It’s been more than a year since gospel singer Crystal Aikin took top honors on the BET gospel reality show “Sunday Best.” And the Tacoma native’s career went into overdrive this month with Zomba Gospel’s release of her self-titled debut.

Aikin, formerly a nurse at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, was a little harder to track down than she was this time last year. But I managed to catch up with her in the midst of a radio promo tour in Atlanta.

Things are happening for you, and you’re getting the word out about your album. How does that feel?

I’ve been using the word “surreal.” I was in Target in Washington state, and I looked on the shelves and saw my CD. And then I went to Philadelphia and was in another store, and I saw my name on the racks. And I’m seeing CeCe Winans and Marvin Sapp.

To see my album in stores … all over the country, along with people I consider mentors. This is something that is beyond a dream for me.

What has been the craziest experience you’ve had behind the scenes?

I actually got proposed to on a radio station. (Laughs) A guy called in to the radio station when I was in Maryland. And he was like, “I know they say that you are single. But you’re not single any more. I’m your husband.”

You never know. You might wanna call that guy up.

We all thought, “OK, if we could have seen his face.” You wanna know who the callers are. It would have been funny.

Are you still working at St. Joe’s, or are you at the point where you’re devoting all your time to your music and your CRA Ministries?

Dedicating it currently just to CRA ministries, traveling and the Crystal Aikin tour. … I’m still a nurse at heart. I do miss taking care of people in the hospital. I do miss it tremendously. … I would love to be able to hit a clinic or a hospital once a month or something, just to keep my hands wet (and) talk to people who are in need and in pain, and who just need a nurse.

When did you actually leave St. Joe’s?

I actually had to leave around April. I just called and had to let them know that I had to resign. And they knew that it was coming. They were all looking at me like, (incredulous) “‘Why are you here?’ ‘I’m normal, I’m still normal!’” They really supported me at St. Joe’s and the Franciscan Health Care system. I had so many people who were supporting and behind me – voting and believing in me. It was really tough to leave, but they knew I had something bigger to do.

BeBe Winans was a big fan of yours on the show. You’ve met people like Yolanda Adams. Is there anyone who has become a mentor to you through this process?

I did get a chance to talk to Erica Campbell. She’s of Mary Mary. I talked to her just yesterday. … I got a chance to work with Kirk Franklin. He availed himself as well, always giving nuggets of wisdom on what to do.

There’s not just one specific person. I’m just taking a little piece out of every artist I’ve been able to meet, because they’ve all been able to give me something positive.

Can you point to one thing as being the biggest thing you’ve learned?

Since I’ve been on the road, and speaking of Erica, one thing she reminded me (to do) is pray; and also to make sure I’m getting my rest. Because sometimes you’re in overload, and you’re not getting the proper rest. And then you find that you get kind of irritable.

Even Kirk Franklin was telling me is that people see us on stage all the time, but the life off stage, that’s the most important life. … When people are looking at you as an example, you don’t want to feel fraudulent. They’re thinking that you’re this way, but you know that you’re living a totally different life. That is not a good feeling, so I’ve taken Kirk Franklin’s words to heart.

When did you start making the album, and how did you approach it?

I started recording some time in the summer. … I wanted people to see that there was versatility in me, and that I’m not just a one-style type of girl. I find that the album is very eclectic. It can reach any type of person.

I also got a chance to do a wonderful soft piece by Bernie Herms and Natalie Grant out of Nashville. … I went to the GMA’s last year, the Gospel Music Awards. I saw her perform with Wynonna Judd, and I just fell in love with her. I said, “I want to do a song with her.” And my A&R person, Monica Bacon … she made the call, and there we were.

What was it like working with Natalie Grant?

You know, she’s a wonderful person. And her husband (Herms), he’s fabulous. I believe they are a couple who live what they sing and speak about. So I loved being able to have that impression in my life.

Ernest Jasmin: 253-274-7389

blogs.thenewstribune.com/ej