CeCe Returns To Her Church Roots

High expectations are up over the upcoming release of CeCe Winans' eight career solo project, Thy Kingdom Come; set to drop in stores on April 1 on the PureSprings Gospel label.

Produced by award-winning hit-makers Tommy Sims, Luther “Mano” Hanes, Percy Bady, Cedric & Victor Caldwell (along with CeCe’s son Alvin Love III as co-producer) and new comers Christopher Capehart and Brannon Tunie. The fourteen-track disc finds the beloved gospel vocalist performing empowering, congregationally accessible songs of praise, intimate worship and inspiration.

“When you’re in the throne room, your focus is just God,” Winans said. “Nothing’s more powerful than that. When you do other music—positive music, gospel, inspirational, whatever you want to name it—you’re teaching lessons to other people, which is still very important. But nothing’s more powerful than when you’re face to face with God.”

Thy Kingdom Come is the follow-up to 2005’s chart-topping Purified, which showcased the gospel veteran interpreting buoyant, life-affirming songs with a contemporary edge. The album earned the songstress her sixth and seventh GRAMMY® awards in the categories of Best Gospel Performance and Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album.

The first single “Waging War” was serviced to radio and went for adds Feb 25. In preparation for the eagerly anticipated album, she also has some upcoming speaking and concert dates which include an April 10 performance in Fort Hood, Texas, as part of the “Salute to Our Heroes” event. Winans will also be appearing on TBN’s Praise the Lord on April 14th, performing new music.

The album is currently available for pre-order purchases in the U.S. at http://www.cecewinans.com and will be available on iTunes on April 1, 2008.

And for your listening pleasure, you can listen to the first single from Thy Kingdom Come. Click here to listen.

[CECE'S KEYS TO THE KINGDOM]

Listen to "Waging War" (Spotlight Grooves)
CeCe Winans (Official Website)

IRS Looks Into Yolanda Adams

GRAMMY award-winning and gospel superstar Yolanda Adams has a big battle on her hands. It's not just the Lord's battle either. This time, it's serious business as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) launched a probe into Adams' financial records from as far back as 2000. According to the Houston Chronicle, the Houston native failed to keep an appointment ordered by the IRS to explain her financial affairs and to determine Adams' tax liability and how the agency would collect on the debt.

The investigation surrounds the two million-dollar mortgage loan applications filed by the singer, where there were inconsistencies listed in her assets.

A 2005 Ocwen application said Adams earned $40,000 a month and listed $8 million in assets — including an $800,000 trust account, $4.9 million in other personal holdings and jewelry worth $1.5 million. That document said she owned a Lexus and a Hummer.

A subsequent Chase home loan application listed $3 million in assets, including a business worth $1.5 million, a Mercedes-Benz and a Range Rover. She owns a home worth more than $2 million in Houston's Royal Oaks Country Club subdivision.

The agency also wants details about her endorsements and royalties as well as music companies and foundations with whom she is affiliated.

Houston entertainment lawyer and Adams' attorney Ricky Anderson said that he was unaware of the lawsuit and declined to comment until he could look at the IRS filings and reach Adams, who was being featured on a gospel cruise to the Bahamas.

According to sources, she failed to appear with the IRS on Feb. 5 because she decided to appear on her syndicated morning show.

Earlier this year, the agency issued a summons that required Adams, 46, to bring financial documents for the last six years to Houston's IRS office in February and answer questions. When Adams missed her appointment, the government asked the court to force the entertainer to cooperate. She is scheduled to appear in court next month.

Let's hope she doesn't do a Bobby Brown by dodging the heat. The morning show can wait.

[MORE ON YOLANDA'S BATTLE]

Federal judge orders singer Adams to appear in court (Houston Chronicle)
Yolanda Adams subject of investigation (GospelCity.com)