Yolanda Adams Marks Return with Sunny Days Album — Her First Record in 13 Years (Exclusive)

Summer may be coming to an end, but Yolanda Adams is keeping things sunny.

The gospel legend has released a new album Sunny days on Friday, September 13th via Epic Records. This is her first record in 13 years and her first major label release in 17 years.

Across 15 tracks — including two remixes of her lead single “Church Doors” — Adams, 63, reminds listeners why she’s the reigning queen of contemporary gospel thanks to her signature blend of fresh production, inspirational lyrics and timeless vocals. The royal moniker caught on after the crossover success of her 1999 album, which went platinum Mountain High…Valley Low and his Hot 100-charting single “Open My Heart,” which turned 25 earlier this month.

Yolanda Adams’ new album ‘Sunny Days.’.

Epic records

When looking back at his main breakthrough success, Adams says putting it together Mountain High…Valley Low came from a purposeful, original place.

“[I] only [loved] the process of getting those songs from my head and heart to the computer and into people’s ears and hearts, because that’s what music is supposed to do,” Adams tells PEOPLE exclusively. “Music should always get into people’s heads and hearts and hands and feet too, because you have to dance because I love to dance.”

Yolanda Adams’ 1999 album ‘Mountain High…Valley Low.’.

Electric party

The Houston-born singer has worked with countless collaborators during her more than 35-year career, but many of her signature records, including “Open My Heart,” were recorded with none other than Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis—the super-producing duo behind the hit records by Mary J. Blige, Usher, Boyz II Men and, most of all, Janet Jackson.

For Adams then, it was “no reason” to work with Jam & Lewis and again on Sunny days.

“Working with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis was absolutely fantastic for me because Sylvia Rhone was in Elektra [as chairwoman and CEO] at the time and she said to me, ‘Put out your wish list of producers you want to work with. And you know, it doesn’t matter who they are. We will record with them,’ explains Adams.

“And now the rest is history! ‘Open My Heart,’ ‘Be Blessed,’ ‘This Too Shall Pass’ — all that good stuff, you know? So, yeah, I’m really excited. And the same excitement I had for Mountain High Valley Low is the same excitement I have right now, probably even more Sunny days.”

Jimmy Jam, Yolanda Adams and Terry Lewis in Washington DC in April 2022.

Leigh Vogel/Getty

Journey to completion for Sunny days it’s been one full of ups and downs and starts and stops dating back to 2018. Between juggling schedules with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the pandemic, and filming the first two seasons of BET+’s church drama Royal businessYolanda Adams realized that she had to dedicate time to see the project through.

And by 2023, she seemed to have done just that—until Sylvia Rhone, who is now president and CEO of Epic Records, made a suggestion.

“So between getting back in the saddle with music at the end of 2023, we had everything,” Adams says. “And then Sylvia Rhone said, ‘We need two more songs.’ And of course, those other two songs ended up being the last two songs we did — “Church Doors” and “Blessings” by Donald Lawrence and Sir, the Baptist.”

“Church Doors,” an upbeat, Sunday morning song in which Adams testifies about overcoming life’s obstacles, but it’s a remix that accompanies the official music video soundtrack. With soaring vocals from the original version, Adams — surrounded by colorfully dressed dancers — fills the screen. with his Colgate-white smile and bops to Terry Hunter’s 90s-inspired club mix.

When she talks about her signature contemporary gospel leanings—which tend to align with beats trending in the pop, R&B, dance and hip-hop genres—Adams says it’s just a reflection of her commitment to authenticity.

“There are too many people in the world trying to imitate their favourites, trying to sound like and shape their words and their lives after the people they admire,” she says.

“And there’s nothing wrong with that, but then you stop being who you are. And so because of the way I was raised in this very free-spirited family where everyone had their own voice and everyone had their own talents, I didn’t feel like I had to be anything who but Yolanda.”

And after a decade in the music business, Adams, who turned 63 on Aug. 27, still feels blessed, inspired and grateful.

“You realize the blessing of getting older and wiser as you get older and wiser,” reflects Adams. “And you realize that there are some people who have never lived to this age. So I’m really excited that I can still live my dreams. [To] i love what i do, i have amazing family and friends to share everything with, i have love and wonder in my life. It’s just great.”

The reunion tour included artists: Fred Hammond, The Clark Sisters, Yolanda Adams, Marvin Sapp and Kirk Franklin.

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Stream the new Yolanda Adams album Sunny days and catch her on The Reunion Tour alongside Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, The Clark Sisters, Marvin Sapp and Kierra Sheard-Kelly this fall.

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Source: HIS Education