"Even at this time in my life and my age, who would have thought? But God," said Pastor Shirley Caesar during our exclusive interview.
The Durham native, who now lives in Wake County, did not attend the awards in person. Instead, opting to stay home due to travel costs and inclement weather.
"Actually, in my heart and in my mind, I didn't want to go," Caesar said. According to her manager, the two talked about the decision to attend and the likelihood of being able to return to Raleigh.
"And (my manager) was thinking, really it's very, very expensive to fly out and then get hotels and things," Caesar added. "I just thought that it would have been a bad decision for us to go. And even though I didn't go, I still won. We still won."
Caesar's win comes as a feature on the song 'Come Jesus Come' by gospel powerhouse CeCe Winans. The award was given out during a non-televised ceremony ahead of the broadcast version. Caesar said she was sleeping, and then the phone rang.
"And everybody on the other end of the phone was screaming, 'We won! You won!" she said. "You would have thought that this was the first time that I'd ever won a Grammy."
For Caesar, the win is much more than just another award. The legendary icon, whose career has spanned more than 50 years, believes 'Come Jesus Come' is a powerful song that speaks to the goodness of God.
"If you want to know the truth, I never heard the song or anything, even when I was in the studio," she admitted. "When (Winans) got to the part in the song that one day we'll stand face to face. My God, my God. Oh, the song itself is so powerful. And I'm just glad that I am a part of this song," said Caesar. "The anointing that the Lord put on the song. I kind of knew that it was going to be a very special song for the people. I just knew it."
In addition to Grammys, Caesar has won Dove, Stellar, NAACP Image, and other notable awards to her resume. Including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Yet, this latest Grammy win is something special and has relevant significance.
"I'm one of thirteen children. And now it's like one Grammy per child, including me," she laughed. "This last Grammy is my last Grammy. And, and I'm calling it the last because it's the last one of this year. But this year, I am so grateful. Thank you, CeCe, and thank you, everybody on your team, everybody on my team. It has just been wonderful."
Caesar said she plans to celebrate her big win with family and friends in the coming days.