Toni Braxton Biography

As one of the most appreciated and successful R&B singers of the 19980’s, Toni Braxton boasts one the longest-running number one hits of the rock era with her hit single, “Un-break My Heart.” Born in Severn, Maryland in 1968, Toni Braxton grew up the daughter of a minister, in a fairly strict apostolic household. She and her sisters all demonstrated vocal talents at an early age, and they were encouraged by their mother to sing in the church choirs. Braxton initially went to college with aspirations to become a music teacher, but a chance encounter at a local gas station led to Bill Pettaway, a well-known songwriter, overhearing her singing to herself. The rest, as they say, is history.

Toni Braxton’s first solo, “Love Shoulda Brought You Home” was a respectable hit, but her self-titled debut album was a chart-topping smash in 1993, racing to number one on the R&B and pop charts. Top Ten singles included “You Mean the World to Met,” “Breathe Again,” and “Another Sad Love Song.” Selling over eight million copies, the album launched Toni Braxton to stardom. By 1995, Toni Braxton had won Grammies for Best Female R&B Vocal and Best New Artist. She contributed to the soundtrack for Waiting to Exhale in 1995, singing “Let it Flow” with Whitney Houston. Toni Braxton’s second album, Secrets, was released in 1996, and spawned the hits “You’re Makin’ Me High” and “Un-break My Heart,” her iconic achievement, which spent eleven weeks at the top of the charts. Further Grammies were awarded to Braxton for both singles.

In the new millennium, Toni Braxton has released the albums Heat (2000), Snowflakes (2001), Pulse (2010), and the Grammy-winning album Love, Marriage & Divorce (2014.) Notable singles include “He Wasn’t Man Enough,” “Just Be a Man About It,” and the number one hit “Hurt You.” She completed two tours recently—the 2013 Summer Tour and the 2017 Hits Tour—before taking a break from performance on doctor’s orders, due to her battle with Lupus. Braxton also launched her Las Vegas residency, replacing Wayne Newton at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino, in 2006. The residency lasted through 2008.

Braxton most recently announced work on her next studio album, expected to release in early 2018. The album has been tentatively titled—Sex & Cigarettes.