Gifted singer, songwriter and speaker, Sondra Burnett uses her God-given talent and natural Southern humor to bring worship, as well as joy, to those she ministers to. She is the youngest of four children and grew up in a preacher's home. "Christian music means everything to me. It's my escape and my time of worship. There is never a time that I feel closer to God than when I am singing from my heart to His," states Sondra.
After being named the regional songwriter winner of the GMA's Southern Gospel Song of 2000 competition for her song "Jesus is My Best Friend," Sondra embarked on her newest project produced by multi-award winning producers Michael Sykes, Woody Wright and David Ponder in Nashville, Tennessee. The project, entitled "Sondra," features several Southern Gospel gems of years past with a new twist. Sondra was honored to have artists such as Richard Sterban (courtesy of The Oak Ridge Boys), Michael English, Judy Martin Hess and Ponder, Sykes and Wright to provide background vocals.
The last time SoGospelNews talked with Sondra was right before NQC 2003 so we thought we would pick up the conversation from that big event.
Deon: So, Sondra, how did you like NQC?
Sondra: It was wonderful. I was so excited to meet so many new faces, and get reacquainted with so many old friends.
Deon: Have you been busy lately?
Sondra: Wow, in the past year we have ministered in Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Illinois. I have had a busy schedule, but God has been blessing in it all. I did take December off to spend time with my family, but I kicked it off last weekend with a Valentine Banquet. I thought it was fitting to start off a fresh season of ministry with a message of love at a banquet about love. I am about to sing in Texas for the first time.
Deon: Is there anything that you are really excited about that is happening this year?
Sondra: I am so excited about singing at the SoGospelNews convention in July. I think that is going to be one of the highlights of the whole year for me. Singing with such talented people is a joy.
I am also excited about my second annual Homecoming. We don?t have all the details worked out yet, but it?s going to be in the first weekend in May, in the Cabot, Arkansas area. Like I said, details are not worked out, but I?m hoping to have special guests Paid In Full, and Woody Wright. I?m looking forward to it for renewed focus and energy.
Deon: Any plans of recording again soon?
Sondra: Actually not until the end of the year. I still have song good songs on this CD that many have said will be great for radio.
Deon: Speaking of radio, do you have a new release?
Sondra: As a matter of fact I do! I've just released "It's Me Again Lord." I had never heard the song before, but an amazing thing happened with this song. My manager's wife is mentoring a young girl just out of prison, and she put my tape in for this young girl to hear. As she got to "It's Me Again Lord," the young girl started singing along with the tape. She said that her mother used to sing it to her all the time, and it was such a blessing to her to hear it again. That was just a real blessing to me, besides I found out that "It's Me Again Lord" is actually an old song that I recorded brand new.
Sondra: Oh, I do have something else very exciting to talk about.
Deon: Tell me about it.
Sondra: I have been invited to do some ministering with the Word On The Street Ministry. They travel the NASCAR circuit, and have concerts in tents at the events. They will also be going on two trips to Europe this year and I hope to be able to attend one of them.
Deon: That is exciting, so let's keep with this theme. What else exciting is happening with you?
Sondra: Well, I did go to Brazil on a mission trip. We were in San Pallo, Brazil with two dental teams and a drug rehab team. While they did their work, I was singing at women's meetings, and doing some speaking, mostly on "friendship".
In addition to all that, the song I wrote and recorded, "Good Bye," about the loss of my baby, and the tragic loss of a very good friend's baby, has been used by Children's Hospital for several years to give hope to parents who have lost their babies. Now, St Vincent's Hospital has just called wanting permission to use this song at the bereavement center there. St Vincent's has had 1600 deaths in the past three years, and they are now going to start using my song, "Good Bye," to minister to hurting people there. Who would have thought that a little ole country girl could make a difference in people's lives?
Deon: Let's try this one more time. Is there anything else that you are really excited about?
Sondra: Well I did happen to look at your website. Actually my manager Shannon called me and said there was something I needed to see on SoGospelNews. I was SO honored to be nominated for the 2004 SoGospelNews Music Awards on your website. It just blew me away. I will say that things like that only happen when you have good people working around you, and I have some good people.
I am also excited about his year, because I know that God has something really big planned.
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Needless to say, Sondra is very excited about the things happening in her life and ministry. Be looking for Sondra in a concert near you, and by all means attend, because you will be blessed. And don't forget to stop by the SoGospelNews 5th Annual Convention, July 28-31 in Smyrna, TN and say hello to Sondra there.
In the meantime, visit Sondra on the web at [url=http://www.sondraburnett.com]http://www.sondraburnett.com[/url]
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Written: 02/14/2004
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Category: Feature Articles
Comments: 5
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Sondra, way to go! It's Me Again Lord is a Dottie Rambo song. I hope it is a hit for you!
I know this won't come out right, but she looks a WHOLE lot better in person than she does in her pictures!!! We had her at our church last year and I kid you not, she may be a soloist but she packs the energy and dynamics of at least 5. Her testimony and presentation of the gospel was refreshing and one of the most simple, yet most inspiring I had ever witnessed.
It's hard to believe someone with that kind of energy level battles depression. We have many artists come through and it always surprises me how few actually take the time to tell the real reason they are there. Great to get the update on you and congratulations on those nominations too!!!!!
Mike L.
I met Sondra at NQC 2003 and she is a hoot! Such a sweet spirit and is so easy to talk to. Just down home folk.
So exciting to see another Arkansas doing so well in her ministry. :thumbsup:
Look forward to seeing her in person.
Sondra is not quite yet "web savvy / friendly," but appreciates the words and comments posted. I have to thank Deon for a great interview here and also to their entire family for providing a service like SoGospelNews.com and the other spinoffs that are doing AWESOME! We're still in PLEASANT awe of the three award nominations from your website.
Larry Ferguson, we hope it's a hit too. I'm going to show my Southern Gospel "ignorance" again, but I had never heard the song until Woody Wright presented it at one of our initial meetings for the project.
James Hales, you and the Karens have been awesome and some of our biggest supporters in more ways than you can imagine! I appreciate the review and insight on her project from last year and especially that you took the time to share with me the sound of a lot of the original recordings that she covered on her project.
Mike, what can I say. You nailed it. We're working on new layouts, pics, etc. already.
Andrea, thanks for your note. I gather you are from Arkansas too? Where from?
All that has happened is the result of a LOT of people working together and sacrificing in so many ways. As Sondra said in her interview above, "I will say that things like that only happen when you have good people working around you, and I have some good people." We have been VERY fortunate and blessed to accomplish quite a few things in this first year of ministry. God has been great in the opportunities He has presented and relationships that He has led us into and we're loading up for an exciting 2004.
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