Only If God Says Yes--Gospel Artist Sings His  Praise--By Sheridan Hill

(Originally published in the Winston-Salem Journal June 21, 2002) 

It’s a long road from the Southeast Inspirational Choir to the Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album of the 2000 Grammy Awards, and Yolanda Adams has walked in faith every step of the way.

 Unlimited by the constraints of traditional gospel, her tenth and most recent album, “Believe,” includes five songs co-written by Adams. The entire collection is a testimonial of faith and a mix of tempos and style. The soulful “Thank You Lord” mixes the get-down-gritty-grind of heavy blues with a heartfelt message of humility and gratitude that hits home.

Since singing her first solo as a 5-year-old in church, the Houston native and former second-grade teacher has remained an unapologetic gospel artist. Her belief in God is a song of praise that swells in her heart, rises to the back of her throat and sails out like a ship of prayers. In her mouth, “yeah” rolls into “yay-ee-ay-ee-aya.”

“Only If God Says Yes,” isn’t just a song Adams recorded for the “Believe” CD, it is the way she greets every single day and decision of her life.

“I start out saying, ‘Wow, I know I want to do this, I don’t’ know how I’m gonna do it, God help me.’ I write down all the things I would like to see happen and I memorize the list. Then I move myself away from it and say, ‘Okay, I know what I want and I am extremely convincing. So instead of moving on this right now, I want to understand which of these things is You, Lord.’ And I take the time to let Him tell me. As wonderful as we think our ideas are, they’re never as wonderful as God’s ideas for us.”

Her father died when she was 13, the result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident when two drivers were drag racing on a two-lane highway. One car hit her father’s car head-on, the other ricocheted back and hit it again. And yet, she bears these drivers no ill will.

 “I was taught that although bad things happen, God doesn’t put those on you. God does not punish you. I think God allows you to deal with certain things so that your faith can be built.” 

That faith was strengthened by many members of her family, including her grandmother.

“Granny would always in the kitchen humming and cooking and saying, “Oh Honey, don’t worry, God will take care of everything.”  To us at the time, it was Granny singing in the kitchen, but now I know that was her time with God. She was spittin’ out wisdom.”

Adams’ spunk, spirit and talent earned a Dove Award from the Gospel Music Association in 1992 for the album and title song, “Through the Storm,” and again in 1999 for the song “Is Your All On the Altar?”

Physically, she is a striking beauty with a look that ranges from goddess to girl-next-door. But good looks and good luck have not blurred the clarity of her purpose as a musical artist.

“When I sing, I just pray, ‘Let me be the best example of what God is saying in this song.’ People see me and hear me and they look at the dresses or the pants, they see the physical me, but I want them to hear Him, to close their eyes and be able to visualize Him talking to them. It’s a simple as a breath of fresh air and as complicated as trigonometry.”