Toni Braxton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Toni Braxton
Braxton in 2015
Born	Toni Michele Braxton (1966-10-07) October 7, 1966 (age 58) Severn, Maryland, U.S.
Occupation	Singer songwriter actress television personality
Years active	1989–present
Spouse(s)	Keri Lewis ​ ​ (m. 2001; div. 2013)​
Partner(s)	Birdman (2016–2022)
Children	2
Relatives	Traci Braxton (sister) Towanda Braxton (sister) Trina Braxton (sister) Tamar Braxton (sister)
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	R&B
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	LaFace Arista Blackground Atlantic Inot Motown Def Jam Island

Antonia Michele Braxton (born October 7, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and TV star. She has sold over 70 million records worldwide. This makes her one of the best-selling female artists ever. Toni has won many awards. These include seven Grammy Awards and nine Billboard Music Awards. She also has seven American Music Awards. In 2011, she joined the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. In 2017, she received the Legend Award at the Soul Train Music Awards.

In the late 1980s, Toni started singing with her sisters. Their group was called The Braxtons. They signed with Arista Records. Later, producers Antonio "L.A." Reid and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds noticed her. She then signed with LaFace Records. In 1993, Toni released her first solo album, Toni Braxton. This album reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart. It sold 10 million copies around the world. Her songs "Another Sad Love Song" and "Breathe Again" became big hits. This album helped Toni win three Grammy Awards. One was for Best New Artist.

Toni continued to be very successful. Her album Secrets (1996) had huge hits. These included "You're Makin' Me High" and "Un-Break My Heart". The Heat (2000) also did very well. It opened at number two on the Billboard 200. The song "He Wasn't Man Enough" was a top hit. Later albums like Snowflakes (2001) and Pulse (2010) were also released. In 2014, Toni and Babyface released a duet album. It was called Love, Marriage & Divorce. This album won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album in 2015. Her album Spell My Name (2020) came out under Island.

Toni Braxton is also a TV producer and personality. She was on the reality show Dancing with the Stars. She also produced and starred in Braxton Family Values. This reality show aired on We TV from 2011 to 2020. Toni also helped produce Tamar & Vince. This was a TV show about her younger sister, Tamar.

Early Life and Beginnings

Toni Michele Braxton was born in Severn, Maryland. Her birthday is October 7, 1966. Her father, Michael Conrad Braxton Sr., was a Methodist clergyman. He also worked for a power company. Her mother, Evelyn Jackson, was a former opera singer and cosmetologist. She was also a pastor. Toni's grandfather was a pastor too.

Toni is the oldest of six children. She has a younger brother, Michael Jr. (born 1968). She also has four younger sisters. They are Traci Renee (1971 - 2022), Towanda Chloe (born 1973), Trina Evette (born 1974), and Tamar Estine (born 1977). They grew up in a very strict religious home. Toni's first time performing was singing in her church choir.

Toni went to Bowie State University. She planned to become a teacher. But she decided to sing professionally. A man named William E. Pettaway Jr. discovered her. He heard her singing and wanted to produce her music. Toni took a chance and accepted his offer.

Music Career Highlights

1989–1995: The Braxtons and First Album Success

Toni and her four sisters started a group called The Braxtons. They began performing in the late 1980s. In 1989, they signed with Arista Records. Their first song, "Good Life", came out in 1990. This song caught the eye of record executives Antonio "L.A." Reid and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. They asked Toni to record a demo. It was for a song called "Love Shoulda Brought You Home". This song was for the movie Boomerang. Toni's recording was used on the movie's soundtrack. She also sang a duet with Babyface called "Give U My Heart". Toni then signed with LaFace Records. She immediately started working on her first solo album.

In July 1993, LaFace released Toni's first album. It was called Toni Braxton. Reid, Babyface, and Daryl Simmons produced most of it. The album reached number one on the US Billboard 200. It also made it into the top ten in many other countries. The first song, "Another Sad Love Song", was a big hit. The second song, "Breathe Again", also did very well. More songs from the album came out in 1994. These included "You Mean the World to Me".

Toni's first album won her many awards. She won three Grammy Awards. These included Best New Artist. She also won two American Music Awards in 1994. The album Toni Braxton sold over 10 million copies worldwide.

1996–1999: Secrets and Broadway Debut

In June 1996, Toni released her second album, Secrets. She worked with Babyface again. She also worked with R. Kelly, Tony Rich, and David Foster. Toni helped produce the album herself. It was a huge success. It reached number two on the Billboard 200. It also made the top ten on many international charts. Secrets sold over 15 million copies worldwide. This made Toni an even bigger star. The first song, "You're Makin' Me High", was her first number-one hit. The next song, "Un-Break My Heart", became her biggest hit ever. It stayed at number one for eleven weeks. It was also a top five hit around the world.

Toni won more awards because of this album. She won two Grammy Awards. She also won two American Music Awards.

Toni also performed in two Disney Broadway shows. She played Belle in Beauty and the Beast. She started on September 9, 1998. The show's composer, Alan Menken, wrote a new song just for her. It was called "A Change in Me". Toni was the first black woman to play Belle on Broadway. She left the show on February 28, 1999.

2000–2002: The Heat and Acting Roles

After some challenges, Toni signed a new record deal. In April 2000, her third album, The Heat, was released. Toni was more involved in this album. She helped write and produce some songs. The album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200. It sold over 4 million copies worldwide. The album was nominated for a Best R&B Album. The song "He Wasn't Man Enough" won a Grammy Award.

In 2001, Toni acted in her first movie. It was a comedy film called Kingdom Come. She starred with LL Cool J and Whoopi Goldberg. The movie made $23.4 million worldwide. That same year, Toni released a Christmas album. It was called Snowflakes. It had new songs and classic Christmas tunes.

In 2002, Toni found out she was expecting her second child. She released her fourth album, More Than a Woman. It reached number 13 on the US Billboard 200. The first song, "Hit the Freeway", did not become a big hit. The album sold over 800,000 copies worldwide.

2003–2007: Libra and Las Vegas Shows

In April 2003, Toni left Arista Records. She then signed with Blackground Records. She also starred in the musical Aida on Broadway. She played Aida from June to November 2003. In April 2005, her new label released "Please". This was the first song from her fifth album, Libra. The album came out on September 27. Libra reached number four on the US Billboard 200. It sold 679,000 copies worldwide.

In May 2005, Toni sang on American Idol 5. She performed with the winner, Taylor Hicks. A month later, she released "The Time of Our Lives". This was a duet with the group Il Divo. It was the official song for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Toni sang the song at the opening ceremony in Berlin. In August 2006, Toni started her own show in Las Vegas. It was called Toni Braxton: Revealed. She performed six nights a week at the Flamingo Las Vegas. The show was very popular.

Flamingo Las Vegas promoting headliner Braxton and her Toni Braxton: Revealed show in 2006

2008–2012: Pulse and Reality TV

In September 2008, Toni was on Dancing with the Stars. She danced with Alec Mazo. They were voted off in the fifth week.

Braxton at the VH1 Divas 2009 red carpet

In 2009, Toni signed with Atlantic Records. She started working on her next album. In February 2010, she joined Artists for Haiti. They recorded "We Are the World 25 for Haiti". This song helped people in Haiti after a big earthquake. Three months later, her seventh album, Pulse, was released. It had upbeat songs and R&B ballads. It debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200. It became Toni's fifth top-ten album in the US. The album received good reviews.

In 2011, Toni signed with WE tv for a reality series. It was called Braxton Family Values. The show followed Toni and her sisters. It showed their lives and their mother Evelyn. The series started on April 12, 2011. It was very popular and had many seasons. In March 2012, Toni released the song "I Heart You". It was a dance-pop song. It reached number one on the US Dance Club Songs chart. That year, Toni also acted in a children's movie. It was called The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure. She played a singer named Rosalie Rosebud. She also filmed a movie for Lifetime Movie Network called Twist of Faith.

2013–2014: Love, Marriage and Divorce and Broadway Return

In 2013, Toni and Babyface worked on an album together. It was called Love, Marriage & Divorce. It was released in February 2014 under Motown Records. Critics loved the album. It debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200. It also topped the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Love, Marriage & Divorce won a Best R&B Album Grammy Award. The main song, "Hurt You", reached number one on the US Adult R&B Songs chart.

In March 2014, Toni and Babyface returned to Broadway. They performed in the musical After Midnight. They performed from March 18 to 31, 2014. In May 2014, Toni published her memoir. It was called Unbreak My Heart: A Memoir. In the book, Toni shared her career journey. She also talked about her health. She has lupus, an autoimmune disease. Her son was diagnosed with autism. In October 2015, Toni and The Braxtons released a holiday album. It was called Braxton Family Christmas.

In January 2016, Lifetime aired a movie about Toni's life. It was called Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart. Actress Lex Scott Davis played Toni. The movie was watched by 3.6 million people. In July 2016, Toni announced a concert tour. It was called The Hits Tour. She had to cancel some shows due to her lupus condition.

2017–Present: New Music and Projects

In January 2018, Toni starred in the Lifetime movie Faith Under Fire. In March, her eighth solo album was released. It was her first solo album in eight years. It debuted at number 22 on the US Billboard 200. It also reached number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album received mostly good reviews. It was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards. The song "Long as I Live" topped the US Adult R&B Songs chart. This was Toni's eighth time at number one on that chart. It also received Grammy nominations.

In 2018, Toni worked with Uncle Bud's Hemp products. She said their products helped her with lupus. In April 2018, Toni and her sisters Trina and Towanda sang on Traci's song "Broken Things". In November, Toni and Towanda were in the holiday movie Every Day is Christmas. That same month, she announced her As Long as I Live Tour. She toured with SWV in South Africa and the United Kingdom. In June 2019, Toni performed at the Pittsburgh Pride festival.

In April 2020, Toni signed with Island Records. She released the song "Do It". In May, she released a remix EP for her second song "Dance". Missy Elliott appeared on the official remix of "Do It". On August 27, 2020, Toni released the song "Nothin'". Her tenth album, Spell My Name, came out on August 28, 2020.

In 2021, Toni was on The Masked Singer. She was the "Pufferfish". She was eliminated early in the season. Toni is also an executive producer and star. She was in the 2022 Lifetime movie The Fallen Angels Murder Club.

Artistry and Voice

Toni Braxton is known for her unique contralto voice. Her voice has been described as "husky, sultry, elegant." Because of her deep voice, Toni often learned from male singers. These included Michael McDonald and Luther Vandross. Chaka Khan and Anita Baker were some female singers she looked up to. Steve Huey of AllMusic says Toni's voice is very versatile. He says it is "soulful enough for R&B audiences, but smooth enough for adult contemporary."

Toni started her career singing R&B and soft rock love songs. This was on her first two albums. Later, her music started to include hip-hop soul and dance music. This was heard on albums like The Heat and Pulse. She also showed her classical training. She performed in Broadway plays like Beauty and the Beast. She also sang with Il Divo on "The Time of Our Lives".

Legacy and Impact

Toni Braxton became an R&B superstar after her first album. LA Reid called her "the first lady of LaFace." BBC said her album was "spiritedly, mature soul at its best." Toni has sold over 70 million records worldwide. This includes 40 million albums. Her hit song "Un-Break My Heart" stayed at number 1 for 11 weeks. Bob McCann called it "simply one of the most haunting R&B records ever made." Many artists say Toni has influenced them. These include Beyoncé, her sister Tamar Braxton, and Kelly Clarkson.

Toni Braxton has also influenced fashion. She is known for her high-split dresses. In 2011, she was named one of the Grammy Awards' best dressed of the decade. In 2012, VH1 listed her among the 50 Greatest Women in Music. Toni's performance at Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000 is one of the most memorable. Her Las Vegas show, Toni Braxton: Revealed, was very successful. It was one of the top ten Vegas shows. Toni also used a special microphone in her shows. It was made of white gold and covered in 650 karats of diamonds. The microphone reportedly cost $1 million.

Toni Braxton is also seen as a gay icon. Some of her songs have become gay anthems. These include "Un-Break My Heart" and "He Wasn't Man Enough". Toni has said she loves her gay fans. She said they help her be a better person.

Personal Life and Family

Relationships and Children

Toni met musician Keri Lewis when his group, Mint Condition, opened for her on tour. They got married on April 21, 2001. In December 2001, she gave birth to their first son. In 2002, Toni found out she was pregnant again. She had to stay on bed rest because of a complicated pregnancy. Their second son was born in 2003. He was diagnosed with autism. Toni has become involved with Autism Speaks. She is their International Spokesperson. In November 2009, Toni announced that she and her husband had separated. They later divorced in July 2013.

In October 2006, Toni shared at a concert that her son had been diagnosed with autism. She has spoken out about the importance of early diagnosis. Toni is also a spokesperson for the American Heart Association. On June 2, 2016, the city of Atlanta, Georgia, named June 2 as Toni Braxton Day.

Toni started dating rapper Birdman in May 2016. They announced their engagement in February 2018. In January 2019, they called off the engagement. But in April 2019, they confirmed they were still together. However, since 2022, Toni has said on TV that she is single. This means her relationship with Birdman has ended.

Health Challenges

In August 2007, there were rumors that Toni had breast cancer. She said these rumors were false. She stated her health was very good. However, in 2008, she had a benign lump removed from her breast. In April 2008, Toni was briefly hospitalized. Her Las Vegas show had to be canceled. She later shared that she was diagnosed with microvascular angina. This is a small vessel disease.

On November 18, 2010, Toni told CBS News she had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This is a serious autoimmune disease. Toni's uncle died from lupus complications. While filming her reality show, she had surgery. In December 2012, Toni was hospitalized in Los Angeles. This was due to minor health issues related to her lupus.

Discography

Studio albums

• Toni Braxton (1993)
• Secrets (1996)
• The Heat (2000)
• Snowflakes (2001)
• More Than a Woman (2002)
• Libra (2005)
• Pulse (2010)
• Spell My Name (2020)

Collaborative albums

• Love, Marriage & Divorce (with Babyface) (2014)

Tours and Residencies

Headlining Tours

• Secrets Tour (1996–97)
• Libra Tour (2006)
• 2013 Summer Tour (2013)
• The Hits Tour (2016)
• As Long as I Live Tour (2019)

Residencies

• Toni Braxton: Revealed (2006–08)
• Love & Laughter (with Cedric the Entertainer) (2024)

Awards and Nominations

Toni Braxton has won many awards throughout her career. You can find a full list of her awards and nominations at List of awards and nominations received by Toni Braxton.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Appearances

Images for kids

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  Braxton in 2015

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  Flamingo Las Vegas promoting headliner Braxton and her Toni Braxton: Revealed show in 2006

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  Braxton at the VH1 Divas 2009 red carpet