Legendary gospel singer CeCe Winans made history at the 2022 Dove Awards after winning Artist of the Year on Oct. 18. She’s the first Black female solo artist to win the award.

Christian singer Chris Tomlin and one half of Mary Mary duo Erica Campbell were the presenters for the award. The nominees were Winans, for King + Country, Maverick City Music, We The Kingdom and Zach Williams.

When Winans’ name was announced, the audience stood up and cheered

while the shocked singer remained seated and took it all in. Once she finally arrived on stage, Winans started to sing “To God Be the Glory” as her acceptance speech, with some of the audience members singing along.

After finishing, she told the audience, “God bless you, thank you,” and walked off the stage.

Winans has been singing gospel music for quite some time. In 1984, she and her older brother BeBe Winans released their first duo album. The duo achieved great success and recognition before Winans decided to go solo in 1995. Some of her well-known tracks are “I Surrender All,” “Mercy Says No,” “Everlasting Love,” “We Thirst For You,” “Great Are You Lord,” and Jesus You’re Beautiful.”

Winans won 25 Dove Awards during her career, her first being New Artist of the Year in 1988.

Backstage at the 53rd Dove Awards, Winans spoke about what inspired her as an artist.

“…have to go way back when BeBe and I first started,” she said. “I think…I don’t know if it was our first single on the radio. But I was very young…maybe 20 at the time. And I remember getting a letter from a young lady who heard our music on the radio. And she was contemplating suicide, and when she heard our song, she decided to give life another try. I will never forget that because, in that moment, I realized that with this platform comes an awesome responsibility.”

She continued, “Lives are actually depending on you to do what thus said the Lord. And I never forgot that. It was a blessing, but at the same time, it was a huge awakening that this is not about entertainment. But this is spiritual warfare. And if just continue to be the light, then we will win over darkness every single time.”