Gospel singer Andraé Crouch has been hospitalized with a serious illness, according to the legendary entertainer's family.
"At this time, Andraé is being attended by a wonderful medical team, and we are so grateful for the thousands of people around the world who are praying for Andraé right now," his sister, Sandra Crouch, said in a press statement. While the serious illness has not been named, the family asks for continued prayer that Andraé will respond positively to the medical attention and that he'll come through with a full recovery.
In an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network during the making of his 2006 album Mighty Wind, Crouch said that he had suffered from a cancerous growth on his throat. When doctors went in to operate, they found seven more nodes around the growth. But miraculously, when the doctors went in to remove the nodes after cutting out the growth, the nodes were gone.
Crouch also mentioned to the network that cancer runs in his family, as his mother, father, and brother all died of the deadly disease in 1993 and 1994. But Andraé said that he told the devil that "the buck stops here" and he'll continue to praise God no matter what happens.
The 72-year-old Grammy-winning singer and songwriter is best known for his extensive Gospel music career spanning back to the '60s, as well as his work as a producer for such big-name artists as Michael Jackson, Madonna, Quincy Jones, Diana Ross, Elton John, and more.
Crouch has won seven Grammys dating back to 1975 and his biggest hits include "Take Me Back," "Let the Church Say Amen," and "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power." He has also won six Gospel Music Awards, was nominated for an Oscar for his work on the soundtrack of 1985's The Color Purple, was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame in 2007, and has even appeared on televisions shows including The Jeffersons.
This is not the first time Crouch has been hospitalized in recent years as he's been battling diabetes for a long time. In October of 2013, Crouch was rushed to the hospital after a fall in the shower relating to complications from his diabetes. And just last month, on December 1, he was hospitalized for an undisclosed illness that caused the rest of his 2014 Let the Church Say Amen Celebration Tour to be postponed until later this year.
Although not officially confirmed, WND.com is reporting that Crouch is on life support after suffering from a heart attack. But according to the most recent information from Sandra Crouch on Andraé's Facebook page, the singer is responding well to medicine. "Andraé Crouch, who was hospitalized on January 3rd, has had some positive response to the medical attention that has been given to him," the statement said. "The medical team has given some encouraging news and we are so grateful for the many thousands of people who are praying on behalf of my brother. With the continued medical attention and your prayers, we are trusting the Lord for a full recovery."
