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Who Is Toni Braxton?

Toni Braxton began her professional career singing alongside her sisters, until emerging as a solo artist with a song on the soundtrack for Boomerang (1992). The following year, she released her debut self-titled album, garnering wide acclaim for singles like "You Mean the World to Me" and "Breathe Again." She later scored a megahit with "Un-Break My Heart," included on her second studio album, Secrets (1996). Braxton made history in 1998 when she became the first Black actress to play Belle in the Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast, and she later starred alongside her sisters on the reality show Braxton Family Values. Despite announcing her retirement in 2013, the singer resumed recording shortly afterward and announced a new solo album in 2018.

Early Life & Family

Toni Michelle Braxton was born on October 7, 1967, in Severn, Maryland, to parents Michael Braxton, a minister, and his wife, Evelyn. Brought up in a strict, religious household that prohibited any sort of engagement with popular culture, Braxton and her four younger sisters — Traci, Towanda, Trina and Tamar — began singing at an early age at their father's church. Over time, Michael and Evelyn eased their household rules, allowing their daughters to gain more exposure to soul and rock singers like Stevie Wonder and Chaka Khan.

For Braxton especially, music became a central component in her life. She entered a number of local talent shows and also collaborated considerably with her sisters. Following her graduation from high school, Braxton planned on becoming a music teacher but was easily swayed to leave college when songwriter Bill Pettaway overheard Braxton singing to herself at a gas station. Pettaway, who had recently penned Milli Vanilli's "Girl You Know It's True" hit single, was moved by Braxton's husky, driving voice. With his help, Braxton landed a record contract with Arista Records for both her and her sisters.

Albums and Songs

The Braxtons, as the sisters called themselves, released the single "The Good Life" in 1990. While not a huge hit, it did manage to catch the ear of producers Antonio "L.A." Reid and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, who signed Braxton to a new deal to the Arista subsidiary, LaFace Records.

'Boomerang' Hit

In 1992, Braxton caught her first big break when she was asked to fill in for Anita Baker and sing for the soundtrack to the Eddie Murphy movie Boomerang. The album gave Braxton significant exposure and led to her first big hit: the single "Love Shoulda Brought You Home."

'Toni Braxton'

A year after the Boomerang soundtrack, Braxton released her eponymous debut album. The record more than met the enthusiasm that had built up around it prior to its release. With hits like "Breathe Again," "You Mean the World to Me" and "Another Love Song," the record went on to sell more than 8 million copies. It also earned Braxton a pair of Grammy Awards for Best New Artist and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

'Secrets'

In 1996, Braxton released her second studio album, Secrets, which included the monster single "Un-Break My Heart" and the hit "You Make Me High." At the 1997 Grammy Awards, Braxton won two Grammys: one for Best Female R&B vocal performance and one for Best Female R&B Pop Vocal Performance.

However, instead of getting the chance to dig into the hard work of creating a third album, Braxton got into contract wrangling with Arista. At issue was Braxton's claim that she deserved to receive a larger cut from her record sales. To further drive home the point that she wasn't making enough, Braxton filed for bankruptcy in 1998.

'The Heat' and 'Pulse'

The two sides eventually returned to the negotiating table, and following an agreement in 1999, the singer-songwriter released her third album, The Heat. Largely stripped of the "lost love" themes that had greatly shaped her two previous studio releases, Braxton's new album gave the singer's fans a fresher, more confident Braxton. It also featured two hit singles: "He Wasn't Man Enough for Me" and "Just Be a Man About It."

In 2010, Braxton released her seventh studio album, Pulse, which was issued by Atlantic Records. 

Broadway's 'Beauty' and 'Braxton Family Values'

In September 1998, Braxton made history by becoming the first Black actress to play Belle in a Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast. The musical, which featured a song written specifically for Braxton, was a huge success.  

She went on to pursue other types of performance work, including a Las Vegas residency, Toni Braxton: Revealed, from 2006 into 2008. Later that year, she competed on the hit dance competition show Dancing with the Stars.

In January 2011, media outlets began reporting that Braxton was set to star in a new reality series, Braxton Family Values. The show, which debuted in April 2011, followed Braxton and her sisters as they pursue their respective careers in show business.

Retirement

In early 2012, Braxton announced that she had begun working on a new album. That spring, she released the single "I Heart You" — thought to be the first single off the singer's new project at the time. But fans' excitement over what would be Braxton's eighth studio project soon fizzled out when, on February 8, 2013, Braxton announced plans to retire from her career as a recording artist. Signaling the end of her 20-year recording career, Braxton's announcement, made during her guest appearance on Good Morning America, came as a big shock to many — especially since the singer-songwriter's previous statements regarding her future retirement seemed to center on a final album release.

Braxton went on to explain her decision, citing a loss of musical inspiration, a disinterest in making any future recordings and shifting sentiments surrounding her future goals. "It's not affecting me, making me feel that thing I've always felt when I perform. It's leaving me," she said. "I'm not sure what's going on in my life. Maybe a female mid-life crisis? My heart isn't in it anymore. I hate to say that. For what I do I have to love it. I have to feel that excitement and it's gone."

Return to the Studio

'Love, Marriage & Divorce'

Despite her announcement, Braxton did return to the music scene in 2014 with a studio album with longtime collaborator Babyface. The R&B/adult contemporary-styled Love, Marriage & Divorce earned the pair a Grammy in 2015 for Best R&B Album.

'Sex & Cigarettes'

After dropping the single "Deadwood" in September 2017, Braxton in early 2018 announced plans to release Sex & Cigarettes, her first solo album in eight years. Around this time, the singer also starred in the Lifetime movie Faith Under Fire: The Antoinette Tuff Story, as the real-life teacher who talked a would-be gunman out of shooting up a Georgia school in 2013.

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