GRAMMY.com Exclusive First Listen: BeBe Winans

GRAMMY-winning gospel artist debuts new song "Ultimate Sacrifice" only on GRAMMY.com

GRAMMY.com

Six-time GRAMMY-winning gospel artist BeBe Winans is set to release his seventh solo album, America America, on June 19. Ahead of the album's release, GRAMMY.com has your exclusive first listen to the track "Ultimate Sacrifice."

A native of Detroit, Winans is also known for his duet act with his sister, CeCe Winans, with whom he earned his first GRAMMY nomination in 1984 for Best Soul Gospel Performance By A Duo Or Group for Lord Lift Us Up. Winans' first solo effort came in 1997 with his self-titled release, which peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's Gospel Albums chart. Love & Freedom followed in 2000, peaking at No. 30 on the Billboard 200 and earning Winans two GRAMMY nominations including Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. In 2005 Winans released Dream, which features the song "I Have A Dream," Winans' musical setting of Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous 1963 speech. The album earned Winans another GRAMMY nomination in the Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album category. Winans' most recent GRAMMY came in 2010 for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album for Still with CeCe Winans.

Winans' forthcoming album, America America, features 11 tracks, including renditions of the patriotic standards "America The Beautiful" and "The Star-Spangled Banner," as well as three new songs, including "Ultimate Sacrifice," which Winans wrote for U.S. armed forces.

"The inspiration for America America is the time we are living in," said Winans. "Sometimes, we forget that we are all Americans. At sporting events, when the national anthem is sung, everyone stands — black, white, rich, poor — everyone."

Winans will embark on a U.S. tour in support of the album with GRAMMY-nominated jazz artist Dave Koz beginning June 22, with select dates scheduled through August.