CeCe Winans, Shining the Light with ‘Something’s Happening’

Last updated on: November 19, 2018 at 8:40 pm by DeWayne Hamby

CeCe Winans, Shining the Light with ‘Something’s Happening’ 2018-11-19T20:40:24-04:00 DeWayne Hamby

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, not just because of new Christmas music, but also because gospel powerhouse CeCe Winans is back with a new project, Something’s Happening. Following her critically-acclaimed Let Them Fall In Love, Winans once again turned production reigns over to her son, Grammy Award-winning producer Alvin Love III. This time, instead of retro gospel soul, the template was full-on symphonic traditional Christmas.

CeCe Winans

CeCe Winans image courtesy of eByrd Communications.

“I’m pleased with what Alvin has created,” she said. “Making sure that it represents Christmas in every way you know from the meaning of Christmas, the feel of Christmas, the warmth and also the fun, the busy-ness of Christmas, the part that will come to try to stress us out.”

Winans, who counts traditional holiday favorites by Natalie Cole and Celine Dion as her favorites, aimed for a “fully orchestrated” traditional sound on this second solo Christmas record. That sound is most evident on the soul-stirring “Grace of the Father,” which she said, “is so much fun!” The GRAMMY Award-winning singer also included the old Bing Crosby classic “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” and “Peace on Earth,” made popular by Frank Sinatra.

CeCe Winans Christmas

CeCe Winans Something’s Happening image courtesy of eByrd Communications.

“There’s a lot of great Christmas stuff out there,” she said. “One album will be out for a long time and then you’ll discover something new, and that one (“Peace on Earth”) was a new one for me.”

With ministry as well as music in mind, Winans, who serves as pastor of a Nashville church with her husband, is also fully aware of the evangelistic nature of Christian Christmas songs and how they can impact listeners.

“It is definitely an opportunity to reach the world at a time where everybody embraces the story of Jesus,” she said. “They definitely realize the power of love and how bad we need peace.”

It’s been thirty years since Winans’ groundbreaking album Heaven with brother BeBe, which contained the hits “Lost Without You” and the title track, as well as the evangelistic focused “Hold Up the Light.” That message, she says, is more relevant than ever.

“We gotta’ keep holding up the light, because you know. He’s coming soon,” she said. “As believers, we can see the signs of the times. We’ve lived long enough to see the changes and also the importance of shining brighter than we’ve ever shined before. It’s time to take it to another whole level. Even with my life and with pastoring now, what we’re doing, we need to make every moment count, because so many lives, so many people still don’t know who Jesus is.”

The Christmas season, she believes, is as good of a time as any to win the world.

“I think this is a great opportunity for us to win people to Christ,” she said. “I pray that this record Something’s Happening will be instrumental in opening doors to the hearts of people who wouldn’t normally embrace the gospel.”

Something’s Happening is now available from Puresprings Gospel/ Thirty Tigers.

Previous Post

November 17, 2018

Steven Caple, Jr. on the Heart of 'Creed II,' Rocky’s Future, and Mentoring

Next Post

November 20, 2018 Review: 'Creed II' Punches with Emotion, Inspiration

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Comics Movies Music Plays and Musicals Podcasts Television Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 September 2015 July 2015 March 2015 November 2014 September 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 May 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 February 2012 December 2011 November 2011 August 2011 July 2011 March 2011 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 April 2006 February 2006 December 2005 October 2005 September 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 February 2005

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which prophet was exiled to Babylon and saw a vision of four living creatures?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Jeremiah Hosea Joel Ezekiel