Reba McEntire got choked up accepting her Grammy Award for Best Roots Gospel Album on Sunday night (Jan. 28) in New York City. Her honest acceptance speech brought laughter, a few tears and heavy applause.
The country singer won for a gospel album, something she recognizes as unusual, if nothing else. Once handed her Grammy statuette McEntire remembered first talking about recording Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope, insinuating that it was out of her comfort zone.
“I’m a country artist,” she deadpanned, leading the crowd to laugh. “But I’ve been singing these songs that’s on this album all my life, on the pond down at Grandma’s house singing ‘Oh, How I Love Jesus …’ and it’s so great to get those songs on an album.”
From there the 62-year-old got even more personal. The album in many ways seemed to be her calling, and she took the opportunity to remind everyone just how much she appreciated being in a position to answer.
“Our job in the entertainment business is to heal hearts. That’s what God put me on this earth for, I know it is. To help other people. I love my job. I’m so grateful to get to do it.”
Then after thanking her record label, she said, “I’m gonna give this back to God.”
“Back to God” was the only single from Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope. The two-disc album included a mix of traditional hymns and original songs. Prior to the album’s release McEntire talked to Taste of Country about some of the more personal songs on her album:
McEntire is one of a number of country artists present for the 2018 Grammy Awards in New York City. She was wearing a white rose in support of the #TimeUp movement, and she was not alone.
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