Houston-born gospel singer Kim Burrell talks about new album

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Houston-born gospel music legend Kim Burrell is downright giddy about her latest CD, called 'A Different Place.'

"I'm just over the top about it," Burrell exclaimed. "I'm getting so bright eyed and bushy tailed because i'm so grateful. 29 years I've been doing this professionally."

29 years working with some of the biggest names in music: Stevie Wonder, Kirk Franklin, Missy Elliot, Diddy, and Harry Connick Jr. just to name a few. Her new release jumped to the top of the iTunes gospel charts within hours of hitting digital shelves Friday.

Saturday, she hosted a listening party for her fans and gave them a glimpse behind the music.

"Loyal fans are going to have their eyes bucked and their mouths dropped. Because she's really singing from a different place," she says.

She says it was a place of pain.

"This is my first recording in life that I had to do without my mom and Whitney."

She and music icon Whitney Houston were long-time friends. She often recounts times Houston called her for prayer. And Burrell's mother passed from cancer.

"I've always practiced 'I'll keep my pain in because I don't need to impose that on the consumer, the listener. They want to hear Kim the artist.' But Kim the person did this album."

And Kim the person is proud of her latest work.

"These are songs that people said 'The song you sang tonight, do you have that outside?' and I've had to say no for so many years. And now I can say yes, it's on a record."

Burrell is preparing to go on a 51-city world tour at the end of the month with another Houston-based artist, Israel Houghton, and gospel legends Donnie McClurkin, Fred Hammond, and Hezekiah Walker.