Reba may have her first non-country Grammy, but singing gospel is nothing new

Timothy Kuratek/CBSReba McEntire picked up her first non-country Grammy Sunday night, winning Best Roots Gospel Album for Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope.

Even though the double record is a far cry from Reba’s classics like “Fancy” or “Does He Love You,” it’s not exactly a left turn.

“I’ve been singing gospel music all my life, going to a little one-room country church-house in Chokie, Oklahoma,” the country icon told reporters backstage after winning the award. “When it was full, it was probably 20 people. So it was something that we looked forward to going and doing and seeing our neighbors. There was only 18 people in the town.”

Reba also pointed out there’s traditionally been a strong connection between the worlds of country and gospel.

“With country music, when we sing and when we do albums, we usually put a gospel song on our albums, and then in our shows,” she explained. “And so this was not unfamiliar to me, to be doing a gospel album. I have totally enjoyed it.”

With Sing it Now about to celebrate its first birthday February 3, Reba’s already looking ahead to her next recording, though she’s not sure exactly what it will be. She’s looking for songs, and predicts they’ll dictate what the feel of the album will be.

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