Music and movies often collide in ways that feel a bit forced, right? You see a singer on screen and you think, "Okay, they're just here to sell the soundtrack." But something changed when BeBe Winans We Three Kings premiered on Lifetime. It wasn't just another holiday flick to keep on in the background while you wrap presents.
Honestly, the 2024 release felt like a turning point for BeBe. We’ve known him for decades as one-half of the powerhouse duo BeBe & CeCe Winans. We've seen him sweep the Grammys. But watching him step into the lead role of Lincoln, a retired musician trying to fix his broken family, was different. It felt personal.
The Story Behind the Kings
The plot is fairly straightforward, but the emotions aren't. Lincoln (played by Winans) owns a record store. He’s a widower. He has three daughters—Lydia, Gracie, and Abigail—who haven't been in the same room since their mother passed away.
Basically, the title is a clever play on words. They are the "King" family. The three sisters are the "Kings" returning home.
The movie focuses on that specific brand of holiday friction. You know the one. Where you love your siblings but you also kind of can’t stand being in the same zip code as them because of old wounds. Lincoln hatches a plan with a family friend named Genelle (played by BeBe’s real-life niece, Deborah Joy Winans) to trick the girls into coming home.
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It works. Mostly.
Why the Music Matters So Much
You can’t have a Winans project without world-class vocals. That would be like a Marvel movie without a post-credits scene. It just doesn't happen.
Interestingly, the movie doesn't just lean on new tracks. BeBe actually revisits his past. He performs "My Christmas Prayer," a song originally found on his 2003 holiday album of the same name. In the original version, he sang with Rob Thomas. In the film, he performs it with Deborah Joy.
There’s a raw, acoustic quality to the music in the film. It isn't overproduced. It feels like a family singing in a living room, which is exactly what the story needed. He also introduced a new song for the 2024 season called "Wishing You a Merry Christmas."
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A Family Affair On and Off Screen
The chemistry between BeBe and Deborah Joy Winans is the secret sauce here. If you recognized her, it’s probably from her role as Charity Greenleaf-Satterlee on the OWN hit series Greenleaf.
The Winans family is gospel royalty. That’s a fact. But they also deal with the same stuff everyone else does: grief, distance, and the struggle to keep traditions alive. BeBe mentioned in several interviews that he initially didn't see himself as the lead. He thought he’d just produce. But Lifetime pushed for him to play Lincoln.
The result is a performance that feels less like "acting" and more like "being."
Why People Are Still Searching for It
Even though the movie dropped in late 2024, it has a weirdly long shelf life. People are looking for the soundtrack. They’re looking for where to stream it.
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Maybe it’s because it doesn't try to be a "perfect" Christmas. It shows the mess. It shows the record store gathering dust. It shows the sisters arguing over things that happened years ago.
Actionable Steps for Your Holiday Watchlist
If you're looking to dive into the world of BeBe Winans this season, here is how to get the most out of the experience:
- Check the Lifetime App: The movie often stays in the "It’s a Wonderful Lifetime" rotation. If you missed the live broadcast, check their VOD services.
- Listen to the 2003 Album: To appreciate the growth in his voice, go back and stream the My Christmas Prayer album. The contrast between the 2003 studio version and the 2024 film version of the title track is fascinating.
- Watch with Siblings: Seriously. If you’ve got a "King family" dynamic of your own, this is the one to put on. It’s a great conversation starter for families who have drifted apart.
- Follow the New Music: Keep an eye on digital platforms for "Wishing You a Merry Christmas." It’s become a staple for gospel-leaning holiday playlists.
The film serves as a reminder that while the Winans name is synonymous with music, at the heart of it, they’re just a family trying to find their way back to each other, one song at a time.