all right. tavis: in jesus name. >> i've been doing this way too long. tavis: it is hard to believe that it is 15 years since two of the biggest names have worked on a project together and they happen to be siblings. bee bee and cece are out with a new album. it is called "steel." here's video four, a long we love so much "close to you." ♪ you know the truth. and no one can.

i knew. ♪ and ♪ good to know ♪ ♪ and mine ♪ how i know your face ♪ i just want to be close to you ♪ tavis: i'm laughing bebe since this hasn't dropped yet. because i've been listening to that for six months. it seems every time i turn the radio on, i hear this song. we love it, we know the lyrics to it. it stale ain't dropped. >> hey, hey. >> worth your weight. >> and for those that keep asking, where is it? >> where is it? >> and i knew something was up. they dropped that single. >> and making them think the record was done. and then -- they try to work it out. so october 6th, they can get this?

>> actually, they could get it today and log on to itunes and preorder. tavis: i hope you figured out how much we missed you by the response you already gave to the thing. >> the love is overwhelming. people have been asking. we couldn't go nowhere without somebody asking. the last time i talked to you. when is it coming out? and we're coming, we're coming. it is finally done. we're happy, we're happy with the project. we're just glad that the people still wanted to see us. >> you're from a family of 10, and i am from a family of 10. i got a brother i talk to every couple of years, but 15 years, that must have been a hoveg a fight. what went down?

>> time kept going. we would say, we're going to get started. and start collecting songs, and that really takes the most of the time. and then at the end of you know, finishing and producing all of that. schedules. >> 15 years. >> and -- that was seven years.

>> wow. >> we were not seven. >> 17. >> and we're all getting older. tavis: be getting older. my lower said all the time, if you don't live to get old u you die young. i appreciate being alive. to your point, does it give you a new perspective bebe on time. we talk about time and we have these ideas about the notion of time. and you look up and realize 15 years have passed, what does this tell you about the thing called time? >> it does not wait on anyone. i think that's the truth. but 15 years have gone by without me and cece singing on a c.d. but we see each other all the time. we're brother and sister and she lives five or six minutes from me. we go to dinner and church. we fellowship see each other, maybe too much. maybe not too much.

that's a whole other program. but the fact is, you know, when we, we -- we're back in the studio, and we have the songs, it went like that. you know, it was just like we never stopped singing together. so but -- for 15 years, i -- what happened? tavis: you know, i was looking for a listening to c.c. more than -- cece more than anything else. for the true fans, i wanted to know how the signature sound, how that sound changed. what is your sense of how the sound that we were used to 15 years ago has changed or not? >> that's unfair, because i want your opinion. it is your show. tavis: i'll give you mine later. >> i don't think it has. when you think about 15 years. is it that hong? and the thing you get nervous about. it is a whole other generation down here.

and then we had fans that have been waiting. so we went in and we were just ourselves. and to me, it is -- it is like just like bebe and see. when you listen to the old stuff and put it out, it is still current. to me, it wasn't a big change. >> which has a lot to do with songs. we really do put a lot of emphasis on songs. making sure there's a message there. making sure there's a production that can live through the tough times. and so we gathered people we worked in the past and other people we met. and really, just had a great time. tavis: when i heard it, it sounded just like bebe and cece and i was so glad because i love the stuff you do and i was hoping that -- and trying to be

something they ain't. and they go -- and all we want is what you gave us the first time. i'm glad y'all didn't try something crazy and whacked. how do you know after 50 years, i could give you a bunch of exeam pells that people that tried this that it didn't work. how do you know 15 years later that your sound is going to work. in hip-hop, you can do this and come back 15 years later in hip-hop. >> right. tavis: how do you know it is going to work 15 years later? >> honest? you want honesty. there's a couple of things, i always bounce every song off the good lord, my mom. and if my mamma likes it. then i'm sitting good. if it said something to me -- if it doesn't say anything to me, i don't think it could say anything to anyone else.

i sing what i believe. the first single, i wrote that 12 years ago and i put it aside and with bebe and cece -- tavis: 12 years ago. been sitting there for 12 years. >> 12 years. this will be the first single and this will do what heaven and -- tavis: just between the two of us, how stupid do you feel when someone says 12 years? that's 12 years of money. >> i got people like you i can call up and borrow, i need money. get me through. tavis: he knows your talent but is that amazing to hear, he wrote this 12 years ago and it is waiting on y'all to get to it. >> it is amazing. but it is things i heard, even things that he recorded by himself that he should have waited on me and him. but he didn't. he went ahead.

tavis: he should have raised on on me. we play do it over again. >> it is amazing that -- it is so important that you just be true to who you are and even though we were all 15 years ago, we're still musicians, if anything we've grown and hopefully gotten better over the years. you go with what you feel and in your heart and soul. and we share our experiences through our music. if -- if it comes from the heart, it is going to connect to the mart. it is important, i tell young people this, when they start out, be who you are. don't fit into this one or that time and that time. because then, i think that is when you -- that's when you lose it. you know. tavis: you all have done obviously, you said earlier solo projects in the 15 years that you haven't been together doing this kind of stuff. and i -- >> i did a movie.

one. tavis: we'll come back to that later. but you got 15 years here and you're doing fellow projects. still gospel, even on the solo projects and talk to me -- you first, bebe, about your faith during that 15 years. because it -- you come back, you came back 15 years hair, you didn't have to -- didn't have to get back together on a gospel project. i know your roots, talk to me about what your journey has been during that 15 years? >> some of the songs says a loot -- talked about the journey. and we -- during those years, we lost my brother and my father and one of his songs entitled never thought, which speaks about being happy, getting to that place even in the midst of the storm, even through trials and down times, that god can give you joy in the midst of it. i've grown through the

experiences of losing my father and my brother. and it is your faith that -- that upholds you in those moments and those times. so -- when it relates to music, i can't help but sing songs that are going to do for me for other people. that's important to me. when i open up my mouth that this sng is going to find someone that is going maybe through the same thing or even worse than i've gone through and is going to bring them through and help them through. so that's why i choose to sing what i seen r sing. >> it was a journey. and my faith has gotten stronger upon when you're young and -- we're still young. we're relatively young. we're not kids. we're older young. we'll talk about that later. tavis: is there a hyphen in

this? >> they're going to put it up. but god has proven himself through every stage of my life. my kids are grown adults now. so you been married 25 years, you know, so you just go through regular life stuff. tavis: 25 years. >> no. no. and god has been faithful through the journey and the ups and downs and -- it is a great thing to put it through your music, rather than gospel, rather than just positive music. it is a music is very powerful and we should use it to uplift people as opposed to tearing them down. god has been safer. >> 6 when you first came on the scene, i can remember now the friend that turned me on to the two of you. as a matter of fact, y'all do the concert thing, i'm going to call her even though she's married with kids. i can take her. we friends. she called me and said you got

to hear this group. the brothers of course. got the c.d. and fell in love with it. and came to see y'all. do you remember this? i was here for the first night that you got here. and when can he a came out, this bebe and cece thing was cute because you were younger. ive i have a friend watching now, back in indiana, and his wife will lose what holy ghost he does have if i call him june bug. we have been friends since she were -- we were kids but she won't let his friends call him june bug. -- are you forever bebe and cece? >> it got out and it is our nicknames. >> you'll see. we're used to it. we went -- >> and other people have worse nicknames in our family. like my brother's nickname. >> marvin.

and -- and i'm in trouble for it. >> in -- he probably said what? tavis: first he was doing dogging him saying, you're not going to be nominated for an oscar at all. we stretch it a bit. tavis: y'all -- >> he did a great job. and he is -- >> don't mind it. do you know what i'm saying? things are happening. it is music, it is karaoke. i play even invite you on the show. >> do you like karaoke? tavis: do i. i shouldn't be intimidated. >> most people are very bold. we found that out. we're doing it on the show and -- it is very interesting.

real karaoke. tavis: the concept. >> we go around the country and are around the cund and -- country and i'm fining the best karaoke. it is going to be a championship on the oprah winfrey show. i went one place, couple of hundred thousand people. it is amazing the foundation that karaoke has. tavis: and after acblishing multi-grammy winners how do you keep a straight face? >> i don't. >> he's worse than simon? >> a little bit. but honest with people. it has been incredible. the love that people have -- and they're doctors by day and their karaoke singers by night. it is unbelievable.

>> i'm going to take it way too seriously. >> way too seriously. it is good. tavis: back to the c.d., we have talked about your lives and let me talk about the project itself. tell me what is on here. what you decided that you want to put on here. what type of music. >> he's the majorityy writer and he always has been. i think we have good stuff on here "grace" is one of my favorites, it is a song that just everybody can relate with, without "grace" we wouldn't be here. thank god for his american favorite. tavis: i need grace. all day long. >> let me see, my son wrote a song on here. it is called "change my world." and your nephew and your nickname. i call him pooky.

tavis: songwriter. >> great songwriter. >> merv produced that song. mary mary is on here with us. they did a little singing. >> i think we have stuff that people will relate to. it is important. there's nothing wrong with scenes and all of that, but if you're caul caught up in those things, that's when life takes another turn. tavis: what is the process for you of being able to write a song that speaks to those that are believers and speaks to those who aren't believers. you have a gift for that, something -- somebody criticized you for that saying it is not specific enough. how do you do that? >> i think it has to do with my personal relationships. i approach a song like i approach a personal relationship . i can be friends with someone that doesn't live a great life

and someone that lives a great life. someone who is a president and a gang member. i approach people the same way as people, you know. and because of that, my songs have that thing trains appearance, that people feel when i meet them. you know. i don't judge. and -- and i simply love people. i love people. and i think that comes through in my songs and my relationships with people. >> cece, the last word. going to give cece the last word here. how does it feel 15 years later and is it going to be another 15 years? >> it will not be another 15 years before you get another one. tavis: y'all got that on tape? >> it is one that is coming and it won't happen 15 years from now. >> do you know how old i am?

>> he's threatening. he goes to bed at 8:00 now. >> early bird. >> it won't be, it is great to be pack after 15 years, we're excite add excited to see the people and go out and do the tour and have a lot of fun, again, we just want to say thank you to everybody. thank you for what you've done to support us and how you have waited patiently for this. tavis: i don't know how patiently i waited. but i waited. and i will see you on the road in a number of stops. and i'll be in the third row heckling bebe. that'll be me. we waited a long time for this and this is long enough. now what you really want to see, a performance from bebe and cece. the new c.d. is called "still." i'm glad you're still here. love you. >> love you too. tavis: here we go, stay tuned.

tavis: from their acclaimed c.d., here are bebe and cece winans. enjoy and keep the faith. ♪ didn't know the time was wrong ♪ ♪ living a lie ♪ and while writing this song ♪ ♪ thinking about your goodness ♪ ♪ i started to cry ♪ ♪ it is so ♪ crazy ♪ what would i do with out the rain ♪ ♪ rain ♪

♪ hide behind the favorite spot ♪ ♪ lash out while you're spiritually done ♪ ♪ yeah ♪ no need to sit and deny ♪ he knows all about it and understands why ♪ ♪ yes he does and yeah ♪ ♪ what would do i without the rain ♪ ♪ oh rain ♪ ♪ where i would be without the rain ♪ ♪

♪ what can you say ♪ ♪ behold rain ♪ rain ♪ ♪ intnl ♪ [unintelligible] ♪ rain oh ♪ what would do i what would i do without the rain ♪ ♪ god's rain ♪ ♪ oh ♪ tell you what ♪ he picks me up when owe ♪ whenever i'm down ♪ i've been down and nothing i've done or can to ♪

♪ and can take away this love ♪ ♪ this love that i found ♪ ♪ rain ♪ rain ♪ what would i be ♪ your ♪ i said it play sound sweet ♪ ♪ i want the love that i found ♪ ♪ was blind but now i see ♪ that's why we ♪ singing sing amazing grace ♪ ♪ i can't live without your grace ♪ can't do it ♪

can't do it ♪ ♪ no i need it ♪ i need amazing phrase [applause] >> for more information on today's show, visit tavis smiley at pbs.org. >> hi, i'm tavis smiley, join me next time for a conversation with the emmy nominated actor on the showdex then. >> there are so many things that wal-mart is looking forward to doing, like helping people live better, but most my, they're looking forward to helping build stronger communities and relationships, because of your help, the best is yet to come. >> nationwide insurance supports tavis smiley. tavis and nationwide, working to improve financial literacy and the economic empowerment that comes with it. >> nationwide is on your side. >> and by contributions to your

pbs stations from viewers like you. >> thank you.