Toni Michelle Braxton (born October 7, 1967) is an American singer, songwriter, pianist, record producer, actress, television personality, and philanthropist. She began performing with her sisters in a family group known as The Braxtons in the late 1980s, who were signed to Arista Records.
Braxton attracted the attention of producers Antonio "L.A." Reid and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, later recording a series of songs for them before being signed to their Arista-distributed imprint, LaFace Records. Her self-titled debut studio album (1993) reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States, selling 10 million copies worldwide and seeing the international success of the singles "Another Sad Love Song" and "Breathe Again". The album brought Braxton three Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist.
Secrets (1996), Braxton's second studio album, saw continued commercial success, selling 15 million copies and generating the singles "You're Makin' Me High" and "Un-Break My Heart", which became her first singles to reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. Secrets brought Braxton an additional two Grammy Awards, for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album.
Her third studio album, The Heat (2000), opened at #2 on the Billboard 200 and saw the success of its lead single, "He Wasn't Man Enough", which reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and brought Braxton her sixth Grammy Award, for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
Braxton's subsequent studio albums, More Than a Woman (2002), Libra (2005), and Pulse (2010), were released amid contractual disputes and health issues, including a lawsuit against her former manager for mismanaging her relationship with Arista Records. In 2014, Braxton and longtime collaborator Babyface released a duet album entitled Love, Marriage & Divorce, which earned the duo an additional Grammy Award for Best R&B Album in 2015.
Throughout her career, Braxton has sold over 67 million records, including 41 million albums worldwide. She has won seven Grammy Awards, nine Billboard Music Awards, seven American Music Awards, and numerous other accolades.
Aside from her success in music, Braxton has become a television executive producer and personality, being involved in the seventh season of the reality competition series Dancing with the Stars and in a reality series entitled Braxton Family Values featuring her as executive producer and star. Braxton is also an executive producer of its spin-off, starring her younger sister Tamar, Tamar & Vince. In 2011, Braxton was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
Discography:
- Toni Braxton (1993)
- Secrets (1996)
- The Heat (2000)
- Snowflakes (2001)
- More Than a Woman (2002)
- Libra (2005)
- Pulse (2010)
- Love, Marriage & Divorce (with Babyface) (2014)
- Sex & Cigarettes (2018)
"Untrope My Heart":
- Adam Westing: She plays a Comically Serious diva star who sings an extravagant ballad about her flower allergies in The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure.
- And Starring: TLC's Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes appears on "Gimme Some" from The Heat.
- Bathtub Scene: In the video for "You're Making Me High"
- Break-Up Song: "Un-Break My Heart," "Breathe Again"
- Chekhov's Gun: Averted on the May 16, 1997 episode of The Rosie O'Donnell Show. Her June/July issue of VIBE Magazine was face-down on Rosie's desk. It was never mentioned because her pictures would have been subjected to Pixellation/Censor Boxes, which would not have fit with the kid/family-friendly nature of the show.
- Christmas Songs: Snowflakes. However, unlike most albums of this ilk, the songs were primarily originals rather than standards.
- Greatest Hits Album: Ultimate Toni Braxton, Platinum & Gold Collection
- Masturbation Means Sexual Frustration: "You're Making Me High" is about wanting to have sex with her boyfriend, but since he isn't available, well, she has to make do.I'll always think of you inside of my private thoughts
I can imagine you touching my private parts
And just the thought of you, I can't help but touch myself
That's why I want you so bad - Ms. Fanservice: Well known for wearing skimpy, revealing outfits.
- Reality Show: Braxton Family Values
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: "He Wasn't Man Enough" calls out both her ex and his new wife. This is actually subverted in the video, where the guy gets exposed as the jerk he is, but no such resolution can be found in the song itself.
Stop blaming me
He wasn't man enough for me
If you don't know now here's your chance
I've already had your man
Do you wonder just where he's been
And not be worried about him
Now it's time you know the truth
I think he's just the man for you
- Sampling:
- "You've Been Wrong" (from The Heat) used elements of "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)" by The Stylistics.
- "Let Me Show You The Way (Out)" (from More Than A Woman) sampled Curtis Mayfield's "Love's Happening".
- "Me & My Boyfriend" (from More Than A Woman) sampled Tupac Shakur's "Me & My Girlfriend."
- "Tell Me" (from More Than A Woman) sampled Anita Baker's "Sweet Love."
- Self-Titled Album: Her debut.
- The Show Must Go On: She experienced a Wardrobe Malfunction during a concert in New Jersey in 2013, and covered for it by rapping the first verse and chorus of The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Big Poppa."
- Silly Love Songs: "You Mean the World To Me," "I Belong To You," etc., etc.
- The Something Song: Her first hit, "Another Sad Love Song"
- Vocal Dissonance: Her speaking voice? US American. Her singing voice? Damn near Canadian.
