Brandy Norwood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brandy
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Norwood performing in 2019
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Brandy Rayana Norwood
February 11, 1979 McComb, Mississippi, U.S.
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| Years active | 1993–present |
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Works
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| Children | 1 |
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| Relatives | Ray J (brother) |
| Awards | Full list |
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| Origin | Carson, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
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Brandy Rayana Norwood (born February 11, 1979), known simply as Brandy, is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, model, and actress. She was born in McComb, Mississippi, and grew up in Carson, California. Brandy started her career singing backup for groups.
In 1993, she signed with Atlantic Records. Her first album, Brandy, came out in 1994 and sold six million copies worldwide. Brandy became famous for her role in the TV show Moesha. She also starred in the TV movie Cinderella (1997) and the film I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998). Her song "The Boy Is Mine" with Monica won a Grammy Award. It became one of the best-selling duets by female artists ever. Her second album, Never Say Never (1998), sold 16 million copies worldwide.
Brandy continued to have success with her albums Full Moon (2002) and Afrodisiac (2004). She was a judge on the first season of America's Got Talent. Later, she released her fifth album, Human (2008).
She returned to TV as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars in 2010. She also starred in the reality show Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business. In 2012, she joined the cast of the BET series The Game. She also released her sixth album, Two Eleven. In 2015, Brandy made her Broadway debut in the musical Chicago. Her recent albums include B7 (2020) and the holiday album Christmas With Brandy (2023).
Brandy has sold over 40 million records around the world. She has won a Grammy Award and an American Music Award. She is known for her unique voice, which has earned her the nickname "the Vocal Bible."
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Brandy Rayana Norwood was born on February 11, 1979, in McComb, Mississippi. Her father, Willie Norwood, was a gospel singer and choir director. Her mother, Sonja Norwood, was a district manager. Brandy is the older sister of entertainer Ray J. She is also a cousin of rapper Snoop Dogg and wrestler Mercedes Moné.
Brandy grew up in a Christian home. She started singing in her father's church choir. She performed her first gospel solo at just two years old. In 1983, her family moved to Carson, California. Brandy went to the Hollywood High Performing Arts Center.
Her interest in music grew after she became a fan of singer Whitney Houston at age seven. She started entering talent shows when she was eleven. She also performed at public events with a youth singing group.
In 1990, she signed with Teaspoon Productions. They gave her work as a backing vocalist for the R&B boy band Immature. They also helped her create a demo tape. In 1993, Brandy's parents helped her get a recording contract with Atlantic Recording Corporation. To support her daughter, Brandy's mother quit her job. Brandy left Hollywood High School and was taught privately from tenth grade on.
Music and TV Stardom
Early Career and First Album
While working on her first album, Brandy got a role in the ABC sitcom Thea. She played the daughter of a single mother. The show started with high ratings but only lasted one season. Brandy was happy the show ended because she wanted to focus on singing. She said, "I felt bad for everybody else but me. It was a good thing, because I could do what I had to do, because I wanted to sing."
Brandy's first album, Brandy, came out in September 1994. It reached number twenty on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. Critics generally liked the album. Brandy sold over six million copies worldwide. It had three top ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100: "I Wanna Be Down" and "Baby". Both songs reached the top of the Hot R&B Singles chart. "Brokenhearted", a duet with Wanya Morris of Boyz II Men, was also a big hit.
The album earned Brandy two Grammy Award nominations. She also won four Soul Train Music Awards and two Billboard Awards. In 1995, she opened for Boyz II Men on their national tour. She also sang songs for the movies Batman Forever and Waiting to Exhale. Her song "Sittin' Up in My Room" was another big success. In 1996, Brandy worked with Tamia, Chaka Khan, and Gladys Knight on the song "Missing You". This song earned her a third Grammy nomination.
Moesha and Cinderella Success
In 1996, Brandy starred in her own TV show, Moesha, on UPN. She played Moesha Mitchell, a Los Angeles girl dealing with growing up and a stepmother. The show became UPN's most-watched program. It ran for six seasons and even had a spin-off called The Parkers. Brandy won an NAACP Image Award for her role.
In 1997, Whitney Houston chose Brandy to play the main character in the TV version of Cinderella. The movie had a diverse cast, including Jason Alexander, Whoopi Goldberg, and Whitney Houston. This special TV event was watched by about 60 million viewers. It won an Emmy Award for its art direction.
Never Say Never and Film Roles
Producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins helped Brandy create her second album, Never Say Never. Brandy helped write and produce six songs for the album. This included her first number-one song, "The Boy Is Mine". This duet with singer Monica became the most successful song by a female duo. The song was a huge hit in the United States, staying at number one for thirteen weeks. It won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
Never Say Never was released in June 1998. It became Brandy's best-selling album, selling over 16 million copies worldwide. It reached number two on the Billboard 200. Critics praised the album. It produced seven singles, including Brandy's second number-one song, "Have You Ever?" To promote the album, she went on the Never Say Never World Tour in 1999.
Brandy made her movie debut in the film I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. She played Karla Wilson. The movie did well at the box office. Brandy received good reviews for her performance. She earned a Blockbuster Entertainment Award and an MTV Movie Award nomination. In 1999, she starred with Diana Ross in the TV movie Double Platinum. Both Brandy and Ross were executive producers for the movie. That same year, Brandy performed at VH-1's Divas Live '99 with Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, and Cher.
After Moesha ended, Brandy returned to music in 2001. She and her brother Ray-J recorded a cover of Phil Collins' song "Another Day in Paradise". This song became a big international hit in Europe and Oceania. Brandy also contributed the song "Open" to the Osmosis Jones movie soundtrack.
New Sounds and Reality TV
Brandy's third album, Full Moon, was released in February 2002. It featured R&B and pop songs. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. Its first single, "What About Us?", was a worldwide top-ten hit. The album's title track was a Top 20 hit in the U.S. and the UK.
In 2002, Brandy's journey into reality TV began with the MTV series Diary Presents Brandy: Special Delivery. The show followed Brandy during the last months of her pregnancy and the birth of her daughter, Sy'rai.
Brandy's fourth album, Afrodisiac, came out in June 2004. This album was praised by critics. Many noted the "mature and challenging" influence of producer Timbaland. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200. "Talk About Our Love" reached number six in the United Kingdom. Later that year, she played Gladys Knight in the TV show American Dreams.
After eleven years, Brandy left Atlantic Records in 2004. A collection of her best songs, The Best of Brandy, was released in March 2005. Critics liked the album, noting the creativity of her past work.
Return to Acting and New Music
In February 2006, Brandy appeared in the UPN sitcom One on One. In June, she became a judge on the first season of America's Got Talent on NBC. The show was very popular. Brandy was supposed to return for a second season but decided not to due to personal reasons.
Brandy's fifth album, Human, was released in December 2008. It was produced by Toby Gad, Brian Kennedy, and RedOne. The album debuted at number fifteen on the U.S. Billboard 200. The first single, "Right Here (Departed)", was her biggest chart success since 2002. However, the album did not sell as well as her previous ones.
In April 2010, Brandy and Ray J starred in the VH1 reality series Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business. The show followed their lives as they took on bigger roles in their family's business. A compilation album from the show was released in June 2011.
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In fall 2010, Brandy was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars. She placed fourth in the competition. In August 2011, Brandy signed a new record deal with RCA Records. In September, she appeared on the talent show Majors & Minors, mentoring young performers. Later that year, Brandy returned to acting with roles in 90210 and Drop Dead Diva.
In 2011, Brandy joined the cast of the BET comedy series The Game. She played Chardonnay, a bartender, and became a regular cast member. In February 2012, Brandy and Monica teamed up again for the song "It All Belongs to Me". Brandy's own comeback single, "Put It Down" featuring Chris Brown, was released later that year. The song reached number three on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Her sixth album, Two Eleven, was released in October. It returned to her R&B sound. The album reached number three on the US Billboard 200.
In March 2013, Brandy returned to film in Tyler Perry's drama Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor. She played Melinda, a supporting character. The film did well at the US box office. In July 2014, Brandy released a cover of Coldplay's song "Magic". It reached number one on Billboard's Trending 140 chart. She also made guest appearances on Love and Hip Hop: Hollywood and The Soul Man. At the 2014 BET Hip Hop Awards, she reunited with Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, and Yo-Yo to perform a remix of "I Wanna Be Down".
Broadway and Recent Projects
After finishing The Game, Brandy made her Broadway debut in the musical Chicago in April 2015. She played the lead role of Roxie Hart. Her time in the show was extended several times. Also in 2015, Brandy appeared on 99 Souls's song "The Girl Is Mine". The song reached the top five in Belgium and the United Kingdom.
In January 2016, Brandy starred in the BET sitcom Zoe Ever After. She also released the song "Beggin & Pleadin". In February, Brandy announced her Slayana World Tour. The tour ended early in June because she was hospitalized due to exhaustion. In November 2016, Brandy received the Lady of Soul Award at the Soul Train Music Awards.
In July 2018, Brandy became a regular on the Fox TV series Star. She played Cassie until the series ended in 2019. The same year, she appeared on the song "Optimistic" with August Greene.
In 2019, Brandy was honored with the BMI President's Award. In June, she sang on Daniel Caesar's song "Love Again". It earned them a Grammy Award nomination. In September 2019, she released the song "Freedom Rings" to celebrate 25 years since her first album.
Brandy's seventh album, B7, was released in July 2020. It was her first album as an independent artist. The album debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200. It received positive reviews from critics.
In August 2020, Brandy and Monica had a music battle on the webcast series Verzuz. It was watched by a record-breaking 1.2 million viewers. Two months later, Brandy performed at the Billboard Music Awards.
Recent Years
In March 2021, John Legend chose Brandy as a mentor on The Voice. She also worked with Disney on the song "Starting Now." In August 2021, Brandy joined the cast of ABC's music drama series Queens. She played one-fourth of a veteran hip-hop group. Brandy recorded new songs for the series.
In March 2022, Brandy released "Nothing Without You," a duet with her daughter Sy'Rai. It was for the movie Cheaper by the Dozen. In April, Mariah Carey released a new version of her song "The Roof (When I Feel the Need)" featuring Brandy. In October 2022, Brandy was nominated for Best Global Act at the All Africa Music Awards 2022.
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In November 2023, Brandy released her eighth album, Christmas with Brandy. It included six original songs and six Christmas classics. This album marked her return to Motown Records. Its release happened at the same time as her Netflix Christmas movie Best. Christmas. Ever!. On November 23, 2023, Brandy performed at the 2023 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
On February 4, 2024, Brandy performed at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. On June 7, Brandy made a cameo in Ariana Grande's music video for "The Boy Is Mine" with Monica. On June 21, 2024, Grande released a remix of the song featuring both Brandy and Monica. In July 2024, Descendants: The Rise of Red was released on Disney+. Brandy played Cinderella again in the movie and on its soundtrack. In September 2024, the horror film The Front Room starring Brandy was released.
In January 2025, it was announced that Brandy would release her memoir. It will share her full story.
Brandy's Voice and Style
Singing Voice and Musical Approach
Brandy has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Her voice is often described as soft, raspy, and husky. Music critic Andrew Chan says Brandy's voice has "an unusual mix of warmth and cold, hard edges." He also notes her "long, cascading riffs," which R&B fans admire.
Brandy is also known for using multitrack recording. This means she records her voice many times to create complex layers. Terry Sawyer of PopMatters says she "piles each song with enough interlocking sounds to create the tightly packed illusion of vocal massiveness." In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Brandy among the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.
Her first album, Brandy, had a "street-oriented" R&B sound. It mixed elements of hip hop and pop-soul. She sang about love and other topics like family and faith. On her second album, Never Say Never, she moved towards a more adult contemporary style.
Her third album, Full Moon, saw Brandy experiment with futuristic sounds. It included influences of 2-step garage and electro-funk. Her voice also changed, becoming deeper and warmer.
For her fourth album, Afrodisiac, Brandy explored a more experimental sound. This album, with producers Timbaland and Kanye West, used unique sounds and sampling. After a break, Brandy returned in 2008 with Human. This album talked about love, heartbreak, and honesty. In 2012, Brandy returned to her R&B roots with her sixth album, Two Eleven. It blended her 1990s R&B sound with modern hip-hop trends.
Musical Inspirations
Since the start of her career, Brandy has said Whitney Houston is her biggest musical influence. She often called Houston her "idol." Brandy said, "I wanted to be like her, sing like her, and do everything she was doing." Later, Houston became a personal friend and mentor to Brandy.
Brandy also credits her father, Willie Norwood, for helping her discover and develop her singing talent. She said her dad "taught me everything that I know [about singing]." She grew up singing gospel songs with him in church.
While developing her own style, Brandy was influenced by gospel-jazz singer Kim Burrell, new age artist Enya, and English singer-songwriter Sade. She said listening to these women helped her find her unique sound.
Other musical inspirations for Brandy include Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, the Clark Sisters, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Coldplay, Janet Jackson, Timbaland, and her brother Ray J.
For her acting career, Brandy has mentioned Lucille Ball, Jenifer Lewis, Gabrielle Union, Niecy Nash, and Kim Fields as important influences. They helped her discover her strength in comedy roles.
Legacy and Impact
Since her first album in 1994, Brandy has sold more than 40 million records worldwide. She has sold over 8.62 million albums in the United States alone. In 2008, Billboard ranked her song "The Boy Is Mine" third on a list of "The 40 Biggest Duets of All Time."
In 1999, Billboard listed Brandy among the top 20 Pop Artists of the 1990s. In 2010, Billboard included her in their Top 50 R&B and Hip Hop Artists list of the past 25 years. Brandy was one of the youngest artists nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. Her second album Never Say Never is on the "Top 100 Certified Albums" list by the RIAA.
Brandy's vocal style has greatly influenced the music industry, especially in contemporary R&B, pop, and gospel. She is often called the "Vocal Bible." Many artists have been influenced by her work, including Jessie J, JoJo, Ariana Grande, Chris Brown, Rihanna, and Normani. Her vocals have also been praised by other singers like Missy Elliott, Jennifer Hudson, and Gladys Knight.
Songwriter Sean Garrett said Brandy's vocal work on the album Full Moon changed his approach to writing. R&B singer Melanie Fiona admired her work on that album. Neo soul singer India.Arie said the album, especially the song "He Is," became a guide for many singers. The amazing vocals on the album led to Brandy being called the "vocal bible."
Afrodisiac is seen as one of the albums that led to the Alternative R&B music style. Singer Solange said in 2014 that Brandy is "the foundation of a lot of this very innovative, progressive, experimental R&B." She added that artists like Frank Ocean and Miguel would agree.
Brandy has also made a big impact in film and television. She was the first African American to play Cinderella. Her role inspired many Black actors. Keke Palmer said she was able to become the first African American Cinderella on Broadway because Brandy did it on TV. Brandy's TV show Moesha was one of the longest-running Black sitcoms ever. On stage, Brandy and co-star Lana Gordan made Broadway history in 2017. They were the first Black co-leads in Chicago the Musical.
Other Ventures
Endorsements and Products
Brandy has had many endorsements throughout her career. In 1999, she became a CoverGirl model and appeared in commercials. She also represented brands like Candie's and DKNY. In the late 1990s, she was represented by Wilhelmina Agency, a top modeling agency.
In 1999, Mattel released the Brandy Doll. The doll featured Brandy in a reddish-orange outfit. The Holiday Brandy Doll was released in 2000. Millions of these dolls were sold, making them one of Mattel's best-selling toys. In 2005, Brandy became the spokesperson for Ultima, a company for hair weaves and wigs.
Helping Others
In 1996, Brandy and her brother Ray J created the Norwood Kids Foundation. Its goal is to use performing arts to help young people become confident and responsible. In 1999, Brandy became the first international youth spokesperson for UNICEF. She also supports the Make A Wish Foundation and RAINN.
In 2000, Brandy donated $100,000 to 2000 WATTS. This is an entertainment community center founded by singer Tyrese Gibson in Watts, Los Angeles, California. In 2008, Brandy teamed up with shoe company Skechers for their “Nothing Compares to Family” campaign. In 2010, she got involved with Get Schooled, a non-profit that uses celebrity phone calls to encourage students to go to school. In 2014, Brandy worked with "text4baby," which shares health information with expecting mothers. She also became an honorary co-chairman of the 2014 Unstoppable Foundation. In 2018, she appeared in a public service announcement for the American Heart Association.
Discography
- Studio albums
- Brandy (1994)
- Never Say Never (1998)
- Full Moon (2002)
- Afrodisiac (2004)
- Human (2008)
- Two Eleven (2012)
- B7 (2020)
- Christmas with Brandy (2023)
Tours
Headlining
- Never Say Never World Tour (1999)
- Human World Tour (2009)
- Slayana World Tour (2016)
Opening act
- II World Tour (with Boyz II Men) (1995)
Filmography
Film and television
Stage
Broadway
- Chicago (April–August 2015; August 2017)
Regional
- Chicago (2016) (the Hollywood Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles)
- Chicago (2017) (the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.)
Images for kids
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Norwood at the Essence Awards in 1997
See also
In Spanish: Brandy Norwood para niños
- Brandy videography
- List of songs recorded by Brandy
