Toni Braxton
October 7, 1967
Toni Michele Braxton, born on October 7, 1967, is a renowned American R&B singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. Her illustrious career boasts remarkable achievements, with over 70 million records sold worldwide, firmly establishing her as one of the best-selling female artists in music history.
Braxton’s musical prowess has been celebrated with seven Grammy Awards, nine Billboard Music Awards, seven American Music Awards, and numerous other prestigious honors. In 2011, she received the honor of being inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, a testament to her enduring impact on the music industry. In 2017, she was further recognized with the Legend Award at the Soul Train Music Awards.
During the late 1980s, Braxton embarked on her musical journey by performing with her sisters in the music group, The Braxtons, which was signed to Arista Records. Her talent caught the attention of renowned producers Antonio “L.A.” Reid and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, leading to her signing with LaFace Records. In 1993, Braxton released her self-titled debut studio album, a significant milestone that soared to number one on the Billboard 200 chart and achieved global sales of 10 million copies. This album also produced international hits like “Another Sad Love Song” and “Breathe Again” and earned Braxton three Grammy Awards, including the prestigious Grammy for Best New Artist.
Braxton’s musical journey continued to flourish with subsequent albums, including “Secrets” (1996), featuring U.S. #1 hits “You’re Makin’ Me High/Let It Flow” and “Un-Break My Heart,” and “The Heat” (2000), which debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 and included the U.S. #2 hit “He Wasn’t Man Enough.” Despite contractual disputes and health challenges, Braxton persevered and released additional studio albums like “More Than a Woman” (2002), “Libra” (2005), and “Pulse” (2010). In 2014, she teamed up with her longtime collaborator Babyface for a duet album titled “Love, Marriage & Divorce,” earning them a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album in 2015. Her journey led her to further label changes, resulting in the release of “Sex & Cigarettes” (2018) under Def Jam/Universal and “Spell My Name” (2020) under Island.
Braxton’s influence extends beyond music as she has also made a mark as a television executive producer and personality. She notably competed in the seventh season of the reality competition series “Dancing with the Stars.” Braxton was instrumental in the success of “Braxton Family Values,” a reality television series that aired on We TV from 2011 to 2020, where she served as an executive producer and star. Additionally, she took on an executive producer role for “Tamar & Vince,” a spinoff reality TV series featuring her younger sister, Tamar. In 2023 has signed a luxurious deal with lifetime to produce movies for television.