriented family. But I'm curious of. On how God met you, you know, like what your salvation story is, because I can't say I ever heard it before.

[CeCe Winans]

Yeah, it's not really a story story. As much as I fell in love with the Lord as a kid again, my great grandfather was a pastor and anointed us and prayed for us. And my grandmother. That's why when I was reading your book about your grandmother, she was my best friend. My father's mother and I used to go to prayer with her all the time. 6:00am Prayer, 12:00 clock. Where she was just my best friend, really. And I fell in love with the spirit of God first. You know, just being in his presence, seeing people pray and I just, I just always sensed it. And, and so probably about, probably about nine years old, I asked the Lord to come into my heart, you know, but I fell in love with him, I think before then and wanted to please him. He did something in my heart as a kid and. But, but that's the age when you have to. Where the Holy Spirit will start. You start making choices on your own. It was like, you know what? You know, I was like, I was, you know, when you're raised in church, you go down to the altar probably every Sunday.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

To say, lord, forgive me for this, forgive me for that. And I want to accept you again just in case. Because one thing I learned early on as a kid was that I didn't want to go to hell. That's good. Yeah. That's because they taught on hell a lot back then.

[Host 1]

Oh, yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

So I didn't want to go there. I knew I didn't want to go there. But then a little later on, I was introduced and really understood the love of God, and that's been my motivator ever since then. So I was about nine years old, I asked the Lord to come into my heart, and I just been striving to please him.

[Host 1]

Did you ever have a phase? Because I've heard of people who were raised Christian or raised in context where they have a phase where they get out into the world, and it's like they have to live out their faith differently because they're not in the safety of their home, church, or their family or underneath parental covering. Was that a thing for you, or you just. You was locked in?

[CeCe Winans]

I have made my share of mistakes, but as far as a phase of wanting to be outside of the will of God, I thought you were just.

[Host 1]

Gonna say outside, but that works, too. It's like, she is so relevant.

[CeCe Winans]

I can't.

[Host 1]

No.

[CeCe Winans]

I don't know nothing about it.

[Host 1]

I want it to be outside.

[Host 2]

That's hilarious.

[CeCe Winans]

If any. Anything comes out like that, you know, it's a mistake.

[Host 1]

I understand.

[CeCe Winans]

But outside of. No. I never really had a phase where I wanted to be outside. I had a lot of friends who did, you know, who were raised in the church with me, and, you know, felt like they had to get out and do something different, you know, And I just kind of stayed in and prayed for. I love that.

[Host 1]

Yeah, he was like a little.

[Host 2]

Eli, did you ever get tired of just being Cece Wine and singing? I'm just tired of serving the church with my gift. People knowing who I am, taking pictures of me everywhere I go.

[Host 1]

Well, even before we get there, you know, the question is, were you. Were people even leveraging that when you were young? How did you even step into singing?

[CeCe Winans]

Awesome. No, they weren't leveraging that. When I was young, as you said earlier, my whole family sang. You know, we were from Detroit. Probably everybody in the city sang, but. But singing was always a part of our lives. But it was. I was in the kids choir. You know, I didn't get into TV until I was, like, 17 or 18 years old, but it's called PTL. PTA.

[Host 1]

Praise the Lord.

[CeCe Winans]

Praise the Lord.

[Host 2]

That was a network.

[CeCe Winans]

That was the network. The Christian TV show. It was a big. With Tammy Baker. And so I'll tell you how we got there. But. But so growing up in church was just growing up in church. We were at Sunday school. We were there from. From whatever time, 8 o' clock until 10 o' clock at night, because that's when you ate at church and you had, you know, the kids hang out and the youth hang out. And so that's what it was. You know, I did my first solo when I was 8, but that's because my parents and the Sunshine Band teacher said she needs. She can sing the song. You know, I didn't want to. Never really wanted to be out front, but I always loved to sing, so we always sang in the choir background. My first. My first job was probably singing backgrounds for Andre Crouch.

[Host 1]

That's a big deal.

[CeCe Winans]

That's a big deal. Met him, he had heard about the Winans, and that's how my brothers got signed. So up until then, we were just singing in church and doing school, working jobs, doing different things. And then Andre heard about us, that there was a family in Detroit, Michigan, that could sing and end up giving my brothers, the Winans, their contract on Light Records. So my brothers started out, and then Bibi and I went. A friend of ours was the musical director at ptl and they needed some singers, so we went as part of that group. We auditioned and Tammy gave us a song to sing, Love Lift Us up, which we changed. They wanted to change it to Lord, Lift Us Up. And we sang that song together. And they started saying, with those two, can we get those two little colored kids to come to our church? You know, we hadn't planned on being a duet, but when we sang that song together, people started requesting for us to come. And that's how BB and CC got started.

[Host 2]

Y' all made some powerful music together, too. And, yeah, I used to make my mom cry.

[Host 1]

In hindsight, I'm like, y' all was making pop a little bit.

[CeCe Winans]

You know what I'm saying?

[Host 1]

Y' all was making. Y' all was making some. You understand what I'm saying?

[Host 2]

Voices are butter silk.

[Host 1]

No, but even the vibe, like, was that intentional to. To make music that was contemporary?

[CeCe Winans]

It was. But, you know, when we came out, we. We got a lot of. We got some flack, but she said I wasn't around. I'm just imagining. You weren't even born, were you? Not even Born. You were born 89. No, you weren't born. I was married at 84. And 84 years ago. Yeah, y' all weren't even. Y' all are babies.

[Host 1]

That's why I said in hindsight.

[CeCe Winans]

But. But we. We got a lot of flack, but we were taken back by it because in our home, all we could listen to was gospel music. And because of that and we, all of us being lovers of gospel music and should I say music, period, we're in Motown. You know, my mom and dad both sang.

[Host 1]

Hopefully, you know, y' all are going to the doctor, getting your lab visits, stuff like that. Especially some of y' all ate a little bit too much turkey. We want to just talk about health for a quick second. We got kids, so I personally want to stay healthy for them. And I found out that we all have two ages. The number on our license is one age. And then there's our body's biological age. And get this. I may have already lowered mine without even realizing it. From prayer and field of greens. Here's the problem. Most Americans eat tons of processed food and not nearly enough fruits and vegetables. That means many of us are actually old, 10 to sometimes 15 years older on the inside than our real age. Like a ticking time bomb. But a major university study found a way to slow all that down. And all it took was filled the greens. No diet changes, even though you should. No new workouts, even though you should just field of greens. Every fruit and vegetable and field of greens is doctor selected for specific health benefits for your cells, your heart, your lungs, your kidney, not your soul. But it all works together. That gives me peace of mind knowing that we can slow down how fast we are aging so that we can be there for our people.

[Host 2]

Personally, I'm a burger and french fry, hot wing type of guy, so I typically don't have a lot of vegetable intake. And so that's the reason why I personally use filet greens, because it's just good to that vegetable intake on the go. Something that's good and healthy while at the same time helping my little digestive system. So field of greens is a go for me.

[Host 1]

So check out the university study and get 20% off when you use promo code [e-mail] that is fieldofgreens.com using the promo code Perry.

[CeCe Winans]

So they made sure that we could hear everything. So we grew up on contemporary music along with the hymns, along with Shirley Caesar, along with the mighty clouds of joy, you know, so we had a lot of. We had Everything in our home.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

Andre Crouch came. I mean, my goodness, you can play his stuff now. And it's still.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

The best of. Of anything, you know, Best of everything, should I say. But he was very contemporary, so we didn't know that the rest of the world felt like gospel music should have been with a pipe organ, you know, so. Yeah. So that was like, what. What are y' all talking about?

[Host 2]

I have a question. Yeah, you. You and Bibi, your whole family. I've been very successful. Y' all put out some really great music. And I'm always intrigued when gospel artists operate in a level of excellence that allows them to mingle in the world in ways that other artists don't have the opportunity to. I told you once before, like, I saw a video pop up and you talking about your relationship with Whitney Houston. And I just know I've. I've literally heard so many secular artists reference you.

[CeCe Winans]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Like, how much they love you. But your music has always been Christ centered. It's always been biblically sound. And as an evangelist, that's always been so inspiring to me. When people in the world can actually love people who talk about Jesus. For real.

[CeCe Winans]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Like, throughout the years, we've never seen your music compromise. It's always been Christ exalting and all the things. And so I guess as an evangelist, I'm just curious. I was talking to Kirk Franklin one time, and he was just telling me all the unique opportunities that he has to build with people. How has it been for you, you know, and being able to rub shoulders with people who are in the world who love you, but they probably not walking the walk that you walking.

[CeCe Winans]

Right.

[Host 2]

Like, how's it been?

[CeCe Winans]

First of all, it's been awesome. And I have to give a lot of credit to. Of course, all credit goes to God, but a lot of credit to my brothers, the Winans. I can listen to their stuff today, and it is so powerful.

[Host 2]

5.

[CeCe Winans]

It is. It's everything but. But totally biblically sound. And. And that was always our goal was to allow the Lord to use our music to do whatever he wanted to do, you know? And so the Lord just allowed our music to go places that we didn't know it would go. R and B radio. We had more R and B hits than we had in the gospel.

[Host 2]

Wow. World.

[CeCe Winans]

So our first Grammy Award. I mean, we grew up doing our own Grammy Awards. Cause there was so many of us. It's 10 of us. So we 10 of y'. All. Oh, yeah. My mom had seven boys, and I have two sisters. So it's 10 of us, so, you know, I could be doing a speech. And we. We doing our crowd noise. We're doing everything. And so when it actually happens, like, oh, my God, we're really here. And so we're rubbing shoulders with Stevie Wonder and this person. And so you brought up Whitney. We were at the Image Awards the year she came out, and we crossed each other's path in the lobby, and she was like, bebe and cece. And I'm just like, how. How does she know us? And she started singing our stuff.

[Host 2]

Oh, wow. Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

It was like, wow. I'm like, what? And she was like, are y' all singing around here? I said, what you talking about? And I'm like, we actually are. We were singing in this small little place called Council. Concert by the Sea. It was called Concert by the Sea. And a lot of artists would do different showcases there. And it was a little ride, too, from la, if I remember right. And she's like, where are you guys going to be? And we told her. She's like, okay, I'm going to see you guys. And then we were like, yeah, right. Because this is the year she came out and she's winning everything.

[Host 1]

Yep.

[CeCe Winans]

But she showed up that night.

[Host 2]

Oh, wow.

[CeCe Winans]

She came. She came to Concerts by the Sea, ended up on stage with us singing our songs better than we've ever sang them in our lives.

[Host 2]

Wow.

[CeCe Winans]

So I was like, it's time for you to get off the stage.

[Host 2]

Is there a video of that?

[CeCe Winans]

Probably. I know. I know. I have pictures of that night because my. My son Alvin at the time was probably. I don't know about. Maybe it was four. Maybe it was about four years old at the time.

[Host 2]

Because you're my favorite gospel singer.

[CeCe Winans]

Thank you.

[Host 2]

I don't think I've ever told you that.

[CeCe Winans]

No.

[Host 2]

And Whitney Houston is probably my favorite secular singer.

[CeCe Winans]

Oh, my gosh.

[Host 2]

So to see that together, that's like Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

[Host 1]

Somebody would camcorder because that's what. They didn't have, no cell phones.

[CeCe Winans]

That's right. That's right.

[Host 1]

One of the wrestles I tend to find myself in is it can sometimes be difficult when you have gifts and you have the ability to walk in those gifts in a variety of ways where you can give your yeses to a lot of people, yet you're a wife and a mother, and so you have to always prioritize home over public calling.

[CeCe Winans]

That's right.

[Host 1]

How have you navigated that? Or how did you navigate that in the early Years of your marriage, of mothering, while also having a career.

[CeCe Winans]

Well, you. You just said it. I was taught that.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

Taught that you're called to be a wife and a mother first. I remember even. Even before I got married, we were singing. I was on p. Tail for a few years, and then I met Alvin and we got married. And I remember my brother Marvin sitting down with me saying, now, you know, if he tell you to stop singing, you got to stop singing.

[Host 1]

That's scary. Oh, well, it would have been for me.

[CeCe Winans]

And I said, yeah, I know that. He said, okay, as long as, you know that my husband is. He's been Nothing but support. 200 support all these years. Praise God.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

But I went in understanding the priority that God is first, and then it's my family, you know, and. And then it's everything else. Yeah. So. So that was. So I had it. You know, sometimes it wasn't as easy with me and Bibi because he's the guy, you know, so. But I was like, okay, I'm gonna do this, this, this, but I'm not doing this.

[Host 1]

Yeah, but he.

[CeCe Winans]

And they may move in a certain. Yeah, he could. He could do it. So. So. But it's. It's keeping your priorities straight.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

And that. That really goes. That goes for us as women, but that goes for everybody. When you really keep your priorities straight, you'll stay on a straight and narrow, you know, And. And there's been times when it's like, okay, God, if you call me to sing, then I gotta make. I need this for the kids. I need to make sure this is. I need to make sure Alvin is good. Such and such. You got to work this out. If you didn't, then I'll have to stay home.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

And he always came through bringing the right people at the right time in the right season, you know, to help. And so I always. Yeah. Always looked up to him and asked him to help.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

If this is your will, you know, and he. He's. He has always made it very clear that it was.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

I got so many questions.

[CeCe Winans]

Okay.

[Host 2]

We talked about boundaries within your home set of expectations. In the age of social media, with so many people are building platforms.

[CeCe Winans]

Right.

[Host 2]

Sometimes it can be hard to try to find that balance of having boundaries, knowing when to say no when I. Every time I run around you, it's very obvious that you're a sweet woman, but it's very obvious that you know what you want, that you're not gonna let nobody run over you.

[CeCe Winans]

Right.

[Host 2]

And I know you just Have a ton of experience of.

[Host 1]

It's the story I could tell, but I can't tell. So in my mind is that story.

[Host 2]

I have that story in the back of my head. Jackie told me I wasn't there, but I'm like, that's the type of.

[Host 1]

Can I share? I'm gonna share it. I'm gonna share a Very, very vaguely.

[Host 2]

She came home and told me that. I said, it was people I knew, I loved.

[Host 1]

Oh, it was fantastic. It was the second generations in the. When y' all moved to the little stadium situation, and I had a host who was helpful and good and stuff like that. But this line started to form where people were taking pictures with me, and when you're the person that the people want to take pictures with, it just becomes odd for you to say, no, I need to go to the back. Da, da, da. So I'm starting to get stuck in this line that's forming. Ms. CeCe came over. She said, where's your host? I said, she right there. And you said something to her. I ain't gonna say what you said, but it was the most firm but kind, direct. It was giving. You're not doing your job, but I'm still gonna respect you, right?

[CeCe Winans]

Of course.

[Host 1]

But you're not doing your job. But it was like, in that moment, it was like I saw, like, the businesswoman, the mother also. I felt delivered. Like you were like Moses a little. Because I needed a red flag. I needed somebody to rescue. But it's because, you know, and so she's. She. You were like, she can't take any more pictures. We'll see y' all afterwards. It was fake, but it wasn't even fake. And so I went and told Pressing that, because I think sometimes I. I think that's what I respect about even maturity and older folk, is that y'.

[Host 2]

All.

[Host 1]

Y' all know how to be respectful and firm in a way that's not people pleasing. And that's what it gave. It's like, nah. Like, that's. That's a boundary, and that's the reason.

[Host 2]

Why I asked the question, because I.

[Host 1]

Had to give context.

[CeCe Winans]

Okay.

[Host 2]

I'm friends with a lot of Christian influencers or whatever, and they just don't be knowing how to say no. They don't know how to not let people take advantage of them, you know? And I think the older generation, y', all, especially for somebody who's been doing.

[CeCe Winans]

This longer for a long time, right?

[Host 2]

You just. You just know what you got the capacity for. You ain't gonna Let nobody bully you. You know, a couple years ago, the Lord started to put it on my heart to start an online community group for men. Because just going out doing events, one of the things that I saw the most is just men are lonely. We need community. We need to know that, you know, not only do God care, but there's people out there, men out there, other men, who will love you, who cares. And so that's the reason why I'm starting an online community group called the Sons of Man, where we would talk about real issues, where we can have a real community, you know, where we can have a safe place to come and. And just be men. Vent. But also, one of the main reasons why I started, you know, Sons of Man is because I want us to see how Jesus's humanity relates to our. Our manhood, right? God became man. And so not only do I see you, but most of all, God sees you. And so in this community, we're going to be consistently reminded how we're seen by a holy and righteous God, how we're loved by holy and righteous God, and harass sons by holy and righteous God. What you'll expect from this community group is realness. I mean, I'm always real on every platform that you see me on, but y' all gonna see a part of Preston that y' all don't see nowhere else. We're gonna have real, intimate, honest, transparent conversations that's only in house. Um, so social media, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, they not gonna get this. Y' all gonna get this. Not only that, y' all gonna get exclusive, real FaceTime videos with me. Well, you know, you can ask me questions in real time, and I can just, you know, give you answers in real time, you know, and so, you know, pop up live events or whatever around the country where only my Patreon people will be able to come to. And so I think ultimately what you will get is just exclusive access to me in a way that the other, you know, social media outlets don't have. But also, you're going to get real, honest, transparent conversation that's safe, but at the same time, fruitful and edifying. So, yeah, can't wait to see that.

[CeCe Winans]

Well, well, first of all, that's some of that. A lot of that's going to come with time. You know, I can't say when I was 17 that I didn't maybe do too much, you know, but going back to priorities, when you understand your priorities, that cuts out a lot. When you really respect that and really have your convictions on that so learning how to say no. You learn how to say no because I can't do it. Because, you know, I got babies, I have a husband. God didn't call me to save the world and lose my marriage. You know, So I actually fear God in this. I actually believe him that he's looking at me, you know, and so when you live in a way where you really believe he's looking at you, you know, people say they want God with them at all times, but he is with you at all times. So treating people with respect, and you're supposed to do that, but it doesn't mean you don't say no.

[Host 1]

Yes.

[CeCe Winans]

You understand what I'm saying? So. So a lot of that comes from just having the right order in your life. And again, I'm so grateful for my parents. I'm so grateful for the older saints who didn't just teach us the way, but they lived the word out and they weren't impressed with our gifts. You know, when you grow up and you're around, and that's why being plugged in and really having a home church is so important. I cannot stress the importance of a home church, and a whole lot of people don't feel like that's important, but it's important because people didn't see me as Cece Winans, the singer. There. I was just, cece, sit down and hush up. You know what I'm saying? It's like, no, you came in late. They didn't treat us like we were stars. And a lot of people don't want. Want to submit somewhere because people really get to know you. Yeah. Not just what you do. Wow. You know, and that. That helps in your training, you know, so. So having the balance is. Is very important because if the enemy don't get you one way, he'll get you another way by wearing you out and making you tired and you doing stuff. I remember hearing my pastor's wife say years ago that the Lord revealed to her she was doing all this stuff and she wasn't getting credit for all of it because a lot of it was just stuff that people wanted you to do. That's your reward.

[Host 2]

That's your reward.

[CeCe Winans]

And then you're tired and you wore out, and it's just like, what? You know, so. So it's important that people get it. But I just believe that you really have to seek the Lord and really do the right things for the right reasons.

[Host 2]

That's good. That's real good.

[Host 1]

In an industry that is ran with the fiscal stuff. In mind, how do you manage both? I'll back up. I asked this question one time. Jen Johnson had this thing at her house, and it was like a bunch of leaders, preachers, singers, and there was a panel with Priscilla Shire, I think maybe Christine Cain and Jen Johnson. And I asked the question from a genuine place because all of us in that room had some level of significant influence. And I was like, how do we. We all exist in an industry where godliness can be gained for us.

[CeCe Winans]

Right.

[Host 1]

The song I write, the sermon I preached, the book, you know, and so how do you manage being a good steward of your money, being a good business person, yet at the same time not allowing your heart to be corrupted by that pursuit? You know what I'm saying? So how. How have you.

[CeCe Winans]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Existed in this industry without letting it corrupt you?

[CeCe Winans]

It's the fear of the Lord. Because it's with anything, it's like. Or there's money or there's a deal or this. When you're. When the fear of the Lord dictates what you do and how much you do, you're gonna have to say no to some lucrative stuff.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

And you. I'm not going to say. You're not going to feel it. You might say, oh. You know what I'm saying? But it's still. It's not in you to say yes when you know it should be no.

[Host 1]

Yeah. Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

And then whatever you do, if you're doing it unto the Lord and the Lord blesses you in different ways, The. The problem comes in when you start doing it for something else.

[Host 1]

Yeah. Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

That makes sense. If so. So if your motive is right and you keep that right by your relationship with Jesus, your personal relationship.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

Not what you do on stage, but your personal relationship with him. If you keep that front and center, that would really. That will really dictate everything else. Because then. Then you come into a place, Jackie, where you just say, okay. You look at the natural. The calendar.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

There's only so much you can do. I was telling y' all earlier, I looked at my schedule. It's like, what, did somebody knock me out? When I said yes, it is. Because I'm saying to myself, where is the wisdom in this? You know? But there are seasons sometimes where you have to sacrifice more, you know, and. And the Lord will give you the grace for it. But if I'm just out here doing stuff, trying to keep my name out there and trying to. Because that comes with the industry, you know, A lot of times, you know. Well, you have to do this, and you need to do this. And I was like, no, I gotta go home. I said I was gonna sing this, but I'm not going to. What am I going to the after party for? Yeah, I don't have to go. I'm going home. I just wouldn't be able to have.

[Host 1]

The party at the Doves. What is Cece doing?

[Host 2]

Hilarious. Is that Cece.

[CeCe Winans]

Going against. I went with Jen, like, last year. I was like, okay, I'm going to give me something to eat. But. But when I was in those, you know, the years when my kids were little and I'm newly married and, you know, I had stuff to do, it was like, I'm not doing. I can't do that.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

That's. You know, And I was saying that for the right reasons.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

Yeah. Not because I was trying to be a troublemaker, but that's too much. I can't do that. You know? And so when you honor God, he will honor you. And people might be mad at you for a minute, but then they'll come around too.

[Host 1]

Yeah. Yeah. I truly believe that I've shared this before. I believe that, for me, responsibilities is what has kept me humble.

[CeCe Winans]

Come on.

[Host 1]

Because I'm very ambitious. And so I could really be out here writing more, creating more, speaking more. But it's the responsibilities that always pull me back, where I just never can say yes as much as I might prefer. Right. And so I just think it's a good anchoring to have, especially responsibilities that don't center you.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

Right.

[Host 1]

So for me to come home and have to help this child with her sight words, you know what I'm saying.

[CeCe Winans]

For me, or you come home sometime, I come all dressed up, and then the baby throw up on you.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

It just like, oh, don't. None of that matters.

[Host 1]

Don't.

[CeCe Winans]

None of that matter.

[Host 2]

That's why home is so important.

[CeCe Winans]

Because home humbles you. Exactly.

[Host 2]

It makes you be in reality with your weaknesses, because the world is not going to remind you of your weaknesses, especially if you gift it it. But home has a beautiful ability to remind you.

[CeCe Winans]

Y.

[Host 2]

You not tight. You actually not that tight. Like, when I go home, like, my kids are so unimpressed by me.

[CeCe Winans]

So unimpressed.

[Host 1]

And I'm like, you know, Daddy's a good poet.

[CeCe Winans]

We don't care.

[Host 1]

They told some I asked you to tuck me in, and you didn't. I don't care that you a great apologist.

[Host 2]

And not even talking about kids, wives.

[CeCe Winans]

So true.

[Host 2]

Jackie be like, boy, get out my face.

[CeCe Winans]

Home and it's the same with home. And if you're not. That's why I said the home church. It's the same thing.

[Host 2]

Yes.

[CeCe Winans]

You know, when you're actually. Actually praying over somebody or you're working with the kids or your work, it keeps you. You're coming off the road and now you're serving.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

And it's a great balance. And you're getting poured into. You just not the one that's pouring out. Who's pouring in?

[Host 2]

I want to know, though, because your home church experience might be completely different.

[CeCe Winans]

Okay.

[Host 2]

Because I'm pretty. Because you and your. You and your husband, y' all have.

[CeCe Winans]

Well, at this point now. But that was. Our church is only, what, 12 years old.

[Host 2]

Yeah, I know. Back then. But I'm just saying, how does that dynamic work?

[CeCe Winans]

Work?

[Host 2]

It's like, oh, I'm gonna go to CC Winers Church. And, you know, like, oh, now when people come.

[CeCe Winans]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

How does creating boundaries when people come to your church?

[CeCe Winans]

Good. Good question. Yeah. Well, it varies now that I'm, you know, because when I. When we started the church, I knew I was supposed to come off the road, and I did that and just focused on the church for probably about eight years straight. So I wasn't out there a lot. So I was there, and people didn't even know who I was. Some of the young people who were coming, because our church was made up of really, my kids, friends. So for a while, it was fine. A lot. Some people knew me, some people didn't. Some people would come because they knew I was there and say, can I get on the worship team? I'm just like, I don't even know, you know, you can't get. Are you even saved? Yeah. You know, because then I. That's when I realized. That's when I realized how much the church had changed, you know, because when I was coming up, everybody couldn't play.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

Yeah. If you didn't have a lifestyle, you couldn't play.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

We should talk about that.

[CeCe Winans]

Oh, my goodness. So when people are coming up with their guitars, like, I want to get on a worship. I'm like, who are you? No, really, I was like, who. Who are you? Why would I let you come up here and play it? I don't know who you are.

[Host 2]

That. That's something that we need to get back to. Oh, my God, so much. That's a whole another podcast.

[CeCe Winans]

So. So now that I'm out there, a lot of come. They'll hear that it's your church, and they want to take pictures. I'm like, no, this is not where I take pictures. I'm glad you came. But I came all the way from. I didn't know you were coming all the way from. From there.

[Host 2]

How was I supposed to know?

[CeCe Winans]

I didn't know that. Yeah, I'm here for church, and this is what. This is who I am here, you know? So I have to tell a lot of people no, because, again, I fear the Lord. I'm not going to be in the church and y' all taking pictures. It's not my concert. It's not. It's not that type of thing. It's the Sunday, you know, so. So, yeah, that's the way I do it. That's good.

[Host 2]

A couple years ago, the Lord started to put it on my heart to start an online community group for men. Because just going out, doing events, one of the things that I saw the most is just men are lonely. We need community. We need to know that, you know, not only do God care, but there's people out there, men out there, other men, who will love you. Who cares. And so that's the reason why I'm starting an community group called the Sons of Man, where we would talk about real issues, where we can have a real community, you know, where we can have a safe place to come and. And just be men. Vent. But also, one of the main reasons why I started, you know, Sons of Man is because I want us to see how Jesus's humanity relates to our. Our manhood. Right? God became man. And so not only do I see you, but most of all, God sees you. And so in this community, we're going to be consistently reminded how we're seen by a holy and a righteous God, how we're loved by holy and a righteous God, and how we're sons by a holy and a righteous God. What you'll expect from this community group is realness. I mean, I'm always real on every platform that you see me on, but y' all gonna see a part of Preston that y' all don't see nowhere else. We're gonna have real, intimate, honest, transparent conversations that's only in house. So social media, Twitt, Facebook, Instagram, they not gonna get this. Y' all gonna get this. Not only that, y' all gonna get exclusive, real FaceTime videos with me where, you know, you can ask me questions in real time, and I can just, you know, give you answers in real time, you know, and so, you know, pop up live events or whatever around the country where only my Patreon people will be able to come to. And so I think ultimately what you will get is just exclusive access to me in a way that the other, you know, social media outlets don'. Also. You're gonna get real, honest, transparent conversation that's safe, but at the same time, fruitful and edifying. So, yeah, can't wait to see you there. I got one more question. Okay, you go.

[Host 1]

I was only gonna say that what she's communicating is wisdom that Brian communicated to us when our platform started to grow. And it therefore became hard. Like, it became harder to actually be known because you're known.

[CeCe Winans]

And.

[Host 1]

And Brian was like, the way people will be able to get rid of the facade of who you are is you actually showing up as who you are.

[CeCe Winans]

There you go.

[Host 1]

Human and saying no to things that continue to prop up this image.

[CeCe Winans]

There you go.

[Host 1]

Right. So if it's a picture. Ah, nah, bro, I'm sorry about that.

[Host 2]

But I will have a conversation with you, but I don't have to. I don't have to take a picture.

[CeCe Winans]

Exactly.

[Host 1]

Or not. Not dipping out other stuff. Service early. You know, you come and you sit and you hear the sermon. It's like, let me get up out before people see me. You know, like, we've even had to do that at our new church where it would be more convenient to leave early.

[CeCe Winans]

Right.

[Host 1]

But what does that communicate to people? Right. And so no, stay during the doxology. Be inconvenienced, because when you have some level of celebrity, you are so taken care of where you have to choose inconvenience.

[CeCe Winans]

A lot of times that's good.

[Host 1]

Wait in the line and be okay.

[Host 2]

And I think a lot of times people. People don't know how to not treat you like a celebrity because you don't come out of that mold.

[Host 1]

Right.

[Host 2]

We have to come out of that mode.

[CeCe Winans]

Right. You have to come out of that.

[Host 2]

We have to give people permission to treat us like humans.

[CeCe Winans]

There you go. So I think that is so good what she just said, showing up as you.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

And that's what I do. You know, I put on a little makeup for y', all because I'm going to be on this broadcast. But. But a lot of times I go to church, I just put some Vaseline on. I'm coming to church.

[Host 1]

I see how you move. When I went to your church service, and. And it's. It's. She's there.

[CeCe Winans]

I'm here.

[Host 2]

Present.

[Host 1]

No, no, she's there. It wasn't like a distancing where, you know, she's just in the green room the whole time.

[CeCe Winans]

I belong to the church. I'm one of the members of the church. I remember it was a. It was a Tuesday night because the Double wars in Nashville, they normally. On Tuesdays, at least for the last few years on Tuesdays. And so I remember it was a big night for me at the Double Wars. And then Wednesday, I had a. I had a life group, a cell group, happening on Wednesday. Wednesday. So when I showed up Wednesday, I remember this young guy, nice guy. He looked at me, he's like, pastor, he said. I mean, he was really in shock. He was like, I was not expecting you to be here. And I was like, well, why not? This is real life. This is what Jesus is going to count.

[Host 2]

Wow.

[CeCe Winans]

He's not counting the awards that I won. And he was like, oh, my God. And I could tell it just really shook him, you know, In a good way.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

But. But when you show up as a normal person, people will eventually treat you as a normal person. That is good.

[Host 2]

That's good. I. I have a question. From afar. Well, not.

[CeCe Winans]

Bless you. I'm sorry. You sneezed. Through social.

[Host 2]

Looking through social media, it seems as if. I don't want to say I think the world resurgence isn't the right word, but I think we grew up on alabaster box. We grew up on songs like that. But now you seem to be tapped into the newer generation in ways that our gospel heroes ain't never did before. I mean, you got songs for Brandon Lake. Brandon Lake. And it's good songs. Like, really, really good songs. Was that intentional to connect with this generation in the way that you're doing right now?

[CeCe Winans]

What was that?

[Host 2]

Did it come naturally? Did you say, I want to connect with the generation by having collaborations like that? Because the stuff that you have, you've been on fire for the last couple of years. And so I'm just wondering. I'm just wondering.

[Host 1]

Cause like I told Preston, I said.

[CeCe Winans]

Y' all so silly. Auntie Cece.

[Host 1]

And trust, I'm not gassing you to gas you.

[CeCe Winans]

Right, Right.

[Host 2]

No, serious.

[Host 1]

I was. Because we know that people, they. They can be successful, and then they lose their touch on what works. What sounds good, the creativity, where it's like, yeah, that was killing in 1988. It's 2025. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? So. But you're. You're. It's.

[CeCe Winans]

Y' all know what I'm saying? You said 88, but I was out way before that.

[Host 1]

That's the that's the far as I could go. But I'm thinking, like, Smokey Robinson, like, the. The music. But Smokey was that guy. But it's like, we don't. What are you doing? So with you, to me, it's. It's. It's favor, it's grace. But to me, there's some type of intentionality to still be good.

[Host 2]

Because you can still. You can still sing. What we're saying is, I think your music, your voice is still beautiful.

[CeCe Winans]

Beautiful.

[Host 2]

But it's culturally relevant.

[Host 1]

That's a great way to.

[CeCe Winans]

It's still.

[Host 2]

It's culturally. We don't often see that with the gospel artists that we've been listening to since we were seven. Like, I'm dead serious. My mama was playing you when I was seven. I was seven years old, like, waking up to seasick. And it's like, now you got songs.

[CeCe Winans]

I love your mother for that. I love that. To clean, I'm sure. Wow. Yes and no. It's intentional and it's not intentional. I think some of it is common sense. No, what I mean by that, like, for instance, my son. My son is an incredible writer and producer. So I think having younger people around you, you know, I think sometimes people feel they're so gifted and talented, they don't need help.

[Host 1]

That's good.

[CeCe Winans]

And when you have young people around you, they'll. They'll keep you in touch, you know? And I know there's going to be some things you're going to run past me. I'm going be like, that ain't for me. And I ain't trying to be 12. You know what I'm saying? It's. It's different than trying to be, you know, I can't. That's not why.

[Host 2]

It's just funny that you said 12, because you could have said 18, 19. She said, I ain't trying to be 12. I ain't trying to be a preteen.

[CeCe Winans]

Well, they get. They're young, so. Yes, but it's not overthought, you know what I'm saying? It's just that I love music. I love. I'm applauding her on her record now. I gotta go get those lyrics for me. And so I can see what's happening.

[Host 2]

I told her, instant classic, they're coming.

[CeCe Winans]

Incredible.

[Host 1]

I can send you the PDF.

[CeCe Winans]

Incredible. And that's not really the type of music that I listen to, but I'm open because it's like, it's gotta be great. I mean, she did it. It's gotta Be great. I gotta figure this thing out, you know, But. But also I'm looking for. I've always looked for people for my children. Cause my children weren't thrilled about maybe everything I like. And now I'm looking for people for my grandchildren, you know. So it kind of keeps me in that vein, but also being open to do something different to do. I like doing things that are different.

[Host 2]

That's good.

[CeCe Winans]

You know, and so I think that has worked for me.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

But again, my number one focus is, Lord, is this what you want me to do?

[Host 2]

Yeah, that's good.

[Host 1]

That's it.

[Host 2]

That's good.

[Host 1]

You shared on better together. It was a clip. I don't know how old it is, but I want. I would love if you reshared it here.

[CeCe Winans]

Okay.

[Host 1]

And it was. It was about you praying for your son and how he was in a season of struggle and you had to surrender and submit that. Because we have a really pretty diverse demographic that listens to us. We got the 19 year olds and we have the 50, 60 year olds who might need some encouragement. And if you're a young person with kids, I feel like this is the type of stuff you put in your pocket because it might be something that you actually got to pull out one day. And so do you mind just walking through that story?

[CeCe Winans]

I don't mind that at all. And I was just started from there because there's plenty of stories in raising children. Yeah, but. But Alvin at the time was. Well, he had graduated from college and I knew he wasn't where he needed to be in the Lord, you know, but he wanted to try living abroad, you know, and. And I didn't want him to go. I was like, so where do you want to go? And he was like, well, I think he decided, I'm going to Australia. And I'm like, well, what did I do to you? Why would you go that far? And clearly he was trying to get away from me, me and his dad. And I didn't know how messed up he was. I found out later how messed up he was. He was messed up. And even on his flight over there, he told us that. He told God, whoever gets me first, me or the devil, that's the way I'm going.

[Host 2]

Wow.

[CeCe Winans]

That's how messed up he was. And I looked at Alvin, my husband. Well, they're both. Alvin's. Alvin iii and. And my husband. So I looked at my husband. I was like, like, you going to let him go? He's like, b. He is grown and this is what he wants to do. So we going to pray for him and we going to trust God. So I was like, okay, you know, and I didn't feel good. But he said, that's what he said to the Lord over there. I mean, on the plane, got over there, hooked up with a friend that he had met through me because I was on tour over there at one point, so I was mad at myself and, And Wally was his name. And he called and said, man, Wally picked me. I made it. So to say he made it was like, okay. And he said he's going to this little church. And I. I don't really want to go, but I don't have a car yet. We were like, well, just go. And him just go, and if you don't like it, you can leave, you know? So he goes to this little church and. And when I say he was messed up, he was messed up. He was living in sin.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

But he goes into this little church and God gets a hold of him. He said, the, the pastor came up to him and said, I don't know who you are, but you're. You're spiritually dull. And they begin to prophesy over him. Right.

[Host 1]

He was in Sydney.

[CeCe Winans]

Huh?

[Host 1]

He was in Sydney?

[CeCe Winans]

No, he was in Melbourne.

[Host 1]

Okay.

[CeCe Winans]

Melbourne, Australia.

[Host 2]

Cuz we just got back from Australia.

[CeCe Winans]

Melbourne, Australia, different. And he called us. The next time he called us, he was there for a little bit. The next time he called us, he said, God is real. Wow. And so I was like, well, I've been telling you that all your life. But, and, and when he left, of course I'm praying, crying out to God, lord, bring my son home. Bring him home. Bring him home. Bring him home. I'm crying. Bring him home. And then when I got that call, he said, God is real. And I could hear in his voice, and I was just like, okay. So when I hung up, I was like, lord, he ain't never got to come again. If he's. If he's finding you over there, then let him stay there. And. And he got saved. Filled with the Holy Spirit on fire for God.

[Host 2]

Wow.

[CeCe Winans]

Came back to Nashville. He stayed over there probably about. About six to seven months. The thing that brought him home, my father passed. And I remember at the funeral, Alvin got up there and said, granddad will be really happy because I'm really saved.

[Host 1]

Wow.

[CeCe Winans]

And then as she got up after him and said, unlike Ash, unlike Alvin, I've been saved.

[Host 1]

She gives that. She gives that.

[CeCe Winans]

But he. He went back for a little while longer and he, he submitted to those pastors at that church. Then he asked us. He came back home and he said, I would love to invite some of my friends over to the house. And at this time, he's taking people to lunch. He's talking to him. He get. He's getting these kids saved, getting them filled with the Holy Spirit. I didn't recognize him.

[Host 2]

Wow.

[Host 1]

My.

[CeCe Winans]

My God took him and. And just transformed him. He came back home saying, we got to fast. We got to pray. And I'm just like, who is this person? And I just begin to thank God. And I remember the Holy Spirit saying, I did all of this, and you were nowhere around. I said, you did? Yeah. So just really. And I love to encourage parents to just trust God, you know?

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

Cry out, pray for him fast. But worrying, no, no, no. He said, the seed of the righteous will be delivered. You got to hold on to that, no matter how dark. And I remember. I remember the. Some of the strife or the tension that we had when he was, you know.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

Teenager, high school, even some of the college. It was just. And I knew it was a spiritual battle.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

You know, I knew it was a spiritual battle. So. So I tell. I tell parents, love your kids, but don't compromise for your kids. I love you, but I'm. I'm not going to hell for you either. You know what I'm saying? I'm going. This is because my thing is, if I compromise, who going to bring you back, you know? Because I. I love you, but I. I love God more. We have to love God more. Even when our kids don't see it, they're angry. They. They feel this because they're going through what they go through. And I realized that was his testimony. That's what he had to go through. And then when I. I had no idea he would be a pastor. Yeah. I had no idea he would be a pastor. But now everything makes sense. So now he's my pastor. Yeah, he's my pastor. And when I tell you every week, when the word of God comes, I'm saying to myself, lord, you're amazing. I'm ready to just lay out on the floor and just weep.

[Host 2]

Wow. That is beautiful.

[CeCe Winans]

Because God took. When he love music, talking about love music, he laid down his music. He wasn't thinking about music. He just wanted to see people say, wow. Telling us that it was time to fast. I said, oh, wait a minute, who is this? But God took him. And when I'm talking about a change from Saul to Paul, it was just. It was unbelievable.

[Host 2]

God.

[CeCe Winans]

And he has kept that fire. So God will do it. You know, he will do it, and he'll do it to the extent that you don't even recognize them.

[Host 2]

I think, I think that's beautiful because, I mean, you said the Holy Spirit said I did this, and you were nowhere around.

[CeCe Winans]

Nowhere around.

[Host 2]

But at the same time, the Bible does say that, you know, raise a child in way to go.

[CeCe Winans]

That's right.

[Host 2]

You know, and they would not. They would not, you know, depart from, you know, your teaching. And so, like, I'm pretty sure a lot of the things that they day you guys instilled in him, he just returned back to that. Sometimes we just cannot hear from the people that we've been around our whole life. You know what I'm saying? That's just the reality of it. We need somebody else to kind of, you know, come.

[CeCe Winans]

Yeah, he. He'll bring. That's why you pray for divine connections. Yeah, God will bring divine. Cuz I didn't know these people from. I was like, you're where? And then when he told me, he was like, they're kind of like you and dad, except they're white. She going around the singing in tongues and he's just chilled out, you know, like that. And so I was like, lord, I thank you.

[Host 1]

Because in a strange way, it gives.

[CeCe Winans]

Jonah, you going way over there so far.

[Host 1]

You just going way over somewhere.

[Host 2]

If you really think about it, Australia is a really random place to get saved.

[Host 1]

That's what I'm saying.

[CeCe Winans]

It's like what I mean.

[Host 1]

But then you get swallowed up by that. Well, that well was salvation.

[Host 2]

Wow.

[Host 1]

You know what I'm saying? And so to me, it's just like the, like, his arm is not too short to save. And I, I, I, I feel like I need those stories because we got four kids.

[CeCe Winans]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

You know what I'm saying? Like, I'm like, one of y' all are gonna lose your mind.

[CeCe Winans]

Don't say that. No, it's a reality. Don't say that. I just believe.

[Host 1]

I just.

[CeCe Winans]

They don't have to lose their mind, but, but they're going to grow up. They're going to have their experience.

[Host 1]

They're going to do stuff I don't.

[CeCe Winans]

Want them to do. Oh, of course.

[Host 1]

That's what I mean.

[Host 2]

Especially that.

[CeCe Winans]

Don't say lose. Keep.

[Host 1]

Keep their mind. Father, I'm so. When their mind ain't lost, but y' all doing what I don't want you to do, I'm going to reflect back on this conversation and be like, hey, you want to go to Sydney for a week?

[CeCe Winans]

Yeah, but those ages is. Is called praying through the. It's called being who you guys are. My kids never saw me do one thing in public and then something else at home. You understand what I'm saying? Did we make mistakes? Yes. But when we made mistakes, we said we were sorry. My father did that with us. You know, hey, I messed up. I'm sorry. That goes a long way with kids, you know, so they knew he was real, you know, but every kid has to choose them for themselves.

[Host 1]

Yeah. That's it.

[CeCe Winans]

They have to choose them for themselves. And so. But God honors your prayers. He honors. And even those times when they say, you know, their kids and their teenagers give them their privacy. And I was like, they're not getting no privacy here. You know, So I go in their room, I'm going in their drawers, I'm praying. I'm anointing them with oil. I'm doing what they did with us. And I saw that. Yeah, we had some crazy days, too, but we all came back.

[Host 1]

Amen.

[Host 2]

You got any advice for us? I feel like I can't let you sit on my couch and not get your wisdom. Just as parents, raising young children, being public ministers.

[CeCe Winans]

Well, I've been watching y' all from afar, you know, and I just think you guys are doing an awesome job. I think you are. My thing is, keep it simple. We're living in a time where we've become so educated that we forget the simple thing. Like, I'm sorry. Like, I was wrong. You know what I'm saying? You never get too educated for that.

[Host 2]

I'm just playing.

[CeCe Winans]

And that's. That's in your marriage. Right? That's in your marriage. But that's wherever you are. Like you said, you're treating people the way you want to be. Be true. We. The. The goal is to be like Jesus.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

And as long as that's your goal, you're going to be fine. You know, and then watching who you have with your. With your children, you got your mom. Awesome. You know, keep them close and. Yeah, but y' all are doing a great job. And you've. You've been anointed for it, so God's going to give you the grace to do it. And when we go to thinking that the minute I think I have something to do with what's happening is when I mess up, I know that I'm doing what I'm doing because God has called me to do it.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

You know, and I do. And I also know that if he tells me to stop, I can stop, because I don't worship what I do. Do I worship who he is? Yeah.

[Host 1]

That's good.

[CeCe Winans]

And. And that's just for every believer.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

You know, so you guys are doing amazing job. You're shining.

[Host 1]

Thank you.

[CeCe Winans]

And. And just. Just keep it simple and be consistent in the things that matter.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[CeCe Winans]

Because careers and popularity, that'll go up, that'll go down, that'll go. But your relationship with Jesus, it just continues to go up. It remains the same. You know, It's. It's. It's stable. It's the only thing you can trust. Good.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Well, thank you.

[Host 2]

We love you, Auntie Cece.

[CeCe Winans]

I love y'. All.

[Host 1]

We love you. We appreciate you. I'm just thankful to have gotten to know you, to spend time at your church, to meet Ashley, to meet some of your sisters, to go to Generations a few years in a row. I'm thankful that y' all moving to date.

[Host 2]

I'll be left out when they go to Generations.

[CeCe Winans]

Oh, you thankful we're moving to date? Ah, yes.

[Host 1]

Cause it was such a complex weekend. It was beautiful. Generations, context. Ms. Cece and her daughter Ashley host a conference called Generations in Nashville. And the beautiful thing about it is they legitimately were bringing in the Generations. So it was a lot of, like, mothers and parents, and it was, like, deep. Cause it's like, I bring my kids, I bring my mom. Like, you don't see conferences that hold space for both. And even the platform, you have the young, you have the mature, you have the sages, you have the peers. But it was Mother's Day weekend. Weekend. So it made sense.

[CeCe Winans]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

But it also was a little complicated.

[CeCe Winans]

Yeah. So I knew that. Well, great. I'm glad you're happy, because we love having you, and everybody wants you there every time. And I know that won't happen every time. Hey, I will cancel stuff, but I am so proud of you. I mean, you guys have such an anointing. And that's why when I saw you, I did pray, because my heart, I could cry thinking about it. I left saying, wow, the next generation is in good hands. The gospel's gonna continue.

[Host 2]

You about to cry now, and you gonna make me cry. You almost did that in the air.

[CeCe Winans]

But that is awesome. And I know it's not. Cause your eyes getting shiny.

[Host 2]

No, no, my eyes. I'm not. I'm not gonna cry. Don't do that. I really appreciate it.

[CeCe Winans]

And I know it's not easy sometimes, but. But. But but make it easy. Make it easy. It doesn't have to be hard. People make you think it has to be hard, but you make it easy. You make it easy. It's a word. Yeah.

[Host 1]

Well, thank you.

[CeCe Winans]

You got it. Thanks for having me.

[Host 1]

I don't know what else to see.

[Host 2]

Is it anything that you want people to know that you got coming up? I know you just did Africa. You and your husband was all over Africa. I was like, they gonna do every country on the continent. You got any anymore?

[CeCe Winans]

I would love to, but I don't. I don't know if I'll make that before Jesus come back. No, no, I just. I'm. I'm so grateful for. For the love of. Of God and the love of God's people, and I'm just honored to be here with y'. All. Yeah, I'm honored to be here with y' all and to see those beautiful babies.

[Host 2]

Oh, you. You came back bringing in gifts. You brought them bluey and all kind of stuff. They gonna want you to come back every time. I wanna say this real quick.

[CeCe Winans]

Okay.

[Host 2]

My 10 year old, they go to a Christian school and they was playing your video, and she said, they stopped playing Auntie Cece video. I said, I know her. And one of my classmates was like, stop lying. She's like, I'm not lying.

[CeCe Winans]

I do know her.

[Host 2]

I met her like four times. And I was like, everybody ain't gotta believe you.

[CeCe Winans]

That's right.

[Host 2]

I said, everybody gotta believe you.

[CeCe Winans]

But I might have to show up one.

[Host 2]

You might have to show up one day.

[CeCe Winans]

Day.

[Host 2]

And just flex on a little girl.

[Host 1]

Like, hey.

[Host 2]

You said my. My little niece don't know me.

[CeCe Winans]

That's right. That's right. Well, I love y'. All. Keep doing what you're doing. Thank you.

[Host 1]

All right, all right, y'.

[Host 2]

All.