February 22, 2025 • 27 mins
Host Dr. Teresa A. Smith, Dr. TAS welcomes gospel singer Kevette Burwell to discuss trusting God despite what you see.
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Follow Kevette Burwell
Connect with Dr. TAS at Linktree Bio
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I'm doctor Teresa Smith. I'm the host of Talk with
Tars and today I have a very special guest who
is sitting down with me. She's an extraordinary woman whose
voice has grace legendary stages from the church to the
White House. With over four decades in the industry, Cavett
(00:20):
Burrell has not only performed alongside it comes like Richard
Smallwood and Ricky Dillard, but also has made a powerful
voice of inspiration. Her upcoming album, Two Sides, One Story,
is a testament to faith, resilience, and trust in God
(00:43):
through every season of life.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Yes, welcome to the show. Thank you so very much.
I'm so honored to be here with you.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Well, thank you everyone who is joining us. People are
in a season of uncertainty. You performed for presidents alongside legends,
yet I'm sure that there have been times that you
(01:16):
felt I'm gonna use the word unsean. You could say
not quite up to part, But I'm gonna say, unseene,
what's your personal testimony of how God has kept you
when no one was watching.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
So it's gotta be faith. You gotta believe that God
is a keeper. So I trust him with my whole heart.
I trust him wholeheartedly. I've been through so much in
my lifetime, but I trust God. I've been trusting God.
My faith has not wavered in everything that I've gone through,
and so it's gotta be that I absolutely trust him with.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
My entire life.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
I don't know what the plan is or what the
big picture is that he has in store for me,
So I trust him.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Daily to leave me, to guide me, and to direct
my path.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Well, you know, now that sounds easier than done. Do
you have a special ya? Some people meditate, some people
have affirmations declaration, there are certain music that they listen to,
certain scriptures that they wrap themselves in.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Is there one or two things.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
That you do to help you stay grounded?
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Yeah, So I lean on this or My very favorite
scripture is Romans eight twenty eight. And we know that
all things work together for good to those who love
the Lord and are the called according to his purpose.
And so that I don't care what I've been through
in life, the traumas that have come to my life.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
I just believe that somehow, some way is.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
All going to work together for my good. So I
lean on that scripture. But I also focus on the
scripture that says, be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
And so when I go into those places.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Because you know, people may not know my backstory, but
I've had some traumatic losses over the last years, and
I can go into this place of grief and when
I when I go there, you know.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
I tell people all the time, when grief comes, I
ride that wave, and then when.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
That is over, I still put two feet on the
ground and I keep moving. But I have to transform
my mind. So the Bible says to think on things
that are lovely, that are pure, that of good report.
And so I have to be transformed by the renewing
of my mind. And so those are two things that
I hang my hat on. I transform my mind my
(03:46):
thought process to think on things that God tells me
to think on, and to focus on things other than
you know, my grief or things that are happening in
my life. And also knowing that it's all gonna work
together for my good way somehow.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
And I love that because you know, with the Romans
eight and twenty eight, it's that last clause or that
last sentence that I think people forget that are all
according to His purpose. Sometimes we can be talling, but
be in the wrong place, be doing good work right,
(04:22):
doing good work being the wrong place. So I like
the fact that you quoted that part of that scripture
because to me, that brings true clarity. And when you
talk about we have to be renewed in that transformation,
you gotta have clarity in order to be transformed. But now,
when I think about he is, I was prepping and
(04:46):
I wanted to look at things a little different from
what maybe some folks would do. You know, whether some
people say more level, more levels, more devils, I'm probably misquoting,
but you know, some some people believe that when you
when you made it, that life gets easier. But you know,
like I said, at more levels, more devils. What's that
(05:09):
one moment when you almost let go but God stopped you?
Excuse me, God stepped in and reminded you that he
was a keeper?
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Was there ever that moment? Absolutely so?
Speaker 2 (05:26):
About in twenty twenty, my son passed away, and you
know that took the absolute breath away from me. When
and the circumstances behind his death. He was in a
car accident, but I had been looking for him for
you know, I talked to him that Saturday morning and
(05:49):
he never made it home from He's on his way home,
but he never made it home. And so I began to,
you know, call around and try to look for him
and see if his friends had heard from him. And
then I got my daughter, who was also doing the
same thing, trying to figure out where he was. She
(06:11):
contacted one of his friends, and his friends contacted a
young lady.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
He was singing.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
The young lady told me that she had fallen fallen
asleep on the phone with him and she was awakened
to a crash. So in my mind, I was just like,
at what point were you going to tell somebody that?
And so then I began to be like, oh, my goodness,
my son is out there somewhere. But you know, the
(06:36):
grace of God is we had this feature on our
phones called find my Friends, and so I was able
to figure out where his phone last pinged, and I said, okay,
I know now I know the route that he was
coming home.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
And so I began to look for him.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
And I began to call the police and say, have
you had any contact with this car or you know,
or I told him his name, and the entire weekend
I had no idea where my son was. And you know,
you as I begin to try to figure out things,
you know, of course you want to be like, okay, God,
(07:16):
I know you're in control. I know things are happening,
but then you also have this thing in the back
of your mind, Oh my goodness, what is happening?
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Why am I going through this? What? You know, I
didn't want to be.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
I didn't want to be the parent that your child
went missing and you never found him. And so I
literally my best friend came over. You know, all day Saturday, I.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Was just looking for him.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
I didn't even call family and say I can't find him,
and until that evening, and so when I called, you know,
of course, when I called my family and said I
can't find and my son's name was Trey. I can't
find Trey, then everybody came over and I called my
my girlfriend and my best girlfriend, and she came over.
But when she left, I said this to her, and
(08:03):
I said, I as I prayed to God, I said
to him, if you took him, I'm okay, I just
need to find him. And so that Monday day I
had spoken to some of his friends. I said, I
want everybody to meet me at my house and we're
just gonna go on Suitland Parkway and see if we
(08:25):
can find him. I know, his car came down Suitland
Parkway and we all just stretched this parkway and we
got out of our cars and we started looking for him.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
And my sister's pastor was one of.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
The people who came to help us, and he said,
the Lord told him to look in this certain place,
and he looked, and they looked down and there was
the car flipped over and everything. And so my sister
called me. Of course she was upset and she's like,
we found the car. We found the car. And in
that moment, I was just like, okay, God, and what
do I really do? I thank you you answered my
(09:03):
prayers because I said I need to find him.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
You answered my prayers. But I was like, in that moment,
what do you do?
Speaker 2 (09:10):
And when I got to the position that my sister
and her pastor were where they found the car, they
wouldn't let me go down the hill.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
It was it was down in the Bateman. They wouldn't
let me go down the hill. You know.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
I'm okay, you know, but let me. I just need
to I need to go down the hill. I needed,
so they wouldn't let me. So in the midst of
all of that, you know, I called the police, and
you know, I said to them, I've been calling out
all weekend shot. You know, I told you where he
was coming. Nobody went came out and looked for him,
and we came out and we found him. But in
(09:42):
that moment where I was just about to give up,
the Lord reminded me to give thanks in all things
so and.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Everything that was going on around me.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
I had a bunch of his friends there and they
were looking for for him, and they were, of course upset.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
But in that moment, I just began to pray.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
And then when the police came, and of course they
had to you know, seal the seal off the scene
and try to figure out everything. I sat in my
sister my sister's passed his car, and I just begin
to worship.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
That's all I knew to do.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
I had a girl, I have a grandson, and he
was probably about one or two months at that time,
but sometimes I would just hold him and do worship
Medley and I just began to do this worship Medley
in his car. That's all I knew to do. I
was getting ready to go there and be you know
this I need and upset, and of course I was.
(10:42):
I was upset, but I just began to praise and
worship God because he answered my prayer. I said, oh, Garrett,
get a little bit. I said, if you took him, okay,
I just need to find him. And God allowed me
to find him, and God allowed me, you know, to
(11:03):
be okayay in that moment because there was so many
people there just just trying to help. But I was
just like, okay, God, thank you, and I just begin
and that's where I find strength. I find strength and
thanking God and worshiping God and depending on God to
(11:24):
be to be.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
My strength and my keeper.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
You know. Could then you need to several real nuggets there.
I don't want the audience to lose them. You prayer,
pay to God, and you asked him because he does provide,
He does ask for my prayers.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Yes, he mentioned your prayer.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
And he sent the right person to see the car
set up past. Yeah, it could have been any of
those people out there, but he's and immediately the pastor
knew what had to happen. Yes, from a spiritual perspective,
I think not the everyday legal we got to get
not that from a spiritual perspective. So things began to
(12:13):
ship immediately. And then when you found out and then
you're asking God help me, help me, I think about
how He used you once you started, you know, giving
reminded giving thanks that principal give thanks in all things,
and all things give thanks. He used you with your talent.
(12:34):
What because then you started doing a worship athletic to
then settle that maybe not the right word, but that's
the word I'm gonna use right now. Those young men
and young girls who came to help you find your son,
but to help them find their friends.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Yes, because even though.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
We I'm speaking for them, and you never speak for people,
but I'm gonna put myself slightly in a person's you this.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
Time, even though we expecting the.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
Best, but we know time has lapsed, Yes, with no time,
time has lapsed. But we're still expecting the best. Yes,
and we're afraid, but we're gonna do what we can
do to support you and to help find him. But
when the real reality comes and we have to accept it,
(13:27):
how do we accept it?
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Right?
Speaker 1 (13:31):
God is excuse you as the mother to then mother
all of those people to help them. And to me,
that's that's so significant because even in your grief, he
used you. Yeah, he used you. And because you understand
(13:53):
that you draw your strength from him, then you depend
upon him.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
What a.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
What a gift to give to those young men and
young girls that were out there supporting you and supporting
your son.
Speaker 3 (14:09):
What againt then?
Speaker 2 (14:11):
Like they you know, even at his funeral, they they
came out. It was so many people who came out.
And one of the things I said at the funeral was,
you know, I know God is sovereign. Life and death
is his business. He can do whatever he wants to
do however he wants to do it, I said, But
there's purpose and everything. Also there is a perfect and
(14:34):
if one of his friends.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
Found God in his death, I'm good one if just one,
if one.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Of them, it's absolutely well. Now I want to welcome
added from Africa's with us. We got Sexy Mama seventy three.
That's with us and always shirt c Z hope' pronouncing
that correctly. Thank you for joining us. Also, hey Jesus
black my twenty three, thank you for joining us. He's like, hello,
(15:05):
beautiful black women, thank you so much. He's following you
now and Hi, I'm gonna mispronounce it, but forgive me
sillabunsy zig will. Thank you so much for joining us.
And we've got Taylor Fares joining us. Taylor Farst. Uh.
Yes it was the presidency, uh, Addie and Eddie said said,
(15:29):
but by his resting in the peace for bosom of
the Lord.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
But yes, sad, but he is resting in God's bosom. Yes,
and uh? And the sex and the sex and Mama
seventy three? Yes it's her? Is that your sister? Thank
you for joining us. Now let me like it up
a little bit, you know. Now you upcoming album two sides,
one story, it's blending. Now, let's I've got it. It's
(15:56):
gonna belend a little gospel and R and B. Now
you know that's not an easy balance. So when people
got this opinion about gospel and how it could sound
and all that, how did your faith sustain you in
staying true to your artistry where you got all this
noise where you want to blend those twos?
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Yeah, I am excuse me. I am absolutely a lover
of gospel music, and I'm a gospel artist absolutely, And
I remember as a young girl, I said, I'm only
going to seeing gospel music. I'm only going to see
gospel music. But growing up in my household there was
all types of music, especial old school.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
R and B.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
So I was like, I'm a lover of old school
R and B also, and so I didn't want to
I want. What I wanted to do was, well, let
me go back. So when my so my husband passed
away in October two thousand and nineteen, and after he
passed away, I began to write more music.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
I was writing more music.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
And a lot of times that music that came out
was love songs. And so when I when I got
with my producer, I said, okay, I want to record
these these love songs, you know, And.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
He said okay.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
So I was only supposed to record with him two songs.
And after I did the first song, he's just like,
you have to do a whole project, and I said,
so let's do At first, I was like, okay, let's
do the two R and B and then let's do
two gospel songs too, and he's like, you need a
full project, so we need at least ten songs. I said, okay,
(17:46):
let's do five R and B in five and it's
R and B. But it's really two sides one story.
It's really about love. It's really about love. It's God's love,
it's love between men and woman. So two sides, one story.
The one story is.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
Love, two sides of love.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
So that's how we kind of came up with that
concept for the project.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
Well, let me tell you.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
I love the idea. And because you get it, some
people say, well, I'm not should do it, you know,
just it's just how I flow. I'm singing gospel one moment,
the next moment, I'm singing R beats just the way,
you know, because like you say, it's it's the love
of music and it's what's moving me. So I love
(18:33):
that concept of having half in head or as you say,
two sides one story. I like that concept you now,
as I was saying to Addie, yes, you have been
singing in front of the President, so you have sung
on some big stages, stages that folks can only dream about.
(18:54):
But now you know behind this, behind the curtains, there's
always something going on right before you walk on sage.
Has there ever been a real time moment, you know,
before you had to walk out where your faith was
tested and you had to center yourself bathed upon your
faith and your trust in God that you can share
with us.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
So yeah, I think every time I approach.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
An engagement where I have to sing, there's always that
that moment where I'm unsure, so to speak, and you
have to like I'm often, I'm often if you if
you seen me before I.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
Sing, I'm very centered.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
I'm very like trying to focus because I'm talking to God.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
That's bottom line.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
I am saying, Okay, Jesus, if you don't sing, it
can't happen. So I'm always depending on God, you know,
to use the gift that He's put in me for
his glory. And so there's always every single time, there's
always that moment where I'm just like, Okay, you gotta
trust God, key that you you can't do it in
(20:01):
and of myself, I don't think I can do anything.
I have to depend on God to sing through me whatever.
Like even you know, I'm even while I'm singing, I'm
talking to God. Okay, now whatever you sing to me, Father,
that's what I'm sing.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
You know, And so you can do this.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
And and because I believe you should invest in yourself,
and you should practice and do all of that.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
But then when you get to that place where you're
you're it's time for you to perform, you gotta trust God.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Because everything can happen in that performance. So I'm I'm
always trying to listen to see what God is saying
to me, even even in those moments where I'm out
there singing, Okay, God, what what next?
Speaker 3 (20:48):
What am I supposed to say next? What am I
supposed to do next? What what?
Speaker 2 (20:51):
What?
Speaker 3 (20:51):
Noe?
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Am I supposed to sing next? What's what riff am
I supposed to do next? I'm always trying to listen
to what he says in those moments.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
You know that. You know, as I was prepping, I
was thinking about how do you trust God? And I'm
listening to you as you talk about before you walk out,
you're centered because you're in communication with him.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
You know.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
Some people use meditations, some people use yoga. Is there
a practice that you use that and I know it's
not well, it is automatic, but automatic is hard to
explain to somebody. Is there a practice that you use
that connects you that you're able to block out all
(21:39):
of those people and all the things that are happening
and say backstage before you go on stage, so that
you have that direct line to God. Is there a
technique that you use because I'm asking because I know
there are folks who are trying to be centered so
that they can hear Him and they know what their
next step should be.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
So, you know, the Bible tells us to always pray right,
and so I think we should always be in that state,
in that in that mindset and let God speak to
us in those moments that we have to be able
to blot out the distractions around. You know. Sometimes you know,
(22:23):
I sing in the choir at church, and if I
know that I'm going to lead a.
Speaker 3 (22:26):
Song, people are always they're always talking.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
We're in the line to go into the choir stand
and they're talking and they're talking and talking, and I
talk with them to some degree. But once I get
in the choir stand, I'm focused on what.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
I have to do. Like I literally can be.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Going through the song in my head while the choir
is singing and I'm singing. I'm singing, but sometimes I'm
just like lip singing, so I can focus on Okay,
I gotta remember these words.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
What are the words? You know?
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Okay, so what's the first note. I've got to focus
on that, and so I kind of try to just
just blot out the distractions and focus on what I
have to do and and also speak to talking to God. Okay, Jesus,
I'm gonna need you to I'm gonna need you to
help me right, I'm gonna need you to help me
(23:18):
to remember the song.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
I'm gonna need you that, I need you. That is
just the bottom line. I need you. I cannot do
this without you.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
And I'm thinking about I grew up Baptist, I'm still Baptist,
but I'm thinking about this him. I need you. You know,
I'm trying to sing in front of you. I shouldn't
be trying to a friend of mine. I know you're
trying to sing from a singer, but I'm hearing that lyric.
I need you every hour.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
I need you.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
I need you edit hour. But no, Addie asked a question.
And I want you to also tell the audience where
they can get your music. But Addie wanted to know
if you're still singing. Yes, she's still singing. Addie. She's
got an album that's gonna be released, which is two sides,
one story, but would you also He wanted to know
some of the titles of your gospel song, So would
(24:06):
you share some of the titles of your gospel songs,
not necessarily the ones that are gonna be just on
this upcoming project with the audience.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
So I've recorded with Reverend Stephen Hurd.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
There's a song I sing with him on his project
called The Prayer, and that's been out for for a
few years. I also sing background for Marett Brown Clark,
so you'll find me on a few of her projects
just just.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
Singing in the background.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
But the that is out now from my project is
called I Will Trust You. And it's was absolutely birth
out of my trauma from losing my husband and my
son and trying to figure out what was next and
what am I supposed to do, And it was birth
(24:54):
out of that and I just begin to write the
lyrics I will trust You.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
In spite of what I see, I will trust You.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
And so that is the single that is it's coming out.
It's not it's being played on radio, but it's not
out for people to and so that you will be
able to get that on my website keep at birdwell
dot com. And that's coming real soon and so everything
(25:24):
will be there. I have a song on there called
thank You. There's a song called I did a cover
of so Faithful mm hm. And so that those are
a few the few of the titles.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
Well for that, I think I've said it correctly that time. Uh,
thank you so much for being with me and my
audience today. You have really blessed us. You have reminded
us that God is a keeper, that faith will sustain us.
And when we put our trust in God, no matter
(26:05):
what it looks like, it's gonna be okay. But we
got to keep our head in his hand, yes, and
it will be be okay.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
All be okay, good and different. It's all want to
work together for our good, for those who are called
those who love the Lord and are called according.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
To his purpose.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
Absolutely, Eddie was just saying, because I preach every now
and then, and I use gospel music hold preaching, and
I would like to enjoy play a song. Well, you
will certainly be able to do that because they are
the album or the CD we say, we'll be released
soon and you'll be able to get it on her
(26:49):
on her website. Yes, and I know you're just like
everybody else because someone said, I think it was Jesus
Blackman twenty three said he's following her vat now, so
just follow her and yeah, and you stay up to
speed on what's happening as far as her music and
when it's gonna be dropping.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Yes, I appreciate your time and for having me. I
appreciate talking to you well.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
I enjoyed having you and to our audience. Thank you
so much for joining us. And until next time, before
you go trying to take care of someone else, make
sure you take care of yourself first.
Speaker 3 (27:23):
By now, thank you, thank you,
I'm doctor Teresa Smith. I'm the host of Talk with
Tars and today I have a very special guest who
is sitting down with me. She's an extraordinary woman whose
voice has grace legendary stages from the church to the
White House. With over four decades in the industry, Cavett
(00:20):
Burrell has not only performed alongside it comes like Richard
Smallwood and Ricky Dillard, but also has made a powerful
voice of inspiration. Her upcoming album, Two Sides, One Story,
is a testament to faith, resilience, and trust in God
(00:43):
through every season of life.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Yes, welcome to the show. Thank you so very much.
I'm so honored to be here with you.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Well, thank you everyone who is joining us. People are
in a season of uncertainty. You performed for presidents alongside legends,
yet I'm sure that there have been times that you
(01:16):
felt I'm gonna use the word unsean. You could say
not quite up to part, But I'm gonna say, unseene,
what's your personal testimony of how God has kept you
when no one was watching.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
So it's gotta be faith. You gotta believe that God
is a keeper. So I trust him with my whole heart.
I trust him wholeheartedly. I've been through so much in
my lifetime, but I trust God. I've been trusting God.
My faith has not wavered in everything that I've gone through,
and so it's gotta be that I absolutely trust him with.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
My entire life.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
I don't know what the plan is or what the
big picture is that he has in store for me,
So I trust him.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Daily to leave me, to guide me, and to direct
my path.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Well, you know, now that sounds easier than done. Do
you have a special ya? Some people meditate, some people
have affirmations declaration, there are certain music that they listen to,
certain scriptures that they wrap themselves in.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Is there one or two things.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
That you do to help you stay grounded?
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Yeah, So I lean on this or My very favorite
scripture is Romans eight twenty eight. And we know that
all things work together for good to those who love
the Lord and are the called according to his purpose.
And so that I don't care what I've been through
in life, the traumas that have come to my life.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
I just believe that somehow, some way is.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
All going to work together for my good. So I
lean on that scripture. But I also focus on the
scripture that says, be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
And so when I go into those places.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Because you know, people may not know my backstory, but
I've had some traumatic losses over the last years, and
I can go into this place of grief and when
I when I go there, you know.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
I tell people all the time, when grief comes, I
ride that wave, and then when.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
That is over, I still put two feet on the
ground and I keep moving. But I have to transform
my mind. So the Bible says to think on things
that are lovely, that are pure, that of good report.
And so I have to be transformed by the renewing
of my mind. And so those are two things that
I hang my hat on. I transform my mind my
(03:46):
thought process to think on things that God tells me
to think on, and to focus on things other than
you know, my grief or things that are happening in
my life. And also knowing that it's all gonna work
together for my good way somehow.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
And I love that because you know, with the Romans
eight and twenty eight, it's that last clause or that
last sentence that I think people forget that are all
according to His purpose. Sometimes we can be talling, but
be in the wrong place, be doing good work right,
(04:22):
doing good work being the wrong place. So I like
the fact that you quoted that part of that scripture
because to me, that brings true clarity. And when you
talk about we have to be renewed in that transformation,
you gotta have clarity in order to be transformed. But now,
when I think about he is, I was prepping and
(04:46):
I wanted to look at things a little different from
what maybe some folks would do. You know, whether some
people say more level, more levels, more devils, I'm probably misquoting,
but you know, some some people believe that when you
when you made it, that life gets easier. But you know,
like I said, at more levels, more devils. What's that
(05:09):
one moment when you almost let go but God stopped you?
Excuse me, God stepped in and reminded you that he
was a keeper?
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Was there ever that moment? Absolutely so?
Speaker 2 (05:26):
About in twenty twenty, my son passed away, and you
know that took the absolute breath away from me. When
and the circumstances behind his death. He was in a
car accident, but I had been looking for him for
you know, I talked to him that Saturday morning and
(05:49):
he never made it home from He's on his way home,
but he never made it home. And so I began to,
you know, call around and try to look for him
and see if his friends had heard from him. And
then I got my daughter, who was also doing the
same thing, trying to figure out where he was. She
(06:11):
contacted one of his friends, and his friends contacted a
young lady.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
He was singing.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
The young lady told me that she had fallen fallen
asleep on the phone with him and she was awakened
to a crash. So in my mind, I was just like,
at what point were you going to tell somebody that?
And so then I began to be like, oh, my goodness,
my son is out there somewhere. But you know, the
(06:36):
grace of God is we had this feature on our
phones called find my Friends, and so I was able
to figure out where his phone last pinged, and I said, okay,
I know now I know the route that he was
coming home.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
And so I began to look for him.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
And I began to call the police and say, have
you had any contact with this car or you know,
or I told him his name, and the entire weekend
I had no idea where my son was. And you know,
you as I begin to try to figure out things,
you know, of course you want to be like, okay, God,
(07:16):
I know you're in control. I know things are happening,
but then you also have this thing in the back
of your mind, Oh my goodness, what is happening?
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Why am I going through this? What? You know, I
didn't want to be.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
I didn't want to be the parent that your child
went missing and you never found him. And so I
literally my best friend came over. You know, all day Saturday, I.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Was just looking for him.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
I didn't even call family and say I can't find him,
and until that evening, and so when I called, you know,
of course, when I called my family and said I
can't find and my son's name was Trey. I can't
find Trey, then everybody came over and I called my
my girlfriend and my best girlfriend, and she came over.
But when she left, I said this to her, and
(08:03):
I said, I as I prayed to God, I said
to him, if you took him, I'm okay, I just
need to find him. And so that Monday day I
had spoken to some of his friends. I said, I
want everybody to meet me at my house and we're
just gonna go on Suitland Parkway and see if we
(08:25):
can find him. I know, his car came down Suitland
Parkway and we all just stretched this parkway and we
got out of our cars and we started looking for him.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
And my sister's pastor was one of.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
The people who came to help us, and he said,
the Lord told him to look in this certain place,
and he looked, and they looked down and there was
the car flipped over and everything. And so my sister
called me. Of course she was upset and she's like,
we found the car. We found the car. And in
that moment, I was just like, okay, God, and what
do I really do? I thank you you answered my
(09:03):
prayers because I said I need to find him.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
You answered my prayers. But I was like, in that moment,
what do you do?
Speaker 2 (09:10):
And when I got to the position that my sister
and her pastor were where they found the car, they
wouldn't let me go down the hill.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
It was it was down in the Bateman. They wouldn't
let me go down the hill. You know.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
I'm okay, you know, but let me. I just need
to I need to go down the hill. I needed,
so they wouldn't let me. So in the midst of
all of that, you know, I called the police, and
you know, I said to them, I've been calling out
all weekend shot. You know, I told you where he
was coming. Nobody went came out and looked for him,
and we came out and we found him. But in
(09:42):
that moment where I was just about to give up,
the Lord reminded me to give thanks in all things
so and.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Everything that was going on around me.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
I had a bunch of his friends there and they
were looking for for him, and they were, of course upset.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
But in that moment, I just began to pray.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
And then when the police came, and of course they
had to you know, seal the seal off the scene
and try to figure out everything. I sat in my
sister my sister's passed his car, and I just begin
to worship.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
That's all I knew to do.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
I had a girl, I have a grandson, and he
was probably about one or two months at that time,
but sometimes I would just hold him and do worship
Medley and I just began to do this worship Medley
in his car. That's all I knew to do. I
was getting ready to go there and be you know
this I need and upset, and of course I was.
(10:42):
I was upset, but I just began to praise and
worship God because he answered my prayer. I said, oh, Garrett,
get a little bit. I said, if you took him, okay,
I just need to find him. And God allowed me
to find him, and God allowed me, you know, to
(11:03):
be okayay in that moment because there was so many
people there just just trying to help. But I was
just like, okay, God, thank you, and I just begin
and that's where I find strength. I find strength and
thanking God and worshiping God and depending on God to
(11:24):
be to be.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
My strength and my keeper.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
You know. Could then you need to several real nuggets there.
I don't want the audience to lose them. You prayer,
pay to God, and you asked him because he does provide,
He does ask for my prayers.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Yes, he mentioned your prayer.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
And he sent the right person to see the car
set up past. Yeah, it could have been any of
those people out there, but he's and immediately the pastor
knew what had to happen. Yes, from a spiritual perspective,
I think not the everyday legal we got to get
not that from a spiritual perspective. So things began to
(12:13):
ship immediately. And then when you found out and then
you're asking God help me, help me, I think about
how He used you once you started, you know, giving
reminded giving thanks that principal give thanks in all things,
and all things give thanks. He used you with your talent.
(12:34):
What because then you started doing a worship athletic to
then settle that maybe not the right word, but that's
the word I'm gonna use right now. Those young men
and young girls who came to help you find your son,
but to help them find their friends.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Yes, because even though.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
We I'm speaking for them, and you never speak for people,
but I'm gonna put myself slightly in a person's you this.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
Time, even though we expecting the.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
Best, but we know time has lapsed, Yes, with no time,
time has lapsed. But we're still expecting the best. Yes,
and we're afraid, but we're gonna do what we can
do to support you and to help find him. But
when the real reality comes and we have to accept it,
(13:27):
how do we accept it?
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Right?
Speaker 1 (13:31):
God is excuse you as the mother to then mother
all of those people to help them. And to me,
that's that's so significant because even in your grief, he
used you. Yeah, he used you. And because you understand
(13:53):
that you draw your strength from him, then you depend
upon him.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
What a.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
What a gift to give to those young men and
young girls that were out there supporting you and supporting
your son.
Speaker 3 (14:09):
What againt then?
Speaker 2 (14:11):
Like they you know, even at his funeral, they they
came out. It was so many people who came out.
And one of the things I said at the funeral was,
you know, I know God is sovereign. Life and death
is his business. He can do whatever he wants to
do however he wants to do it, I said, But
there's purpose and everything. Also there is a perfect and
(14:34):
if one of his friends.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
Found God in his death, I'm good one if just one,
if one.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Of them, it's absolutely well. Now I want to welcome
added from Africa's with us. We got Sexy Mama seventy three.
That's with us and always shirt c Z hope' pronouncing
that correctly. Thank you for joining us. Also, hey Jesus
black my twenty three, thank you for joining us. He's like, hello,
(15:05):
beautiful black women, thank you so much. He's following you
now and Hi, I'm gonna mispronounce it, but forgive me
sillabunsy zig will. Thank you so much for joining us.
And we've got Taylor Fares joining us. Taylor Farst. Uh.
Yes it was the presidency, uh, Addie and Eddie said said,
(15:29):
but by his resting in the peace for bosom of
the Lord.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
But yes, sad, but he is resting in God's bosom. Yes,
and uh? And the sex and the sex and Mama
seventy three? Yes it's her? Is that your sister? Thank
you for joining us. Now let me like it up
a little bit, you know. Now you upcoming album two sides,
one story, it's blending. Now, let's I've got it. It's
(15:56):
gonna belend a little gospel and R and B. Now
you know that's not an easy balance. So when people
got this opinion about gospel and how it could sound
and all that, how did your faith sustain you in
staying true to your artistry where you got all this
noise where you want to blend those twos?
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Yeah, I am excuse me. I am absolutely a lover
of gospel music, and I'm a gospel artist absolutely, And
I remember as a young girl, I said, I'm only
going to seeing gospel music. I'm only going to see
gospel music. But growing up in my household there was
all types of music, especial old school.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
R and B.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
So I was like, I'm a lover of old school
R and B also, and so I didn't want to
I want. What I wanted to do was, well, let
me go back. So when my so my husband passed
away in October two thousand and nineteen, and after he
passed away, I began to write more music.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
I was writing more music.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
And a lot of times that music that came out
was love songs. And so when I when I got
with my producer, I said, okay, I want to record
these these love songs, you know, And.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
He said okay.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
So I was only supposed to record with him two songs.
And after I did the first song, he's just like,
you have to do a whole project, and I said,
so let's do At first, I was like, okay, let's
do the two R and B and then let's do
two gospel songs too, and he's like, you need a
full project, so we need at least ten songs. I said, okay,
(17:46):
let's do five R and B in five and it's
R and B. But it's really two sides one story.
It's really about love. It's really about love. It's God's love,
it's love between men and woman. So two sides, one story.
The one story is.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
Love, two sides of love.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
So that's how we kind of came up with that
concept for the project.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
Well, let me tell you.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
I love the idea. And because you get it, some
people say, well, I'm not should do it, you know,
just it's just how I flow. I'm singing gospel one moment,
the next moment, I'm singing R beats just the way,
you know, because like you say, it's it's the love
of music and it's what's moving me. So I love
(18:33):
that concept of having half in head or as you say,
two sides one story. I like that concept you now,
as I was saying to Addie, yes, you have been
singing in front of the President, so you have sung
on some big stages, stages that folks can only dream about.
(18:54):
But now you know behind this, behind the curtains, there's
always something going on right before you walk on sage.
Has there ever been a real time moment, you know,
before you had to walk out where your faith was
tested and you had to center yourself bathed upon your
faith and your trust in God that you can share
with us.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
So yeah, I think every time I approach.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
An engagement where I have to sing, there's always that
that moment where I'm unsure, so to speak, and you
have to like I'm often, I'm often if you if
you seen me before I.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
Sing, I'm very centered.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
I'm very like trying to focus because I'm talking to God.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
That's bottom line.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
I am saying, Okay, Jesus, if you don't sing, it
can't happen. So I'm always depending on God, you know,
to use the gift that He's put in me for
his glory. And so there's always every single time, there's
always that moment where I'm just like, Okay, you gotta
trust God, key that you you can't do it in
(20:01):
and of myself, I don't think I can do anything.
I have to depend on God to sing through me whatever.
Like even you know, I'm even while I'm singing, I'm
talking to God. Okay, now whatever you sing to me, Father,
that's what I'm sing.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
You know, And so you can do this.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
And and because I believe you should invest in yourself,
and you should practice and do all of that.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
But then when you get to that place where you're
you're it's time for you to perform, you gotta trust God.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Because everything can happen in that performance. So I'm I'm
always trying to listen to see what God is saying
to me, even even in those moments where I'm out
there singing, Okay, God, what what next?
Speaker 3 (20:48):
What am I supposed to say next? What am I
supposed to do next? What what?
Speaker 2 (20:51):
What?
Speaker 3 (20:51):
Noe?
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Am I supposed to sing next? What's what riff am
I supposed to do next? I'm always trying to listen
to what he says in those moments.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
You know that. You know, as I was prepping, I
was thinking about how do you trust God? And I'm
listening to you as you talk about before you walk out,
you're centered because you're in communication with him.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
You know.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
Some people use meditations, some people use yoga. Is there
a practice that you use that and I know it's
not well, it is automatic, but automatic is hard to
explain to somebody. Is there a practice that you use
that connects you that you're able to block out all
(21:39):
of those people and all the things that are happening
and say backstage before you go on stage, so that
you have that direct line to God. Is there a
technique that you use because I'm asking because I know
there are folks who are trying to be centered so
that they can hear Him and they know what their
next step should be.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
So, you know, the Bible tells us to always pray right,
and so I think we should always be in that state,
in that in that mindset and let God speak to
us in those moments that we have to be able
to blot out the distractions around. You know. Sometimes you know,
(22:23):
I sing in the choir at church, and if I
know that I'm going to lead a.
Speaker 3 (22:26):
Song, people are always they're always talking.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
We're in the line to go into the choir stand
and they're talking and they're talking and talking, and I
talk with them to some degree. But once I get
in the choir stand, I'm focused on what.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
I have to do. Like I literally can be.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Going through the song in my head while the choir
is singing and I'm singing. I'm singing, but sometimes I'm
just like lip singing, so I can focus on Okay,
I gotta remember these words.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
What are the words? You know?
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Okay, so what's the first note. I've got to focus
on that, and so I kind of try to just
just blot out the distractions and focus on what I
have to do and and also speak to talking to God. Okay, Jesus,
I'm gonna need you to I'm gonna need you to
help me right, I'm gonna need you to help me
(23:18):
to remember the song.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
I'm gonna need you that, I need you. That is
just the bottom line. I need you. I cannot do
this without you.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
And I'm thinking about I grew up Baptist, I'm still Baptist,
but I'm thinking about this him. I need you. You know,
I'm trying to sing in front of you. I shouldn't
be trying to a friend of mine. I know you're
trying to sing from a singer, but I'm hearing that lyric.
I need you every hour.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
I need you.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
I need you edit hour. But no, Addie asked a question.
And I want you to also tell the audience where
they can get your music. But Addie wanted to know
if you're still singing. Yes, she's still singing. Addie. She's
got an album that's gonna be released, which is two sides,
one story, but would you also He wanted to know
some of the titles of your gospel song, So would
(24:06):
you share some of the titles of your gospel songs,
not necessarily the ones that are gonna be just on
this upcoming project with the audience.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
So I've recorded with Reverend Stephen Hurd.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
There's a song I sing with him on his project
called The Prayer, and that's been out for for a
few years. I also sing background for Marett Brown Clark,
so you'll find me on a few of her projects
just just.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
Singing in the background.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
But the that is out now from my project is
called I Will Trust You. And it's was absolutely birth
out of my trauma from losing my husband and my
son and trying to figure out what was next and
what am I supposed to do, And it was birth
(24:54):
out of that and I just begin to write the
lyrics I will trust You.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
In spite of what I see, I will trust You.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
And so that is the single that is it's coming out.
It's not it's being played on radio, but it's not
out for people to and so that you will be
able to get that on my website keep at birdwell
dot com. And that's coming real soon and so everything
(25:24):
will be there. I have a song on there called
thank You. There's a song called I did a cover
of so Faithful mm hm. And so that those are
a few the few of the titles.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
Well for that, I think I've said it correctly that time. Uh,
thank you so much for being with me and my
audience today. You have really blessed us. You have reminded
us that God is a keeper, that faith will sustain us.
And when we put our trust in God, no matter
(26:05):
what it looks like, it's gonna be okay. But we
got to keep our head in his hand, yes, and
it will be be okay.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
All be okay, good and different. It's all want to
work together for our good, for those who are called
those who love the Lord and are called according.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
To his purpose.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
Absolutely, Eddie was just saying, because I preach every now
and then, and I use gospel music hold preaching, and
I would like to enjoy play a song. Well, you
will certainly be able to do that because they are
the album or the CD we say, we'll be released
soon and you'll be able to get it on her
(26:49):
on her website. Yes, and I know you're just like
everybody else because someone said, I think it was Jesus
Blackman twenty three said he's following her vat now, so
just follow her and yeah, and you stay up to
speed on what's happening as far as her music and
when it's gonna be dropping.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Yes, I appreciate your time and for having me. I
appreciate talking to you well.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
I enjoyed having you and to our audience. Thank you
so much for joining us. And until next time, before
you go trying to take care of someone else, make
sure you take care of yourself first.
Speaker 3 (27:23):
By now, thank you, thank you,
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