Brenda Edwards facts for kids

Brenda Edwards (born 2 March 1969) is a talented English singer, actress, and TV star. Many people know her from The X Factor in 2005. She also appears regularly on the TV show Loose Women.

Since 2019, Brenda has been a popular panellist on Loose Women. She was part of the first all-Black panel on the show, alongside Charlene White, Judi Love, and Kéllé Bryan. In 2021, she also became a presenter for the BBC One show Songs of Praise.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Brenda Claudina Susan Artman was born in Luton, Bedfordshire, on 2 March 1969. Her family came from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Brenda and her older brother, Rodney, were raised by relatives. This was after their parents passed away in 1974.

Brenda's grandmother was a member of the Church of God in Christ. She encouraged Brenda to attend church when she was eight. There, Brenda found her love for music and singing. She joined the Sunday school junior choir and later became its choir mistress. She also sang in the Pentecostal Collective Church of God in Christ (COGIC) mass choir.

As she grew older, Brenda started singing different kinds of music. By age 18, she was performing at local clubs, weddings, and other events. Before becoming famous, Brenda worked full-time in finance.

Brenda's Career Journey

Becoming a Star on The X Factor

Brenda Edwards became well-known after appearing on the second series of The X Factor in 2005. She was in the Over-25s group. Her mentor was the famous Sharon Osbourne.

Brenda performed many songs during the show. These included "Son of a Preacher Man" and "Rescue Me". She also sang "Midnight Train to Georgia" and "I'm Outta Love". Her powerful voice helped her reach the semi-final. She finished in fourth place on the show.

Shining on Stage: Musicals

After The X Factor, Brenda quickly moved into musical theatre. She was chosen to play Mama Morton in the popular West End musical Chicago. She performed this role several times between 2007 and 2009.

In 2007, Brenda also played Pearl in Carmen Jones in the West End. This role was created just for her. That same year, she won the Favourite Reality Star award at the Screen Nation awards. In 2009, Brenda toured the UK in the Queen musical We Will Rock You. She played the character Killer Queen.

More Stage Roles and TV Appearances

Brenda continued her success in We Will Rock You in 2010. She took over the role of Killer Queen in the West End production.

In 2011, Brenda released her first album. The first song from the album was "You Know How To Love Me". She also appeared in a musical workshop about the blues singer Bessie Smith in 2012. In 2013, she played Mrs Johnson in the BBC One sitcom The Wright Way.

From 2015 to 2016, Brenda toured the UK and Ireland in the musical Hairspray. She played the role of Motormouth Maybelle. She returned to this role for another tour in 2017.

In 2019, Brenda became a regular panellist on ITV's Loose Women. She quickly became a fan favourite and continues to appear weekly. In 2019, it was announced that Brenda would play the lead role of Delores Van Cartier in Sister Act: The Musical. The part was changed so she could play it, even though the character was originally much younger.

In 2021, Brenda joined the BBC's Songs of Praise as a presenter. In 2022, she returned to the UK tour of Chicago, once again playing Matron "Mama" Morton.

Personal Life

Brenda Edwards has two children, Jamal and Tanisha. Her son, Jamal, was the creator of SB.TV, a famous online music platform. Jamal passed away in 2022.

Brenda has also faced health challenges in her life. She has shown great strength and resilience.