I have 18 or 19 first cousins, and we're all very close. Deborah Joy Winans More Quotes by Deborah Joy Winans More Quotes From Deborah Joy Winans I think that a sense of loyalty is something that a lot of people lack, just period, in life. Deborah Joy Winans think loyalty life people I love my family's music because I love it. It's good. I listen to the Winans all the time. I listen to BeBe and CeCe. I listen to Angie and Debbie. I listen to Uncle Daniel. I listen to Phase 2, my two brothers and my two cousins. I think they're incredible. Deborah Joy Winans good family music love I often joke with my husband and say to him, 'You know I have two theatre degrees, right? That's all I know how to do.' LOL! He went to Pepperdine Law School, has four degrees, and passed the California Bar first time around, so I always make sure he doesn't expect too much from me. Deborah Joy Winans me you time school Singing was never my thing. Deborah Joy Winans thing never singing Everyone is human, and everyone makes mistakes. Deborah Joy Winans makes mistakes everyone human My Auntie CeCe - I can kind of joke and say all I need to do is pray. But that's literally what she does... She lives what she sings. I've learned a lot about her in that way, so in bringing her to the stage, I knew what sort of demeanor she needed to have. Her songs are very reflective of who she is in real life. Deborah Joy Winans i-can real life way To be able to be onstage and to hear people in the audience go, 'That's my song!' It's amazing. Deborah Joy Winans amazing go song people I didn't have drama in high school. So when I graduated high school and started at Wayne State in Detroit, I told my parents I was going to major in theater. And they were like, 'OK. Why? You've never done it.' But, it was just what I wanted, and they came to see my very first show and, from then, completely supported me. Deborah Joy Winans parents me you school I got my B.F.A. at Wayne State. Moved to L.A. and got my M.F.A. from Cal Arts in acting and just worked hard. Deborah Joy Winans got just hard acting I actually never wanted to sing, and I thought that I was never going to sing, but I see that God had other plans. Deborah Joy Winans never thought see god I think my biggest thing is if you don't believe in you, then others are not going to believe in you. Deborah Joy Winans others think you believe That's the best worship you can get when the worship leader is there with no other intentions and ready to sing their heart out for the Lord. Deborah Joy Winans best you leader heart When you're in a church, and you're singing about the presence of the Lord, it is so hard not to get overjoyed because I know Him. Deborah Joy Winans know you singing church I think I'm constantly resorting to making sure to keep God's perspective in my mind. Deborah Joy Winans think perspective god mind I sang in the choir growing up and more recently served on the worship team at my church in California. Deborah Joy Winans growing-up team church worship My first job out of CalArts was performing monologues at the Women of Faith conferences across the country. Deborah Joy Winans job women faith country I enjoy working. And, I really enjoy the fact that I get to do what I love and call it work. Deborah Joy Winans get enjoy work love We're a really close family, and that was what my grandparents promoted. Deborah Joy Winans grandparents really close family I was at a point where I couldn't find an agent or a manager, and I said, 'Okay, Lord. If this is what you have for me, I need you to work that. I need you to open doors.' I was at that point of truly surrendering whatever my will was, and, 'Lord, if this is what You want, You do it.' And, He did it. Deborah Joy Winans me you work doors 'Greenleaf' is nothing like 'Empire.' I think 'Empire' stands alone in what they are doing. It's a wonderful show. The only thing that is similar though is that they are black families - the shows in it of themselves have very different dynamics. Deborah Joy Winans alone nothing think black