She rose to fame after finishing in fourth place on the second series of The X Factor.
And Brenda Edwards is now becoming a presenter on Songs Of Praise, a religious series that showcases the talents of Christian church choirs up and down the UK.
The Loose Women panelist, 52, will make her presenting debut on the BBC One show this Sunday in an episode that was recorded before the third Covid-19 lockdown.
New job: Brenda Edwards (pictured in July 2019) is becoming a presenter on Songs Of Praise, a religious series that showcases the talents of Christian church choirs up and down the UK
Speaking about her new role, Brenda gushed that it was a ‘privilege’ to join the Songs of Praise team, which includes presenters Aled Jones and Katherine Jenkins.
She also explained that she grew up in ‘the church and gospel choir’, saying this experience made her realise the importance of ‘faith and music’ in life.
She continued: ‘It’s an honour and a privilege to join the team at Songs Of Praise in their 60th year.
‘Having grown up in the church and gospel choir, I know how important faith and music is for hope, healing and optimism – three things we all really need in the current climate.’
Religion: The Loose Women panelist, 52, will make her presenting debut on the BBC One show this Sunday in an episode that was recorded before the third Covid-19 lockdown
In the programme, the former X Factor contestant is set to join the Bonny Downs Baptists in east London on their ‘Sunday walking church’.
The morning prayer walk sees churchgoers gather on a weekly basis to worship and pray safely in an outdoor community garden amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
The news comes as Songs of Praise marks its 60th year on the BBC, as the longtime series was first broadcast back in October 1961.
The first episode was hosted in Cardiff’s Tabernacle Baptist Church in Cardiff, and it has since become one of the longest running series in its genre.
The show’s other notable presenters include Sean Fletcher, Kate Bottley, JB Gill and Katie Piper, as well as Aled Jones and Katherine Jenkins.
‘It’s an honour’: Speaking about her new role, Brenda gushed that it was a ‘privilege’ to join the Songs of Praise team, which includes presenters Aled Jones (above) and Katherine Jenkins
Speaking of their new addition to the team, series producer Matthew Napier said: ‘We’re delighted that Brenda is joining the family of presenters on Songs Of Praise in this special year where we celebrate our 60th year on BBC television.’
In 2005, Brenda finished in fourth place in the second series of The X Factor, and last year became a panelist on Loose Women, where she is often candid about difficulties in her personal life.
In October, she revealed that she had no idea that she was expecting her first child Jamal until she was halfway through her pregnancy.
The singer revealed the shock news during a discussion about family secrets during an episode of ITV’s Loose Women.
Brenda, who is mother to SB.TV founder Jamal Edwards, 30, and daughter Tanisha, discovered she was expecting when she blacked out at her 21st birthday party.
Longtime series: It comes Songs of Praise marks its 60th year on the BBC. The show’s notable presenters include Katherine Jenkins (pictured in December 2018) and Katie Piper
Brenda shared the surprise with co-hosts Ruth Langsford, Saira Khan and Janet Street-Porter during a segment titled: ‘The secrets we kept from our families.’
‘My pregnancy was a secret from me for five months,’ she said, before explaining: ‘Well I didn’t realise I was pregnant for five months.’
Explaining that she was still getting her periods, Brenda said: ‘I was having my monthly cycle and I had my 21st birthday party and I blacked out in that so I went to see the doctors and they said I was almost five months pregnant.’
‘That was a secret for me and I did actually keep it a secret from my family for another couple of months because obviously, I’m trying to deal with this surprise myself,’ she continued. ‘It wasn’t a secret, it was a happy surprise.’
Success: Brenda finished in fourth place in the second series of The X Factor in 2005, and last year became a panelist on Loose Women, where she often talks about her personal life
Late last year, she also revealed that she had reported an online troll who was targeting her with racist abuse to the police.
The TV star told her fellow Loose Women panellists about an occasion when abusive messages crossed the line into the realm of racism.
The mother-of-two explained: ‘I had somebody troll me online but it was racial abuse.
‘My thing is: You have an opinion, and I’m fine with that. But when you want to bring colour and use that as a weapon…’
Family: In October, Brenda shockingly revealed that she had no idea that she was expecting her first child Jamal, who is now 30, until she was halfway through her pregnancy
Being completely candid about what she had experienced, Brenda said: ‘I was basically told to go back to the country I came from.
‘It was chipping away at me mentally. It was scarring.’
Not wanting to let what had happened be brushed aside, Brenda said she had acted on what had happened, blocking the individual before reporting them to the police.
She continued: ‘I blocked the person and then they came back. I thought: I’m not going to stand for this.
‘I reported it to the police as a racial abuse crime. We should speak up. When it goes personal, it’s a bit too much.’