“American Idol” recently crowned a new champion, but for many viewers, the highlight happened earlier in the show, when CeCe Winans joined contestant Roman Collins for a powerful rendition of “Goodness of God.” On Instagram, the song garnered more comments, likes, and shares than any other post from the night, including contestant/singer duets including Hootie and the Blowfish, New Kids on the Block, Bishop Briggs and Wynonna Judd. Judge Katy Perry was moved to tears.
“Goodness of God” is a song that was originally included on a 2019 Bethel Music album and then covered by Winans, whose 2021 live rendition entered the Top 10 of Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart. It was included on her “Believe for It” album. Worship leader Brian Tabor wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “CeCe Winans just took the American Idol finale audience to church!” Sports journalist Brad Crawford wrote, “Hard to believe it was allowed on network TV, but CeCe Winans just blew everyone off the stage on Idol with ‘Goodness of God.’ Had Katy Perry, former worship singer turned mainstream, in tears. Just unbelievable.”
Reporter Jacob Davis wrote, “@cecewinans and Roman Collins proclaimed the gospel to millions of homes across the world at the American Idol finale Sunday night. Incredible performance with teary-eyed folks all over the room. Chills!” Shannon Bream of Fox News also was moved. “That @cecewinans duet with Roman Collins — I am not okay,” Bream wrote. Winans told K-Love earlier this year she added “Goodness of God” to her 2021 album because many people in the African American community had not heard it. In fact, Winans was one of those until a member of the worship team at her church introduced her to it. She told K-Love, “There’s a lot of people who haven’t heard it, who look like me. That song showed me how sometimes our cultures are so far apart. A song can really be big in the CCM world, and in the Black church, or in a different denomination, they haven’t heard it.”
She said of the popular song, “This is my testimony.” Abi Carter won American Idol Season 22. Roman Collins, like Winans, a Christian, recently released his debut album, Same Gospel New Sound. He finished in the Top 12 of American Idol.