Cece Winans
Who Is CeCe Winans?
CeCe Winans is a celebrated American gospel singer, songwriter, producer, author, pastor, and entrepreneur. Born Priscilla Marie Winans on October 8, 1964, she is the most awarded female gospel artist in history. Her voice has moved millions across continents, generations, and denominations.
Her illustrious career is marked by an impressive 18 Grammy Awards, 31 Dove Awards, and 16 Stellar Awards. Furthermore, her reach extends far beyond music. She is a bestselling author, a founding pastor, and one of the most influential women in modern Christian culture.
She has touched millions more with inspirational performances everywhere from churches around the world to the White House. Today, at 62 years old, CeCe Winans shows no signs of slowing down.
Early Life: Detroit, Faith, and a Family That Changed Gospel Music
Born Into a Musical Dynasty
CeCe Winans was born on October 8, 1964, in Detroit, Michigan, into a family deeply rooted in music. As the eighth of ten siblings, she was surrounded by a nurturing environment that encouraged her passion for singing from an early age.
Her parents were part of the Church of God in Christ and would only listen to gospel music. Therefore, from her very first breath, CeCe Winans was immersed in faith and song.
The Winans: Ten Siblings Who Changed Gospel Forever
Both CeCe and her brother BeBe were born to David Glenn “Pop” and Delores Amelia Ransom “Mom” Winans—a gospel duo with ten children: David Glenn Jr., Ronald, fraternal twins Carvin Lawrence and Marvin Lawrence, Michael, Daniel, Benjamin “BeBe,” Priscilla Marie “CeCe,” Angelique “Angie,” and Debra Renee “Debbie.”
David and Delores Winans established the family’s musical presence in Detroit, Michigan, eventually seeing their children collectively earn nearly 30 Grammy Awards. The Winans family is, without question, the first family of American gospel music.
School Days in Detroit
With BeBe being the youngest boy and CeCe being the oldest girl in the large family, the pair were close growing up and even shared a locker while attending Detroit’s Mumford High School. Their bond forged in those school hallways would later become one of the most celebrated partnerships in gospel music history. black past
The PTL Club: Where It All Began (1982–1984)
A Fateful Audition
In 1982, BeBe and CeCe made a bold move. After traveling to North Carolina to audition, BeBe and CeCe became PTL (Praise the Lord) singers. The siblings moved from Detroit, Michigan, to the PTL campus in Charlotte, North Carolina, and performed for five years on the television show hosted by Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. black past
They were the only two African American members of the program’s PTL Singers. Despite being so young, their talent was impossible to ignore.
The First Recording Contract
Impressed by their background vocals, PTL’s label signed BeBe and CeCe to their first recording contract. In 1984, the singing siblings recorded a duet titled “Lord Lift Us Up.”
That single was the spark. However, it was only the beginning of what would become one of the most decorated careers in gospel music history.
CeCe left PTL in 1984, just before getting married.
BeBe & CeCe Winans: A Duo That Conquered Two Worlds
Signing With Capitol Records
After leaving PTL, BeBe and CeCe made a strategic and significant move. They signed a second contract with Capitol Records. This partnership gave their music mainstream reach that few gospel artists had achieved before.
Chart-Crossing Success
Between 1987 and 1994, BeBe and CeCe recorded five albums together: BeBe & CeCe Winans, Heaven, Different Lifestyles, First Christmas, and Relationships.
Their sound crossed boundaries. Their singles sat on Gospel, Christian, and R&B charts simultaneously. Furthermore, they achieved crossover success, eventually releasing nine Gold and Platinum recordings, billed as BeBe & CeCe Winans.
Grammy Glory Together
CeCe Winans’ Grammy wins began with the 1987 hit “For Always,” performed with her brother BeBe Winans. That was only the first of many triumphs the siblings would share.
Media personality Oprah Winfrey invited BeBe and CeCe on The Oprah Winfrey Show and instantly fell in love with their music. That television moment introduced them to an entirely new audience.
Hollywood Walk of Fame and Hall of Fame
BeBe and CeCe Winans received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011 and are 2015 Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductees. Moreover, after a farewell tour in 2011, the same year they received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, BeBe and CeCe returned to pursuing individual projects.
Solo Career: A Legend in Her Own Right
Alone in His Presence (1995): The Beginning of Everything
CeCe began her solo career with the album Alone in His Presence, released in 1995. The album was both a commercial and critical triumph.
It earned her a Grammy Award and two Dove Awards, including Female Vocalist of the Year. It was platinum-certified and remains one of the landmark recordings in contemporary gospel history.
A Decade of Dominant Solo Releases
Following Alone in His Presence, CeCe continued to release one acclaimed album after another.
Between those years, four of her solo albums won Grammy Awards—her first solo LP, 1995’s Alone in His Presence, followed by CeCe Winans (2001), Purified (2005), and Thy Kingdom Come (2008).
PureSprings Gospel: Building Her Own Label
In 1999, Winans started to record her own singles on the “PureSprings Gospel” label. By founding her own label, she took full creative and business control of her music. This was a bold and forward-thinking decision—one that has paid enormous dividends throughout her career.
Let Them Fall in Love (2017): A Triumphant Return
After stepping back from music to focus on ministry, CeCe returned in force. After close to a decade concentrating on ministry at Nashville Life Church with husband Alvin Love, the 2017 album Let Them Fall in Love restated the strength of CeCe Winans’ musical and devotional message. It won Best Gospel Album at the 60th Grammy Awards, and its track “Never Have To Be Alone” won for Best Gospel Performance/Song.
Believe for It (2021): One Billion Streams
The legendary singer’s first live recording, Believe for It (PureSprings Gospel/Fair Trade Services, LLC), surpassed everyone’s expectations. Believe it, it garnered over one billion U.S. streams. In 2023, Winans’ entire catalog gained over two billion impressions on YouTube alone.
That is not simply a milestone. That is a phenomenon.
More Than This (2024): A New Classic in the Making
Her current album, More Than This, features the award-winning single “That’s My King,” already hailed as a Winans classic. “Come Jesus Come” is being touted as the next anthem that’s here to stay.
After successfully wrapping up the Believe For It Tour with sold-out shows across the U.S., Winans hit the road again for another staggering run with The Goodness Tour in Spring 2024.
Latest Releases: 2025–2026
Collaborative singles “Shout to the Lord” and “Come Jesus Come” appeared in 2025, followed in 2026 by her own single, “Worthy of It All (Worthy)”. CeCe Winans, now 62, continues to release music that resonates deeply with listeners worldwide.
Awards and Honors: A Record-Breaking Legacy
CeCe Winans has received 18 Grammy Awards—the most for any female gospel singer—36 GMA Dove Awards, 28 Stellar Awards, 7 NAACP Image Awards, and 6 Billboard Music Awards.
Additionally, she has been honored with a remarkable collection of recognitions:
- Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Nashville Music City Walk of Fame inductee
- One of the inaugural inductees into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia
- Named a Trailblazer of Soul by BMI
- Honored with the Aretha Franklin Icon Award at BET Stellar Awards in July 2023
- Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee
- Multiple BET Awards, Soul Train Awards, and Essence Awards
Author and Speaker: A Voice on the Page
CeCe Winans is also a prolific author. She has authored six books, with her current bestseller, Believe For It: Passing On Faith To The Next Generation, debuting on the Christian Books Top 10 List.
Furthermore, she has built a growing platform for women’s ministry. Her Women’s Conference was inspired by the popular YouTube show, CeCe Winans Presents… Through books, conferences, and her YouTube presence, she reaches millions who never set foot inside a concert venue.
Nashville Life Church: Pastor, Not Just Performer
CeCe and her husband, Alvin Love, are the founders of Nashville Life Church in Nashville, Tennessee, and she co-pastors the church alongside him.
In 2020, she purchased a church property in South Nashville for nearly $4 million, reflecting her commitment to her ministry and community.
This is a dimension of CeCe Winans that goes far beyond music. She is not just a performer on a stage. She is a shepherd to her community.
Personal Life: Faith, Family, and Forty Years of Love
Marriage to Alvin Love II
CeCe married Alvin Love II on June 23, 1984. Their marriage has lasted more than four decades—a testament to shared faith, shared vision, and genuine partnership.
The couple has two children: Alvin Love III and Ashley Love. Their family life is deeply intertwined with their faith.
Life in Brentwood, Tennessee
Winans resides in Brentwood, Tennessee, a suburb of Nashville, with her husband Alvin Love II. This quiet suburban life stands in beautiful contrast to the grand stages she commands as a performer.
A Tribute to Whitney Houston
One of the most poignant moments of CeCe Winans’ public life came in grief. On February 18, 2012, Winans performed “Don’t Cry for Me” and “Jesus Loves Me” at Houston’s funeral at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. Her voice carried a stadium full of mourners through one of the most painful days in music history.
Discography: A Catalog of Excellence
BeBe & CeCe Winans Albums
| Year | Album Title |
|---|---|
| 1984 | Lord Lift Us Up |
| 1987 | BeBe & CeCe Winans |
| 1991 | Different Lifestyles |
| 1993 | First Christmas |
| 1994 | Relationships |
| 2009 | Still (Reunion Album) |
CeCe Winans Solo Albums
| Year | Album Title | Notable Awards |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Alone in His Presence | Grammy, 2 Dove Awards |
| 1998 | Everlasting Love | — |
| 2001 | CeCe Winans | Grammy |
| 2003 | Throne Room | — |
| 2005 | Purified | Grammy |
| 2008 | Thy Kingdom Come | Grammy |
| 2009 | A Christmas Album | — |
| 2017 | Let Them Fall in Love | 2 Grammy Awards |
| 2021 | Believe for It | 1B+ U.S. Streams; Grammy |
| 2024 | More Than This | “That’s My King” award-winning single |
Recent Singles (2025–2026)
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2025 | “Shout to the Lord” (collaborative) |
| 2025 | “Come Jesus Come” (collaborative) |
| 2026 | “Worthy of It All (Worthy)” |
