"You can have church anywhere," says Mario Winans, a few hours before he's scheduled to hold services on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. He'll be promoting his lush new R&B album, Hurt No More, which is already a Top Five hit.

The show's biggest surprise isn't that Winans, a devout Christian, brings down the house; it's that his mom, renowned gospel singer Vickie Winans, makes an unannounced appearance as a Mother's Day gift. "When he sang, I started crying," says Vickie. "I was so tickled."

Mama Winans isn't alone in her feelings. Mario is quickly becoming a soulful lady-killer. But Hurt, his self-produced album, is a pop record of uncommon niceness, with plenty of love-gone-wrong tales and shout-outs to God. "The girls love mellow Mario," his mom says. "He's vulnerable. He gets up there and he smiles."

Winans has been preparing for a music career since childhood. Growing up in a family of singers, Winans gravitated toward behind-the-scenes activities - particularly writing and producing. "One day, my mom came home with a bunch of recording equipment," he says. "And I started creating my butt off."

Winans began working for a cavalcade of big-name artists, including Mary J. Blige, R. Kelly and Jennifer Lopez. His big break came when he contacted P. Diddy. The Bad Boy honcho was impressed by Winans' production and songwriting abilities. "I think the way he exposes himself is incredible," says Diddy. "It takes a lot of courage for a man to tell about pain and to tell the truth."

Despite the Puffy affiliation, Winans promised his parents that he would "keep his records clean." His mother approves. "Growing up, if you wanted to know where he was fifteen minutes after he got home from school, he was in his room praying," she says. "Everything he asked God for, he's getting now."