Grammy Winning Gospel Legend BeBe Winans Returns To Spotlight For ARETHA! A GRAMMY CELEBRATION FOR THE QUEEN OF SOUL

This Sunday, March 9, gospel music legend BeBe Winans makes his return to prime-time television to celebrate the life of Aretha Franklin as part of"Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul." The special airs at 9p.m.-11 p.m., ET/PT on CBS.

The six-time GRAMMY Award winner took a step back from the spotlight for 10 years, returns to prime-time with a solo performance of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," then joins fellow gospel superstars Yolanda Adams and Shirley Caesar for a riveting version of "How I Got Over." Both songs were previously recorded by Aretha for her GRAMMY Award-winning Gospel album "Amazing Grace,' the biggest selling album of her career, and the best-selling gospel album in music history.

"Aretha always remained rooted in the church and made sure Gospel music was always a part of her musical journey. I truly miss her presence, her voice and most of all her friendship," said Winans. Both Winans and Franklin were also from Detroit, Michigan.

During his hiatus, Winans, inspired by his friend singer Roberta Flack, wrote his original musical "Born for This," about his extraordinary life. The story follows BeBe - a talented young man from a tight-knit musical family - as he grapples with his faith and his desire for fame. The production received critical acclaim at out-of-town tryouts in Washington, DC., Los Angeles, Atlanta and Boston and is bound for Broadway later this year. BeBe wrote original music for the show, which is directed by Charles Randolph Wright and stars Donald Webber (Hamilton). He also is set to release a new album in June, as well as his book "Born for This: My Story in Music" (Hachette Book Group) this October.

Born Benjamin Winans, "BeBe" is the seventh child and youngest male of the Detroit based first family of gospel music. BeBe is best known as an inspirational, R&B, and popular vocalist, songwriter who along with his musical partner and sister CeCe Winans are the first true Christian crossover artists to hit the mainstream. Along with writing and producing "Born for This," he served as Executive Music Producer for the OWN Network's critically acclaimed scripted series, "Greenleaf" (starring his niece Deborah Joy Winans) and he continues to host his own radio show on the Heart & Soul Channel (68) on Sirius/XM Radio Networks on Sunday Mornings (9am ET/7am PT) . In April of 2018, his song, "He Promised Me" featuring Tobbi & Tommi and introducing Kiandra, reached #1 on the Billboard Gospel airplay charts making it his first solo #1 in his career. In September of 2018, he released his newest single "Laughter" performed with Korean gospel group Korean Soul.