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Fifteen years ago, siblings BeBe & CeCe Winans made up one of Christian music's favorite groups. But after scoring numerous number ones in both the Christian and mainstream markets with R&B hits like "Addictive Love" and "I'll Take You There" and winning every award imaginable, they decided to split up and fulfill contractual obligations to record solo albums. But this fall, after tremendous success apart, the multi-platinum gospel stars pair up once again for an all-new recording, Still (B&C). Taking a break from a recent radio tour, the reunited siblings explain why BeBe & CeCe will always sing gospel music—and what they've learned about grace.

When you both went solo fifteen years ago, did you have any idea your individual careers would take you away from BeBe & CeCe for so long?

CeCe: No, no, no. It wasn't until I was in the studio doing my first solo project that I realized, Oh my gosh, BeBe's not coming in on any of the parts. People might not like this at all. Coming out with a CD by myself, that was scary. Up until that point, people had only heard me with BeBe, and BeBe with myself. So it was definitely a pleasant surprise that they welcomed us both as individuals as well as a duet.

BeBe, did you have a similar experience?

CeCe: No.

BeBe: [Laughs]

CeCe: He wasn't scared without me. I'm the scaredy cat. [Laughs]

BeBe: I was just surprised as CeCe with the acceptance. But you set out to do your best, whether as a duo or solo, hoping to put the right songs forward, production and everything else. You really place it in God's hands and just go for the ride.

After experiencing such success as solo artists, what inspired the reunion?

BeBe: We've been working on it for awhile. With solo careers and families and everything, you live separate lives. 

CeCe: And you blink and fifteen years go by. It's not like we planned to say, "We're coming back in fifteen years," or "Let's do this for the fifteenth year reunion." By the time we finished getting the schedules, the different producers, zeroing in all the songs, it had been fifteen years. Wow!

Was it hard to get back in the groove after being apart for so long?

CeCe: That's like we never stopped.

BeBe: Because you never stop being brother and sister. The foundation of our relationship has to do with family. Family never stops. So that's the easy part.

How does BeBe & CeCe look different today from fifteen years ago?

CeCe: I hope it's looking better. With time, you become wiser. When you go through things and you're still standing, you're better off than you were before.

In [the last fifteen years], we've lost one of my brothers as well as my father. God has proven to be faithful, to carry us through the rough times. Knowing that they're both smiling down on us, they're both in a much better place and we'll see them both again, we bring that to the table. We bring more wisdom to the table than ever before—all of our triumphs, all of our failures.

BeBe: Fifteen years ago I was thinking differently. I wasn't a father. Life has changed. The world has changed. We have an African-American president. With all those experiences, you put it into song and you sing from a different place of maturity.

CeCe: We know who we are a little better now. And definitely know Whose we are. 

CeCe, you mentioned your father, Pop Winans, died this year. How has his death and legacy affected the recording of Still?

CeCe: First of all, he got a chance to hear some of our stuff before he passed, and that brought a big smile to his face. When he heard one of the songs in the hospital, he sat up and his eyes became energized because he loved all of his children. Nothing makes him happier than us singing together. 

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