"You could take away the singing, and I am fine. But don't' take away my gift of writing. It is the best way I can relate and express what I am feeling and what I am going through."

• Born Sept. 17, 1962, in Detroit

• Gospel singer BeBe Winans kicked off his solo career in 1997 with his self-titled debut release. The album featured the singles "In Harm's Way," "Thank You" and the international crossover hit, "I Wanna Be The Only One," which features Eternal. Album reached No. 36 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

• Winans won his first career GRAMMY for Best Soul Gospel Performance, Male for his work on "Abundant Life" for 1988. For 1993 Winans took home a GRAMMY for his contribution of "Jesus Loves Me" to Album Of The Year-winning The Bodyguard film soundtrack.

• Winans has nine siblings.

• The singer participated in the GRAMMY Foundation benefit concert, A Starry Night in 2006, a fundraiser that honored Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa with the GRAMMY Foundation Leadership Award.

• Winans teamed up with Nurses for Newborns to help save Missouri babies during a charity concert in 2017.