NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� If happiness is a journey, rather than a destination, then has used her faith and smile to sustain her through life's ebbs and flows along the way.
鈥淚 think I was born with that happiness gene that people talk about,鈥� said the gospel music superstar. 鈥淚 want people to come away feeling better about themselves 鈥� I鈥檝e had my days where I was up, I鈥檝e had my days where I was down. But at the end of the day, the one lesson that I learned in each of those scenarios is that this too shall pass.鈥�
That theme permeates her new album, 鈥淪unny Days.鈥� It is her first studio project in nearly 13 years.
鈥淭he way you look at everything has a lot to do with how you get through everything,鈥� said the four-time Grammy winner with the soaring voice.
The 15-track project was created during a six-year period, delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic
鈥淪unny Days鈥� features writing and production from gospel giant Donald Lawrence and , whose work with Babyface also contributed to the delay.
As she鈥檚 done throughout her career, Adams uses her musical gift of encouragement on songs like the title track, 鈥淏lessings鈥� and 鈥淧owerful,鈥� which has a spoken word intro saying, 鈥淭he power鈥檚 within you / Take the time to decide / If you鈥檒l shine bright / Or let someone else dim your light.鈥�
鈥淚 try to be the best cheerleader that I can for anyone that鈥檚 in my life,鈥� said the former elementary school teacher. 鈥淵ou know how the Lion King says, 鈥楽imba remember who you are.鈥� That鈥檚 the whole point of that: You are powerful.鈥�
鈥淲hen We Pray'' 鈥� produced by is about putting faith into action. Adams says she shares 鈥渁 lifelong connection鈥� with the duo.
鈥淲e write together. We laugh, we cry.鈥� said Adams, 63. 鈥淲e talk about the issues of the world together and how we can bring in great music that can make people, not just aware of the blessings of their lives, but being intentional in the space that you find yourself presently in."
Named Billboard鈥檚 top gospel artist of the 2000s, Adams has created iconic hits such as 鈥淭he Battle is the Lord鈥檚,鈥� 鈥淚鈥檓 Gonna Be Ready,鈥� 鈥淚n the Midst of It All鈥� and 鈥淏e Blessed,鈥� as well as the Jam and Lewis-crafted hits 鈥淣ever Give Up鈥� and
"Open My Heart,'' privately championed by the late Luther Vandross when her record label wanted a different single, reached unprecedented heights, crossing over to R&B radio and reaching No. 57 on the Billboard鈥檚 Hot 100.
鈥淚 was in the midst of making a business decision that did not just affect my family. It affected everybody that鈥檚 on the road with me,鈥� said Adams, reflecting on the song鈥檚 inspiration. 鈥淚鈥檓 sitting here today because I made the right decision.鈥�
The Texas Southern alum has starred in the BET+ drama, 鈥淜ingdom Business,鈥� now in its second season, as Denita, a gospel superstar and music executive determined to protect her family's secrets. While Adams enjoys playing a character vastly different from herself, she says it鈥檚 been challenging for some fans.
鈥淚鈥檝e lost a couple of fans who are like, 鈥榊ou didn鈥檛 have to curse on that,鈥欌�� explaining that while she has no input in the script, her character is relatable because churchgoers aren鈥檛 perfect. 鈥淲hen people deal with life, it can make you say some things you wouldn鈥檛 normally say. And I really hope people take away from 鈥楰ingdom Business鈥� this thought: If you were the person that you鈥檙e trying to judge 鈥� how would you feel?鈥�
Currently, Adams is on the 33-date Kirk Franklin Reunion Tour, featuring fellow gospel titans Fred Hammond, Marvin Sapp and The Clark Sisters. While gospel has always been her passion, she鈥檚 open to doing a secular R&B song and has talked with Stevie Wonder about a duet and helping him with a potential gospel project of his own.
But presently, she鈥檚 focused on illuminating the message within 鈥淪unny Days,鈥� but won't measure its success by units sold, rather by hearts impacted.
鈥淲hen I hear your testimony and I hear how the music has been a part of your life, it just makes me more responsible: 鈥榊eah, I got to keep doing this music! I got to keep doing good music! OK God, give me some good stuff so that I can keep blessing the people.鈥欌��
___
Follow Associated Press entertainment journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton at: @GaryGHamilton on all his social media platforms.
Gary Gerard Hamilton, The Associated Press
