CeCe Winans is one of the most celebrated gospel singers of all time, with a career spanning over four decades and numerous awards and accolades to her name. She has sold more than 12 million records worldwide and won 12 Grammy Awards, making her the best-selling and most-awarded female gospel artist in history1. She is also a successful entrepreneur, author, speaker, and talk show host. But recently, some fans have been wondering: did CeCe Winans pass away?
The Origin of the Death Hoax
The rumors about CeCe Winans’ death started circulating on social media in late 2021, after a website called Channel 22 News published an article claiming that she had died in a car accident. The article stated that Winans was driving on Interstate 65 in Nashville, Tennessee, when she lost control of her vehicle and collided with a semi-truck. The article also included a photo of a wrecked car and a quote from a police officer confirming Winans’ death.
However, the article was completely false and fabricated. Channel 22 News is not a legitimate news source, but a prank website that allows users to create fake news stories and share them online. The website even has a disclaimer at the bottom of its homepage that reads: “This website is an entertainment website, jokes are created by users. These are humourous jokes, fantasy, fictional, that should not be seriously taken or as a source of information.”
The Response from CeCe Winans and Her Family
CeCe Winans herself was quick to debunk the death hoax and reassure her fans that she was alive and well. She posted a video on her Instagram account on November 23, 2021, in which she said: “Hey everybody, this is CeCe Winans. I just want to say thank you for all of your prayers and your concern. I am alive and well. There’s a rumor going around that I passed away in a car accident. That is not true. I am here, I am healthy, I am blessed, and I love you all.”
She also added a caption to the video that read: “I’m alive! Thank you Jesus! And thank you for your prayers and concern. Don’t believe everything you read. Love you all!”
Her brother, BeBe Winans, who was also her former singing partner, also posted a video on his Instagram account on the same day, confirming that his sister was fine and joking that he would have been the first to know if she had died. He said: “Hey everybody, this is BeBe Winans. And I’m here to tell you that my sister CeCe Winans is alive and kicking. And if she wasn’t, trust me, I would have been the first one to know. So don’t believe everything you read on the internet. She’s doing great, she’s working hard, she’s getting ready for Christmas, and she loves you all.”
He also captioned the video: “My sister @cecewinans is alive and well! Thank you for your prayers and concern. We love you!”
