Gospel music legend CeCe Winans is on her first Christmas tour in more than a decade, and tickets for her appearance at Embassy Theatre on Wednesday, Dec. 18, are scarce.

Winans is one of the most lauded artists in gospel music, with 15 Grammy Awards, 31 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, and many more accolades.

Via email, Winans told me how excited she is to be back on the road, continuing her life’s work in ministry.

“The audience in Fort Wayne can expect a heartwarming evening of holiday classics, songs from the new album, and some of my career favorites as well,” she said. “My special guests, Roman Collins and Debbie Winans (Yes, my sister!), and I want to celebrate the season while also giving fans a little taste of the music that’s been part of their lives over the years.”

Opening the show will be singer Collins, an American Idol alumnus. Winans said he’s “such a gifted young artist. He has a pure, authentic sound and a passion for ministry that really resonates with audiences. When planning this tour, I knew I wanted someone who not only had talent but also shared a heart for uplifting others. Roman was the perfect choice!”

Family affair

Raised in a large musical family in Detroit, CeCe and her brother BeBe got their break while still teenagers in the early 1980s when they joined a vocal group on a cable television Christian broadcast network. 

In 1987, they landed a recording contract that took them to Nashville, Tennessee. A string of albums over the next 10 years saw them top not only the gospel charts but also the R&B charts, and earned them a presence on contemporary Christian radio as well.

“My family and I moved to Nashville in the early 1990s, and it has been an incredible place for us to grow as a family and in ministry,” she said.

Going solo

CeCe and BeBe moved on to solo careers in 1995. CeCe’s album Alone in His Presence sold more than a million copies and earned her a Grammy and two Dove awards, including Female Vocalist of the Year. 

Winans became friends with the great Whitney Houston; their 1995 duet “Count on Me” was a chart-topping single from the all-star Waiting to Exhale soundtrack. At around 12 million copies sold worldwide, it’s regarded as one of the greatest-selling R&B albums of all time.

Winans’ solo career continued, with more platinum and gold albums, ranging from traditional church gospel to urban soul and back again.

In recent years, Winans has continued to release albums, while the focus of her ministry took a new form.

“My husband, Alvin, and I started Nashville Life Church in 2012, and it’s been an incredible journey,” she said. “Ministry has always been a huge part of who I am, and pastoring allowed us to connect with people on a deeper level. 

“In 2021, we passed the reins to our son, Alvin Love III, who now serves as the senior pastor.”

In 2022, Winans released Believe for It and embarked on her first national tour in more than a decade; running through 2023. It became the most extensive tour in her career.

Holiday spirit

This year, she released a remixed version of her richly orchestrated 2018 Christmas album Something’s Happening! under the name Joyful Joyful, and it’s the catalyst of an intense tour that will see her in sold-out concerts in 11 cities across the eastern U.S. from Dec. 4-21.

“As an artist, I always strive to reach as many people as possible with my music,” Winans said. “I feel the original release didn’t get the chance to connect with a wider audience. For many listeners, Joyful Joyful: A Christmas Album will be their first time hearing these songs. 

“With this year’s Christmas tour, it felt like the perfect opportunity to revisit this project while also sharing new music. Releasing these songs again has been like reconnecting with old friends, but with a fresh and exciting perspective.”

Performing with Winans will be music director and keyboardist Thomas “TJ” Hardin, Jr., co-director and guitarist Tyrone Jackson, Hammond organ player Alain Dumas, Allen Mabson on drums, and Terence Fuller Jr. on bass guitar. Singers Ceaira Dunn, Chaunda Jefferson, and Christi Richardson provide backup. 

Winans wants to point out, “I also have the best behind-the-scenes crew who really help make these specials nights a reality!”

This year, she released More Than This, a live praise album featuring songs well-known to congregations, recorded with an audience of church worship teams from across Nashville. 

“In February 2025, I’ll be kicking off the 29-city More Than This tour, which will be my longest tour yet,” she said.

She will take a break, though, when on May 9-10 she hosts her Generations Live 2025 conference at Belmont University in Nashville. It’s an event at which women of all generations gather in fellowship, prayer, praise, worship, and teaching. You can learn about the conference at cecewinans.com.

Returning to Midwest

As for this brief December tour, Winans is glad to be giving a couple of concerts in the Midwest, even though she won’t be making it to her birthplace this time. 

“Detroit will always be home,” she said. “I was born and raised there. My husband, Alvin, is from Detroit as well and we both have family members still living in the area. We visit whenever we can, and it’s always special to go back to where it all began.

“I can’t remember the exact last time I performed in Fort Wayne, but I’m looking forward to sharing this experience with the audience. 

“To everyone coming to the show: Thank you for your incredible support. It’s going to be a night to remember, and I can’t wait to celebrate Christmas with you!”