Toni Braxton
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Toni Michele Braxton (born October 7, 1967) is an American singer, songwriter, actress and television personality. She has sold over 70 million records worldwide and is one of the best-selling female artists in history. Braxton has won seven
Grammy Awards The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...
, nine ''Billboard'' Music Awards, seven American Music Awards, and numerous other accolades. In 2011, Braxton was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. In 2017 she was honored with the Legend Award at the Soul Train Music Awards. In the late 1980s, Braxton began performing with her sisters in a music group known as The Braxtons; the group was signed to
Arista Records Arista Records () is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. The label was previously handled by BMG Entertainmen ...
. After attracting the attention of producers Antonio "L.A." Reid and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and being signed to LaFace Records, Braxton released her self-titled debut studio album in 1993. The album reached number one on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart and sold 10 million copies worldwide. In addition, the singles " Another Sad Love Song" and " Breathe Again" became international successes. The album brought Braxton three
Grammy Awards The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...
, including the Grammy for Best New Artist. Braxton experienced continued success with the albums ''
Secrets Secrecy is the practice of hiding information from certain individuals or groups who do not have the "need to know", perhaps while sharing it with other individuals. That which is kept hidden is known as the secret. Secrecy is often controvers ...
'' (1996), which included the U.S. #1 hit singles " You're Makin' Me High/ Let It Flow" and " Un-Break My Heart"; and '' The Heat'' (2000), which opened at #2 on the ''Billboard'' 200 and included the U.S. #2 hit single " He Wasn't Man Enough". Braxton's subsequent studio albums, '' More Than a Woman'' (2002), ''
Libra Libra generally refers to: * Libra (constellation), a constellation * Libra (astrology), an astrological sign based on the star constellation Libra may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Libra'' (novel), a 1988 novel by Don DeLillo Musi ...
'' (2005) and '' Pulse'' (2010), were released amid contractual disputes and health issues. In 2014, Braxton and longtime collaborator Babyface released a duet album entitled ''
Love, Marriage & Divorce ''Love, Marriage & Divorce'' is a collaborative studio album by American recording artists Toni Braxton and Babyface, released on February 4, 2014, by Motown Records. The album debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200 and as of July 2, 2014 the ...
'' that earned the duo a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album in 2015. Further label changes saw the release of '' Sex & Cigarettes'' (2018) under
Def Jam Def Jam Recordings (also simply known as Def Jam) is an American multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It is based in Manhattan, New York City, specializing predominantly in hip hop, contemporary R&B, soul and pop. The ...
/
Universal Universal is the adjective for universe. Universal may also refer to: Companies * NBCUniversal, a media and entertainment company ** Universal Animation Studios, an American Animation studio, and a subsidiary of NBCUniversal ** Universal TV, a t ...
and ''
Spell My Name ''Spell My Name'' is the tenth studio album by American singer Toni Braxton. It was released by Island Records on August 28, 2020. Her debut with the record label, following a short-lived stint with Def Jam Recordings on her eighth album ''Sex & C ...
'' (2020) under Island. Braxton is also a television executive producer and personality. She competed in the seventh season of the reality competition series ''
Dancing with the Stars ''Dancing with the Stars'' is the name of various international television series based on the format of the British TV series '' Strictly Come Dancing'', which is distributed by BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the forma ...
''. She has executive produced and starred in ''
Braxton Family Values ''Braxton Family Values'' (abbreviated ''BFV'') is an American reality television series that airs on WE tv and premiered on April 12, 2011. It chronicles the lives of the Braxton sisters—Toni, Traci, Towanda, Trina and Tamar and their mother ...
'', a reality television series that aired on We TV from 2011 to 2020. Braxton was also an executive producer of ''
Tamar & Vince ''Tamar & Vince'' is an American reality television series that debuted on September 20, 2012, and airs on WE tv. It is a spin-off of ''Braxton Family Values''. In June 2013, ''Tamar & Vince'' was renewed for a ten-episode second season that pre ...
'', a spinoff reality TV series starring her younger sister, Tamar.


Early life

Toni Michele Braxton was born in Severn, Maryland, on October 7, 1967. Her father, Michael Conrad Braxton Sr., was a Methodist clergyman and power company worker, and her mother, Evelyn Jackson, a native of South Carolina, was a former opera singer and cosmetologist, as well as a pastor. Braxton's maternal grandfather was also a pastor. Braxton later said that her religious upbringing had given her an advantage musically, saying it gave her "a finer-tuned ear. ..The church pulpit is the stage. You got the congregation, that's your audience. And so we were comfortable performing". Braxton is the eldest of six siblings. She has a younger brother Michael Jr. (born 1968) and four younger sisters Traci Renee (1971 - 2022), Towanda Chloe (born 1973), Trina Evette (born 1974), and Tamar Estine (born 1977). They were raised in a strict religious household, and Braxton's first performing experience was singing in her church choir. Braxton attended Bowie State University to obtain a teaching degree, but decided to sing professionally after she was discovered by William E. Pettaway Jr., who reportedly heard her singing to herself while pumping gas. On her appearance May 24, 2014, broadcast of NPR's '' Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!'', she stated that she was not singing to herself at the gas station. Pettaway, working as an attendant at the
Annapolis Annapolis ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maryland and the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Anne Arundel County. Situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east o ...
service station where she was refueling, recognized her from local performances and introduced himself, saying he wanted to produce her. Although skeptical, Braxton decided to, in her words, "take a chance" and accepted.


Career


1989–1995: The Braxtons, ''Toni Braxton'' and breakthrough

Braxton and her four sisters Traci, Towanda, Trina, and Tamar began performing as The Braxtons in the late 1980s and were signed to
Arista Records Arista Records () is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. The label was previously handled by BMG Entertainmen ...
in 1989. Their first single, " Good Life", was released in 1990. Though the song was not successful, it attracted the attention of record executive Antonio "L.A." Reid and record producer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. Reid and Babyface recruited her to record a demo of "
Love Shoulda Brought You Home "Love Shoulda Brought You Home" is the debut solo single by American singer Toni Braxton. It was written by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Daryl Simmons, and Bo Watson and produced by Edmonds and Simmons along with L.A. Reid. Originally written for s ...
", a song that they had written for Anita Baker for the soundtrack of
Eddie Murphy Edward Regan Murphy (born April 3, 1961) is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and singer. He rose to fame on the sketch comedy show ''Saturday Night Live'', for which he was a regular cast member from 1980 to 1984. Murphy has als ...
's film, '' Boomerang''. Baker, who was pregnant at the time, did not record the song but suggested that Braxton record it. Her recording was later included on the soundtrack along with " Give U My Heart", a duet by Braxton and Babyface. Braxton, meanwhile, was signed to Reid and Edmonds' Arista-distributed imprint, LaFace Records, and immediately began recording her solo debut album. In July 1993, LaFace released Braxton's self-titled debut album. Primarily produced by Reid, Babyface, and
Daryl Simmons Daryl L. Simmons is an American R&B musician, songwriter and record producer, who worked with the production duo of L.A. Reid and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. In 1977–1980 Daryl, with Manchild (band) recorded 2 soul & funk albums & the minor h ...
, it peaked at number one on the US ''Billboard'' 200 and entered the top ten of the albums chart in Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The first single, " Another Sad Love Song", peaked at number seven and number two on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and
R&B Singles The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by ''Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 p ...
charts respectively. The album's second single, " Breathe Again", peaked in the top five of both the Hot 100 and R&B singles charts and no 2 in the UK. More singles from ''Toni Braxton'' were released in 1994, including " You Mean the World to Me", "
Seven Whole Days "Seven Whole Days" is a song performed by American singer Toni Braxton. It serves as the third single from her self-titled debut album (1993). It was released on October 8, 1993 by LaFace and Arista Records. Written and produced by Kenneth Edmon ...
", and "
I Belong to You/How Many Ways ''Toni Braxton'' is the debut studio album by American singer Toni Braxton, released on July 13, 1993, by LaFace Records and Arista Records. The album was primarily produced by L.A. Reid, Babyface, and Daryl Simmons. Background Braxton and her f ...
". Braxton's debut album won her several awards, including three Grammy Awards (for Best New Artist and two consecutive awards for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 1994 and 1995). She won two American Music Awards (for Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist and Favorite New Adult Contemporary Artist) in 1994 and another one in 1995 (for Favorite Soul/R&B Album). ''Toni Braxton'' was certified 8× platinum in USA and has sales of over 10 million worldwide.


1996–1999: ''Secrets'' and financial issues

In June 1996, Braxton released her second album ''
Secrets Secrecy is the practice of hiding information from certain individuals or groups who do not have the "need to know", perhaps while sharing it with other individuals. That which is kept hidden is known as the secret. Secrecy is often controvers ...
''. Motivated "to include a little bit of everything," Braxton reteamed with Babyface, but also worked with
R. Kelly Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and sex offender convicted of racketeering and multiple sex offenses. During his recording career, Kelly sold over 75 million records worldwid ...
,
Tony Rich Antonio Jeffries (born November 19, 1971), better known as Tony Rich and The Tony Rich Project, is an American Grammy-award-winning Contemporary singer-songwriter best known for his hit single " Nobody Knows". Early career Rich was born in De ...
, and David Foster on the album, which she co-produced. A major success, it peaked at number two on the ''Billboard'' 200 and reached the top ten on most international charts. After 92 weeks in the charts, ''Secrets'' was certified 8× platinum, becoming Braxton's second straight 8 million-seller. Internationally, ''Secrets'' sold more than 15 million copies, further cementing Braxton's superstar status. The album's first single, " You're Makin' Me High", marked Braxton's first number-one hit on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100, while follow-up " Un-Break My Heart", a ballad written and composed by
Diane Warren Diane Eve Warren (born September 7, 1956) is an American songwriter. She has received several awards including a Grammy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, three ''Billboard'' Music Awards and an Honorary Academy Award. Wa ...
, became the biggest hit of Braxton's career yet. It spent eleven consecutive weeks at number one on the Hot 100 and enjoyed worldwide top five success. As a result, Braxton topped several of ''Billboard''s year-end charts, and won two Grammy Awards; one for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Un-Break My Heart" and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "You're Makin' Me High" as well as two American Music Awards for Favorite Female Soul/R&B Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Album. Still waiting on her financial rewards, Braxton eventually launched an unsuccessful lawsuit against Arista and LaFace Records. Soon after, she filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy. Public reaction to these events was very harsh, having been expressed most clearly in an interview on '' The Oprah Winfrey Show.'' Braxton has appeared in two Disney Broadway shows: She made her Broadway debut as Belle in '' Beauty and the Beast'' beginning September 9, 1998, when she replaced Kim Huber. During her run in the show
Alan Menken Alan Irwin Menken (born July 22, 1949) is an American composer, best known for his scores and songs for films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. His scores and songs for ''The Little Mermaid'' (1989), ''Beauty and the Beast'' (1991), ''A ...
wrote and composed a new song for the musical, titled "A Change in Me", which he specially wrote and composed for Braxton, and was still being used in the musical as of late July 2014. She left the production on February 28, 1999, and was succeeded by Andrea McArdle. Her role in ''Beauty and the Beast'' marked the first (and only) time a black woman commanded the leading role of Belle on Broadway. (In the UK, Michelle Gayle played the role in the West End.) It also marked the first time a black woman would star in a Disney musical on Broadway. In 1999, the lawsuit against LaFace Records was settled and Braxton was given back all her possessions, giving her time to record ''The Heat'', her first album in four years.


2000–2002: ''The Heat'', ''More Than a Woman'', and acting debut

After her three-year-long dispute with LaFace and Arista had been settled, Braxton signed a new $20 million contract. In April 2000, her third studio album, '' The Heat'' was released. Braxton took a more hands-on approach, co-writing and co-producing a handful of the tracks which saw her adapting a more urban sound. It opened at number two on the US ''Billboard'' 200 with 199,000 copies sold in its first week, eventually going double platinum in the United States, while selling over 4 million copies worldwide. Additionally, the album was nominated for Best R&B Album at the
2001 Grammy Awards The 43rd Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 21, 2001, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Several artists earned three awards on the night. Steely Dan's haul included Album of the Year for ''Two Against Nature''. U2 took ...
, while uptempo lead single " He Wasn't Man Enough", a worldwide top ten hit, won for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and was nominated for Best R&B Song. In 2001, Braxton made her movie acting debut in director
Doug McHenry Doug McHenry is an American film director and producer. Doug McHenry was born in 1952 and grew up in Richmond, California. He graduated from Stanford University in 1973 with a degree in economics, and from Harvard Law School and Harvard Business ...
's comedy film ''
Kingdom Come " Kingdom come" is a phrase in the Lord's Prayer in the Bible. Kingdom Come may also refer to: Film * ''Kingdom Come'' (1919 film), a Western short featuring Hoot Gibson * ''Kingdom Come'' (2001 film), a comedy starring LL Cool J * ''Kingdom ...
'' opposite an ensemble also starring
LL Cool J James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), known professionally as LL Cool J (short for Ladies Love Cool James), is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, along ...
, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Whoopi Goldberg A modest box-office success, it grossed $23.4 million worldwide. The same year, Braxton recorded and released the Christmas album ''
Snowflakes A snowflake is a single ice crystal that has achieved a sufficient size, and may have amalgamated with others, which falls through the Earth's atmosphere as snow.Knight, C.; Knight, N. (1973). Snow crystals. Scientific American, vol. 228, no. ...
'' which consisted R&B–led original songs co-penned with Keri Lewis and Babyface as well as several remixes and cover versions of Christmas standards and carols. It received a mixed reception by critics, many of whom compared its nature to Braxton's other work but found the stylized production and original material too contemporary to conjure images of Christmas, and failed to reach the upper half of the ''Billboard'' 200, eventually going gold in the United States. In 2002, while gearing up for the release of her fourth studio album, Braxton discovered she was pregnant with her second child. Knowing that she would be unable to promote the album properly, she unsuccessfully lobbied
Arista Records Arista Records () is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. The label was previously handled by BMG Entertainmen ...
to get the label to postpone its release until after she was to give birth. In November 2002, '' More Than a Woman'' was released. Opening to an instant commercial disappointment, the album peaked at number 13 on the US ''Billboard'' 200, but was less successful internationally. The first single " Hit the Freeway" failed to impact, resulting in lackluster sales in general and the release of no further singles. ''More Than a Woman'' was eventually certified gold in the United States and sold more than 800,000 copies worldwide.


2003–2007: ''Libra'' and Las Vegas residency

In April 2003, Braxton abruptly left Arista Records, having been there for 14 years, and immediately signed with Blackground Records, headed by Barry Hankerson, her manager at the time. She then starred in '' Aida'' as Aida beginning June 30, 2003, when she replaced actress Simone, until she left the cast on November 16, 2003. In April 2005, Braxton's new label, Blackground/Universal, released "
Please ''Please'' is a word used in the English language to indicate politeness and respect while making a request. Derived from shortening the phrase "if you please" or "if it please(s) you", the term has taken on substantial nuance based on its int ...
", the first single from her fifth album, ''
Libra Libra generally refers to: * Libra (constellation), a constellation * Libra (astrology), an astrological sign based on the star constellation Libra may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Libra'' (novel), a 1988 novel by Don DeLillo Musi ...
''. The album was originally planned for a June release, but it was pushed back several times and was finally issued on September 27. ''Libra'' peaked at number four on the US ''Billboard'' 200, selling 114,593 copies in the first week, and peaked at number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The album was certified gold in late 2005 and has since sold 679,000 copies worldwide. In May 2005, Braxton made an appearance on the season finale of '' American Idol 5'', where she performed Elvis Presley's " In the Ghetto" with soon-to-be winner Taylor Hicks. A month later, " The Time of Our Lives", a duet with classical crossover vocal group Il Divo, was released as a single, serving as the official
2006 FIFA World Cup The 2006 FIFA World Cup, also branded as Germany 2006, was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which had won the right to host the ...
anthem. Braxton performed the song, which entered the top ten in Switzerland, at the opening ceremony in Berlin on June 9, 2005. In August 2006, Braxton replaced singer Wayne Newton as the Flamingo Las Vegas's new headlining act. The show, entitled '' Toni Braxton: Revealed'', was to be performed six nights a week and was scheduled to run through to March 2007. Braxton later confirmed that she was extending her show through to August 2007. Due to its success, it was reported that Braxton would extend her show through to August 2008, though the show was later cancelled in order for Braxton to focus on her health after being diagnosed with
microvascular angina Microvascular angina, previously known as cardiac syndrome X, is angina (chest pain) with signs associated with decreased blood flow to heart tissue but with normal coronary arteries. The use of the term CSX can lead to the lack of appreciation of ...
. On January 12, 2007, Braxton filed a $10 million lawsuit against her former manager Barry Hankerson, alleging "fraud, deception and double dealing", in addition to mismanaging her relationship with Arista Records. According to Braxton's lawsuit, Hankerson placed his personal financial interests ahead of hers by using 'double-talk' to compromise the relationship between Braxton and her former label, with Hankerson allegedly telling Arista that "Braxton no longer wanted to record for Arista," and telling Braxton that "Arista was not interested in working with her anymore". The suit was settled with Braxton being forced to return a $375,000 advance to Hankerson, who would also receive a percentage of the sales of her next album, and Hankerson releasing Braxton from her contract with him. The settlement also temporarily limited the companies with which Braxton could sign. Hankerson claimed that the problems initially arose due to a number of disputes with Braxton and her wish to include her husband in her music.


2008–2012: ''Pulse'' and television

Following the abrupt cancellation of her ''Toni Braxton: Revealed'' show, Braxton experienced financial difficulties when insurance agency Lloyd's of London refused to honor her policy that she purchased for upwards of $70,000 that included financial compensations for financial losses. Lloyd's responded with a counter-suit seeking damages against her because of an unrelated heart condition that the company was not made aware of at the time the application was filed. When Braxton acknowledged that she did not disclose her full medical history at the time, she got on the hook for all damages because of the cancelled shows, being sued by multiple companies, and had to once again file for bankruptcy. In September 2008, Braxton appeared on the seventh season of American dance competition series ''
Dancing with the Stars ''Dancing with the Stars'' is the name of various international television series based on the format of the British TV series '' Strictly Come Dancing'', which is distributed by BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the forma ...
''; her partner was
Alec Mazo Alec Mazo (born April 5, 1978) is an investor at DGA Capital. He became known for his participation in the Dancing with the Stars (U.S. TV series), American edition of the reality television series ''Dancing with the Stars (U.S. TV series), Danc ...
. They were voted off in the fifth week of the competition. In 2009, Braxton signed to
Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most i ...
and began work on her next studio album. In February 2010, she was part of the
supergroup Supergroup or super group may refer to: * Supergroup (music), a music group formed by artists who are already notable or respected in their fields * Supergroup (physics), a generalization of groups, used in the study of supersymmetry * Supergroup ...
Artists for Haiti who recorded " We Are the World 25 for Haiti", a remake of the 1985 hit " We Are the World", to help benefit the people of
Haiti Haiti (; ht, Ayiti ; French: ), officially the Republic of Haiti (); ) and formerly known as Hayti, is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and ...
following the magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake. Three months later, '' Pulse'', her seventh studio album, was released. A collection of up-tempo songs and R&B ballads with production varying from smooth to
dance Dance is a performing art form consisting of sequences of movement, either improvised or purposefully selected. This movement has aesthetic and often symbolic value. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...
-based styles, it debuted at number nine on the US ''Billboard 200'', selling 54,000 copies in its first week, and topped the
R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a music chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales in the United States and is compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The chart debuted as Hot R&B LPs in the issue dated Jan ...
, becoming Braxton's fifth US top-ten album. A moderate chart success elsewhere, it reached the top ten in Switzerland, and the top 20 in Germany and Greece. While critical reception of ''Pulse'' was generally positive,"Critic Reviews for Pulse"
. Metacritic. Retrieved on May 24, 2020.
its singles " Yesterday", " Hands Tied" and "Make My Heart" achieved moderate chart success. In 2011, Braxton signed with WE tv for a reality series, ''
Braxton Family Values ''Braxton Family Values'' (abbreviated ''BFV'') is an American reality television series that airs on WE tv and premiered on April 12, 2011. It chronicles the lives of the Braxton sisters—Toni, Traci, Towanda, Trina and Tamar and their mother ...
''. Chronicling the lives of Braxton and her sisters Tamar, Traci, Towanda, and Trina, plus their mother Evelyn, the series debuted on April 12, 2011. It received favorable reviews from critics who recognized it as a "guilty pleasure" and spawned several seasons and spin-offs. In September 2011, Braxton parted ways with her long-time manager Vincent Herbert, husband of sister Tamar, and signed a new management deal with Los Angeles-based entertainment/production company The Collective. In March 2012, she released the standalone single " I Heart You", a dance-pop,
EDM EDM or E-DM may refer to: Music * Electronic dance music * Early Day Miners, American band Science and technology * Electric dipole moment * Electrical discharge machining * Electronic distance measurement *Entry, Descent, and landing demonstra ...
and house song that peaked at number one on the US
Dance Club Songs Dance Club Songs is a chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine in the United States. It is a national look over of club disc jockeys to determine the most popular songs being played in nightclubs across the country. It was launched as t ...
. Also that year, Braxton played Rosalie Rosebud, a singer with an over-the-top personality, in the children's musical adventure comedy film '' The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure'' alongside Jaime Pressly and Cloris Leachman, and began filming a lead role in the
Lifetime Movie Network LMN (also known previously as Lifetime Movies, and an initialism for Lifetime Movie Network) is an American pay television network owned by A&E Networks, a joint venture between the Disney Media Networks subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company and t ...
film ''
Twist of Faith ''Twist of Faith'' is a 2004 American documentary film about a man who confronts the Catholic Church about the abuse he suffered as a teenager, directed by Kirby Dick. The film was produced for the cable network HBO and screened at the 2005 Sund ...
'' which premiered the following year.


2013–2014: ''Love, Marriage and Divorce,'' Broadway return, and biographical film

In 2013, Braxton and longtime creative music partner Babyface began work on their collaborative studio album ''
Love, Marriage & Divorce ''Love, Marriage & Divorce'' is a collaborative studio album by American recording artists Toni Braxton and Babyface, released on February 4, 2014, by Motown Records. The album debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200 and as of July 2, 2014 the ...
'' which was released in February 2014 under
Motown Records Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy, Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmant ...
. It received favorable reviews from music critics, who labeled it as "high-quality R&B", and debuted at number 4 on the ''Billboard'' 200 and the top of the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums with first-week sales of 67,000 copies. ''Love, Marriage & Divorce'' was nominated for World's Best Album at the
2014 World Music Awards The 2014 World Music Awards was a music awards ceremony that was held on May 27, 2014, at the Salle des Etoiles in Monte Carlo, Monaco. It was the 22nd edition of the show since its start in 1989, and the first ceremony since 2010, after which it ...
and won for Best R&B Album at the
57th Grammy Awards The 57th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 8, 2015, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The show was broadcast live by CBS at 5:00 p.m. PST ( UTC−8). Rapper LL Cool J hosted the show for the fourth consecutive time. ...
. Lead single "
Hurt You "Hurt You" is a song by American recording artists Toni Braxton and Babyface. It was written by Braxton and Babyface along with Daryl Simmons and Antonio Dixon for their collaborative studio album ''Love, Marriage & Divorce'' (2014), while prod ...
" reached number one on the US Adult R&B Songs, becoming Braxton's first song to do so since her 2000 release "Just Be a Man About It". The song also hit number 16 on ''
Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' Hot R&B/ Hip Hop Airplay chart. Braxton, alongside Babyface, made her return to Broadway in the musical '' After Midnight'' in March 2014. The third in rotation in the role of "Special Guest Star" following Fantasia Barrino and KD Lang, they performed from March 18 to 31, 2014 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. In May 2014, Braxton published a memoir, ''Unbreak My Heart: A Memoir'', through
Harper Collins Publishers HarperCollins Publishers LLC is one of the Big Five English-language publishing companies, alongside Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, and Macmillan. The company is headquartered in New York City and is a subsidiary of News Corp ...
. In it, Braxton discusses her career success and struggles and the self-healing she took charge of after her own diagnosis with the auto-immune disease
lupus Lupus, technically known as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in many parts of the body. Symptoms vary among people and may be mild to severe. Comm ...
and her son's diagnosis with autism. In October 2015, Toni along with The Braxtons released the holiday album ''
Braxton Family Christmas ''Braxton Family Christmas'' is the first Christmas album, and second studio album overall, by R&B female group The Braxtons. “Braxton Family Christmas” is the only album to feature all five Braxton sisters. The album was released on October 3 ...
'' on Def Jam Recordings. Comprising cover versions of Christmas standards and carols as well as several original songs, it debuted and peaked at number 27 on the US ''Billboard'' R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Lifetime premiered the biographical film '' Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart'', based on Braxton's memoir, in January 2016; actress
Lex Scott Davis Alexis Scott Davis is an American actress. She is known for playing Nya in ''The First Purge'' and Toni Braxton in the 2016 Lifetime television film '' Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart''. In 2017, she had a starring role in the short-lived CBS dr ...
portrayed Braxton in the film. The biopic's premiere generated 3.6 million viewers. In July, Braxton announced that she would embark on a concert tour, titled
The Hits Tour The Hits Tour may refer to: * The Hits Tour (Luis Miguel) The Hits Tour was a concert tour performed by Mexican singer Luis Miguel. History The tour started in Fresno and then participated in the " People in Spanish Festival" in San Antonio. ...
, that October. She was hospitalized on October 3, five days before the tour was scheduled to begin, due to complications with
lupus Lupus, technically known as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in many parts of the body. Symptoms vary among people and may be mild to severe. Comm ...
, resulting in the cancellation of the tour's first two dates. Braxton was admitted to hospital again on October 15, leading to another tour date cancellation, which was later rescheduled. In December, she announced that the January 2017 concert dates had been canceled.


2017–2019: ''Sex & Cigarettes'', touring, and other ventures

In January 2018, Braxton starred in the Lifetime film ''Faith Under Fire''. In March, her eighth studio album '' Sex & Cigarettes'', her first solo album in eight years, was released on Def Jam Recordings. An adult contemporary R&B album with production from
Fred Ball Frederick Henry Ball (July 17, 1915 – February 5, 2007) was an American movie studio executive (management), executive and younger brother of Lucille Ball. Biography Early life Ball was born on July 17, 1915, to Henry Durrell Ball (1887–191 ...
, Babyface,
Dapo Torimiro Dapo Torimiro is a Nigerian songwriter, record producer, multi-instrumentalist and singer. Born in Lagos, he has worked in the music industry in the US for several years writing and producing music for artists' album projects, touring with num ...
, and Tricky Stewart, it debuted at number 22 on the US ''Billboard'' 200 and number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. ''Sex & Cigarettes'' received mainly positive reviews from music critics, and was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards. Second single " Long as I Live" topped the US Adult R&B Songs, becoming Braxton's eighth chart topper, while breaking a tie with singers Maxwell and R. Kelly to give her sole possession of the second-most number-one's in the chart's 24-year history. It also received Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song. Also in 2018, Braxton and Uncle Bud's Hemp products created a joint marketing campaign for the latter's products, which Braxton noted as helpful in her battle against lupus. In April 2018, Braxton and her sisters Trina and Towanda appeared on their sister Traci's single "Broken Things". In November, Braxton and Towanda appeared in the holiday film ''Every Day is Christmas'', which premiered on Lifetime. The same month, she announced her As Long as I Live Tour, a joint concert tour with SWV, which took her to South Africa and the United Kingdom. In June 2019, Braxton headlined the 2019 Pittsburgh Pride festival.


2020–present: New record label and ''Spell My Name''

In April 2020, it was announced that Braxton had signed with
Island Records Island Records is a multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded in 1959 by Chris Blackwell, Graeme Goodall, and Leslie Kong in Jamaica, and was eventually sold to PolyGram in 1989. Island and A&M Records, anoth ...
. She released the single, " Do It", her first song under the new deal on April 6, 2020. In May, Braxton released a remix EP for her second single "Dance". On June 26, 2020,
Missy Elliott Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...
appeared on the official remix to the single "Do It". Elliott co-produced the track alongside Hannon Lane. On August 4, 2020, Braxton released the music video for "Dance", directed by Mike Ho. On August 27, 2020, Braxton released the song "Nothin'". Braxton's tenth studio ''
Spell My Name ''Spell My Name'' is the tenth studio album by American singer Toni Braxton. It was released by Island Records on August 28, 2020. Her debut with the record label, following a short-lived stint with Def Jam Recordings on her eighth album ''Sex & C ...
'' was released on August 28, 2020. On October 23, 2020, Braxton released a video for her song "Gotta Move On". In 2021, Braxton competed on
season six A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperate and pola ...
of ''
The Masked Singer ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
'' as "Pufferfish". She was the third to be eliminated during the two-night premiere alongside Dwight Howard as "Octopus" and Vivica A. Fox as "Mother Nature". Despite being unmasked, Braxton kept on a glittered KN95
cloth face mask A cloth face mask is a mask made of common textiles, usually cotton, worn over the mouth and nose. When more effective masks are not available, and when physical distancing is impossible, cloth face masks are recommended by public health agenci ...
over her mouth due to her lupus condition. Braxton is an
executive producer Executive producer (EP) is one of the top positions in the making of a commercial entertainment product. Depending on the medium, the executive producer may be concerned with management accounting or associated with legal issues (like copyrights o ...
and star in the 2022
Lifetime Lifetime may refer to: * Life expectancy, the length of time a person is expected to remain alive Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Lifetime (band), a rock band from New Jersey * ''Life Time'' (Rollins Band album), by Rollins Band * ...
movie ''The Fallen Angels Murder Club''.


Artistry

Braxton has been recognized for her distinctive contralto voice. Her voice has been called "husky, sultry, elegant and sexy." Due to the huskiness of her voice, Braxton often used male singers such as Michael McDonald,
Luther Vandross Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. (April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005) was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Known for his sweet and soulful vocals, Vandross has sold over 40 million records worldwide. He achieved eleven consecutive P ...
and
Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris ( Judkins; May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include rhythm and blues, Pop musi ...
as vocal style models.
Chaka Khan Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known by her stage name Chaka Khan (), is an American singer. Her career has spanned more than five decades, beginning in the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the funk band Rufus. Known as the " Qu ...
and Anita Baker were two of the few female singers that she could stylize. Steve Huey of AllMusic cites a key to Braxton's success is the versatility of her voice, which he states as being "soulful enough for R&B audiences, but smooth enough for adult contemporary; sophisticated enough for adults, but sultry enough for younger listeners; strong enough in the face of heartbreak to appeal to women, but ravishing enough to nab the fellas." In 2023, '' Rolling Stone'' ranked Braxton at No. 48 on their list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. Braxton began her career singing traditional R&B and soft rock ballads and love songs on her debut and second albums. However, hip-hop soul and dance music elements begun to get spun into her sound on ''The Heat'', ''More Than a Woman'', and ''Pulse''. She also showcased her classical training while performing in Broadway plays '' Beauty and the Beast'' and '' Aida'' as well as her duet with Il Divo, "The Time of Our Lives".


Legacy

Toni Braxton became an R&B superstar after the release of her first album. LA Reid stated during an interview with
VH1 VH1 (originally an initialism of Video Hits One) is an American basic cable television network based in New York City and owned by Paramount Global. It was created by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, at the time a division of Warner Commun ...
: "We called her the first lady of LaFace. She was our Diva.
Clive Clive is a name. People and fictional characters with the name include: People Given name * Clive Allen (born 1961), English football player * Clive Anderson (born 1952), British television, radio presenter, comedy writer and former barrister * ...
had Whitney,
Tommy Tommy may refer to: People * Tommy (given name) * Tommy Atkins, or just Tommy, a slang term for a common soldier in the British Army Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Tommy'' (1931 film), a Soviet drama film * ''Tommy'' (1975 fil ...
had Mariah and we had Toni." BBC called the album "spiritedly, mature soul at its best – and just urban enough to make it the bedroom album for the hip hop generation." Over the span of her career Braxton has sold over 70 million records, including 40 million albums, worldwide. Her hit " Un-Break My Heart", the
Diane Warren Diane Eve Warren (born September 7, 1956) is an American songwriter. She has received several awards including a Grammy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, three ''Billboard'' Music Awards and an Honorary Academy Award. Wa ...
-penned ballad, spent 11-weeks at number 1. Bob McCann, author of ''Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television'' (2010), considered it "simply one of the most haunting R&B records ever made." Reviewer Mark Edward Nero named it one of the best R&B break-up songs and considered it Braxton's "finest moment". He further commented, "damn, this song is so sad it can make people cry for hours at a time." Braxton is a recipient of seven Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and nine
Billboard Music Awards The ''Billboard'' Music Awards are honors given out annually by '' Billboard'', a publication covering the music business and a music popularity chart. The ''Billboard'' Music Awards show has been held annually since 1990, with the exception of ...
. She has been cited as an influence by various artists, such as
Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...
, sister Tamar Braxton, Billie Godfrey, Kelly Clarkson,
Leela James Aleicha Janeice Campbell (born May 22, 1973) known professionally as Leela James, is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter. Music career James made her debut on the soundtrack to the 2000 Jamie Foxx film '' Bait'' on The Roots song "Work" ...
, Keyshia Cole, Teyana Taylor, Kehlani, Sevyn Streeter, Ari Lennox and Anja Nissen. Braxton's career, she made several impacts on fashion, mostly for her high splits in her dresses. In 2011, Braxton topped the list for the Grammy Award's best dressed of the decade. "I've always gone a little risque with all my other award show outfits." In 2012, Braxton made the list for
VH1 VH1 (originally an initialism of Video Hits One) is an American basic cable television network based in New York City and owned by Paramount Global. It was created by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, at the time a division of Warner Commun ...
's 50 Greatest Women in Music. Braxton's 2000 performance at Super Bowl XXXIV is ranked as one of the most memorable Super Bowl performances. Braxton is featured alongside other R&B and pop divas as a primary character on the popular
web Web most often refers to: * Spider web, a silken structure created by the animal * World Wide Web or the Web, an Internet-based hypertext system Web, WEB, or the Web may also refer to: Computing * WEB, a literate programming system created by ...
parody '' Got 2B Real: The Diva Variety Show''. With her Las Vegas residency ''Toni Braxton: Revealed'', she became the first African American performer in Las Vegas to have her act enter the top ten Vegas shows charting. Braxton also made headlines for her Giantto Million Dollar Microphone that she performed every show with. Braxton said: "I think it's a great element to the show. You have to have a little sprinkle of Liberace and this is my little sprinkle of that." Braxton's prop was made up of white gold and encrusted with 650 karats of diamonds. The microphone reportedly cost $1 million. Braxton has also been seen as a gay icon, with some of her songs becoming gay anthems, such as " Un-Break My Heart", " He Wasn't Man Enough" and " Make My Heart". The singer stated that after the release of "Un-Break My Heart", she "recognized all the support. And it was really wonderful." When asked about her gay fans, Braxton said "I love my boys because my boys help me be a better girl. My choreographer and my video director are gay, and they've been my best friends since I started in the industry. They're my favorite part of the whole industry".


Personal life


Relationships

Braxton met musician Keri Lewis when his group,
Mint Condition Mint condition is an expression used to denote the quality of a pre-owned good as displaying virtually no imperfections and being in pristine condition relative to its original production state. Originally, the phrase related to the way collect ...
, opened for her on tour; they married on April 21, 2001. In December 2001, she gave birth to their first child, a son named Denim Cole Braxton-Lewis. In 2002, while gearing up for the release of her fourth studio album, Braxton discovered she was pregnant with her second child; the complicated pregnancy confined her to bed rest. The couple's second son, Diezel Ky Braxton-Lewis, was born in March 2003. As Diezel has been diagnosed with
autism The autism spectrum, often referred to as just autism or in the context of a professional diagnosis autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism spectrum condition (ASC), is a neurodevelopmental condition (or conditions) characterized by difficulti ...
, Braxton has become involved with Autism Speaks, serving as their International Spokesperson. In November 2009, Braxton announced that she and her husband had separated. The couple later divorced in July 2013. In her early 30s, Braxton had an abortion after discovering she was pregnant by then-boyfriend Keri Lewis. In her memoir ''Unbreak My Heart'', Braxton discusses her abortion and guilt, saying that her son Diezel's autism was "God's payback". In an October 2006 concert at the Flamingo Las Vegas, Braxton broke down in tears while announcing to the audience that just before the concert began she had been told that her son, Diezel, had been diagnosed with
autism The autism spectrum, often referred to as just autism or in the context of a professional diagnosis autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism spectrum condition (ASC), is a neurodevelopmental condition (or conditions) characterized by difficulti ...
. Braxton has been outspoken regarding her doctor's failure to diagnose Diezel's condition earlier, contending that if he had been diagnosed earlier he could have received treatment earlier. As well as becoming a spokeswoman for Autism Speaks, she is also a spokeswoman for the
American Heart Association The American Heart Association (AHA) is a nonprofit organization in the United States that funds cardiovascular medical research, educates consumers on healthy living and fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and death ...
. On July 8, 2015, Braxton's attorney, Antavius Weems, announced that Braxton had settled her contentious child support case with her former husband, Keri Lewis. On June 2, 2016, the city and county officials of Atlanta, Georgia, named June 2 as Toni Braxton Day. Braxton began dating rapper Birdman in May 2016, and the couple announced their engagement in February 2018. In January 2019, the couple called off the engagement. However, in April 2019, both Braxton and Birdman confirmed that they were still together. But since at least 2022, Braxton has made several television appearances, where she has declared herself single and on the dating scene, which indicates that her relationship with Birdman has ceased.


Health problems

In August 2007, rumors surfaced that Braxton had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She stated to '' Access Hollywood'' that the breast cancer rumors were false and that her health was very good. However, in 2008, she had a benign lump removed from her breast. On April 8, 2008, near the end of her two-year run at the Flamingo Hotel, Braxton was briefly hospitalized and the remaining dates on the show, which was scheduled to end on August 23, 2008, were cancelled. Later, while appearing on Season 7 of ''Dancing with the Stars'', she stated, that she has been diagnosed with
microvascular angina Microvascular angina, previously known as cardiac syndrome X, is angina (chest pain) with signs associated with decreased blood flow to heart tissue but with normal coronary arteries. The use of the term CSX can lead to the lack of appreciation of ...
(small vessel disease). On November 18, 2010, Braxton revealed to
CBS News CBS News is the news division of the American television and radio service CBS. CBS News television programs include the ''CBS Evening News'', ''CBS Mornings'', news magazine programs '' CBS News Sunday Morning'', '' 60 Minutes'', and '' 48 H ...
that she had been diagnosed with
systemic lupus erythematosus Lupus, technically known as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in many parts of the body. Symptoms vary among people and may be mild to severe. Comm ...
(SLE), a potentially life-threatening autoimmune disease. Braxton's uncle died of complications from lupus. While taping her reality series ''
Braxton Family Values ''Braxton Family Values'' (abbreviated ''BFV'') is an American reality television series that airs on WE tv and premiered on April 12, 2011. It chronicles the lives of the Braxton sisters—Toni, Traci, Towanda, Trina and Tamar and their mother ...
'', she went into hospital for surgery. Braxton was hospitalized in Los Angeles in December 2012 because of "minor health issues" related to
lupus Lupus, technically known as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in many parts of the body. Symptoms vary among people and may be mild to severe. Comm ...
.


Discography

Studio albums * '' Toni Braxton'' (1993) * ''
Secrets Secrecy is the practice of hiding information from certain individuals or groups who do not have the "need to know", perhaps while sharing it with other individuals. That which is kept hidden is known as the secret. Secrecy is often controvers ...
'' (1996) * '' The Heat'' (2000) * ''
Snowflakes A snowflake is a single ice crystal that has achieved a sufficient size, and may have amalgamated with others, which falls through the Earth's atmosphere as snow.Knight, C.; Knight, N. (1973). Snow crystals. Scientific American, vol. 228, no. ...
'' (2001) * '' More Than a Woman'' (2002) * ''
Libra Libra generally refers to: * Libra (constellation), a constellation * Libra (astrology), an astrological sign based on the star constellation Libra may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Libra'' (novel), a 1988 novel by Don DeLillo Musi ...
'' (2005) * '' Pulse'' (2010) * '' Sex & Cigarettes'' (2018) * ''
Spell My Name ''Spell My Name'' is the tenth studio album by American singer Toni Braxton. It was released by Island Records on August 28, 2020. Her debut with the record label, following a short-lived stint with Def Jam Recordings on her eighth album ''Sex & C ...
'' (2020) Collaborative albums * ''
Love, Marriage & Divorce ''Love, Marriage & Divorce'' is a collaborative studio album by American recording artists Toni Braxton and Babyface, released on February 4, 2014, by Motown Records. The album debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200 and as of July 2, 2014 the ...
'' (with Babyface) (2014)


Tours and residencies

Headlining * Secrets Tour (1996–97) *
Libra Tour The Libra Tour was the second concert tour by American pop-R&B singer Toni Braxton. The tour, which was in support of her RIAA gold-selling album ''Libra'', kicked off in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on March 10 and continued through mid-summer. Br ...
(2006) *
2013 Summer Tour The 2013 Summer Tour was a co-headlining tour by American bands Matchbox Twenty and the Goo Goo Dolls. Beginning in June 2013, the tour supported the band's albums, ''North'' and ''Magnetic'' respectively. The tour included more than 30 dates ...
(2013) *
The Hits Tour The Hits Tour may refer to: * The Hits Tour (Luis Miguel) The Hits Tour was a concert tour performed by Mexican singer Luis Miguel. History The tour started in Fresno and then participated in the " People in Spanish Festival" in San Antonio. ...
(2016) * As Long as I Live Tour (2019) Residencies * Toni Braxton: Revealed (2006–08) * Love & Laughter (with Cedric the Entertainer) (2024)


Awards and nominations


Filmography


Film


Television


Music videos


See also

* Honorific nicknames in popular music * List of artists who reached number one in the United States * List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. dance chart *
List of best-selling music artists The following list of best-selling music artists includes those music acts from the 20th century to the present with claims of 75 million or more record sales worldwide. This information cannot be listed officially, as there is no organization t ...


References


External links

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Braxton, Toni 1967 births 20th-century African-American women singers 20th-century American women singers 20th-century American singers 20th-century Methodists 21st-century African-American women singers 21st-century American women singers 21st-century Methodists Activists from California Actresses from Maryland African-American activists 21st-century African-American actresses 21st-century American actresses African-American record producers African-American television personalities African-American women singer-songwriters American women singer-songwriters American contemporary R&B singers American contraltos American female dancers American women hip hop musicians American film actresses American health activists American hip hop dancers American hip hop record producers American hip hop singers American soul singers American women pop singers American women record producers American women television personalities Arista Records artists Atlantic Records artists Autism activists American ballad musicians Bowie State University alumni Grammy Award winners Living people Methodists from Maryland New jack swing musicians Participants in American reality television series People from Severn, Maryland Musicians from the Las Vegas Valley People with lupus Singer-songwriters from Maryland Singer-songwriters from Nevada The Braxtons members Women hip hop record producers