Richmond, VA — BeBe and CeCe Winans recently stopped through the capital city for Radio One Richmond’s, 2010 Transformation Expo. After their performance, the super singing duet took time out to give The Belle Report an exclusive interview. We talked about EVERYTHING!
Although a little tired from their performance, BeBe and CeCe were about as sweet as they could be. From munching on M & M’s to just kicking back, this interview flowed like melted butter.
We started to reminisce and paused when we got to the death of their brother, Ronald Winans and father, David “Pop” Winans, along with life’s ups and downs. BeBe Winans says, “The challenges of life will only make you stronger.”CeCe Winans says, “We are still getting over their deaths, and then you think, we will never hear the Winans the way we heard the Winans before.” She said, Ronald was, “Just my big bear.”
When it comes to their parents, BeBe and CeCe had to adjust to sharing them with everyone, including yours truly, as the world has always known them as Mom and Pop. “Yeah, they use to give our phone numbers out to the world and would tell us later you have another sister or you have another brother,” says BeBe. This was a funny moment as I remember when Mom, first gave me CeCe’s cell number and later to have CeCe give it to me personally.
However since their days at PTL with Jim and Tammy Baker and now pushing their own record label, B & C Records/Malaco Records, they both say, it was finally time and it feels good. CeCe added, “We just want to apologize to everyone for taking so long to push out the new CD.
“Everywhere we have gone, the crowds seem to really receive us and our music and that is a blessing,” says CeCe.
BeBe has also been in front of even larger crowds recently as a judge on Sunday Best and he loved it. “It was great. Sharing the stage with Kirk and Mary Mary who are like sisters… And while sitting in that see, you really start to realize the multitude of talent that is out there. We just have to remember, God is a big God and there is room for everyone. Donnie is in there now and I know he’s going to do a great job,” says BeBe.
When it comes to close relationships, I asked BeBe, “Out of all of the Gospel artists we know, how did you become such a close friend of Oprah Winfrey?” Replying, “We’ve been friends with Oprah for at least 25 years. It was then when I got a call to write a spot called, A Friend in Oprah.” BeBe even remembered the tune and started singing it for us. However that was merely the beginning of their friendship which still remains strong.
As for the Winans pulling together another family tour, BeBe said, “We have the audio and DVD from the last time we were all out together and we may do something with all of the behind the scene footage.
As for their personal endeavors, CeCe says, “I’m getting ready to sign up for voice lessons. As singers we have to remember to take care of our voices, rehearse, learn new songs and make it happen, just like everyone else. BeBe said, “Yes, we have to learn songs older than us.” As for BeBe, he has become a Gym man, as he wakes up every morning at 4am to work out with 4 friends. From running 10 miles a day to lifting weight, BeBe has become very fit.
However this is a long ways away from their days as PTL singers when they use to sing, “Lord Lift Us Up,” but that was really the beginning for them. CeCe said, “Back then the people would ask for those two colored kids and then we started to grab additional songs to sing and that’s how BeBe and CeCe were born.”
To see the complete interview, held courtesy at the Westin Hotel in Richmond, VA just: Click here to watch
–THE BELLE REPORT
