The following article includes references to suicide and drug use.
Toni Braxton’s signature sultry vocals are hard for anyone to replicate.
Since the 1990s, that unique voice has made her one of the top-charting female artists in history.
From financial troubles to health issues, the queen of heartbreak songs has bounced back stronger each time.
“Downs that got so low I never thought I’d still be here.”
Over 25 years into her career, she’s still here and she has an incredible story to tell.
The songstress grew up in a religious household in which many things were off-limits, including secular music.
Braxton’s father was a Pentecostal preacher who expected his family to follow strict religious teachings.
I couldn’t go to the movies all these things were considered a sin.
I didn’t wear pants until I was fourteen years old.
I had to wear hats."
Of course, this made her the odd one out among other children around her age.
As a young child, she saw people speaking in tongues and viewed it as a sign of righteousness.
A young Braxton wanted to fit in and go to heaven, so she frequently faked speaking in tongues.
After making it big in music, Braxton chose a new lifestyle and sense of style.
“The way I dress would be considered provocative, but I enjoy being who I am now.
I’m very grateful for my childhood because it helped form who I am today,” she said.
In 1998, Braxton shocked fans when she filed for bankruptcy.
Despite selling millions of albums, the singer was struggling to enjoy the fruits of her labor.
Braxton later settled the lawsuit with her label to the tune of $20 million.
However, her financial troubles were far from over.
Unfortunately, 18 months in, Braxton wasforced to cancel due to health complications.
This led to her filing for bankruptcy again in 2010, according toTMZ.
In 2013, she was forced to cough up $150,000 to settle her case, perTMZ.
The singer wrote about the ups and downs of her career and personal life.
She also revealed some secrets.
Braxton described finding out about the pregnancy when she was with her then-boyfriend Keri Lewis.
At the time, she was on the medication Accutane, which is prescribed to treat acne.
However, the medication is also known to cause severe birth defects.
Braxton ultimately made the decision to terminate the pregnancy.
“I was suddenly faced with a choice I’d never thought I’d have to make.
Amid my major misgivings about abortion, I eventually made the gut-wrenching decision,” she wrote.
My initial rage was quickly followed by another strong emotion: guilt," she wrote.
In an interview withEntertainment Tonight, Braxton further explained her feelings of shame.
She admitted that she still feels guilty when she looks at her two children.
“But in my head I feel like I have three kids,” she said.
However, things haven’t always been easy.
In 2006, her son Diezel was diagnosed with autism.
Braxton took her concerns to doctors, but they brushed her aside.
“They dismissed me.
“It makes me so angry because a mother knows when something is wrong with her child.”
Initially, Braxton felt guilt for her son’s diagnosis.
“You tend to blame yourself,” Toni toldPeoplein 2008.
The singer constantly asked herself if she’d done something to cause it.
“I believed God’s payback was to give my son autism,” she wrote.
Many activists and fans expressed outrage about her view, which forced Braxton to clarify her thoughts on Twitter.
Sheretweeted a postfrom a fan who argued that her statement was taken out of context.
She was diagnosed with Lupus in 2008
Things were looking up for Toni Braxton in 2010.
In November of that year, she received the Women in Achievement award.
During her speech, however, the singer emotionally spoke about her life outside of music.
Braxton shared with the audience that she’d recently been diagnosed with lupus.
“Take a look this is what lupus looks like.”
Though she bravely stood on stage and discussed her diagnosis, Braxton wasn’t always so fearless.
“I may have lupus, but I decided I was not going to be a victim.
Now, I listen to my body.”
These days, Braxton is an advocate for lupus awareness and manages the disease alongside her career.
“I found out I had lupus at the time.
I couldn’t make money because I had lupus … That was my personal contribution to the marriage failing.
Who wants to take care of a person who’s sick all the time?
He never said that, but I felt it.”
The singer explained that her worsening health condition led her to feel insecure about the marriage.
Despite her husband frequently visiting her in the hospital, she constantly felt like her sickness drove him away.
Even after the couplefinalized their divorce, Braxton said they made multiple attempts to salvage the relationship.
The exes chose to live as boyfriend and girlfriend for almost two years before finally calling it quits.
In 2013, Toni Braxton felt like her time recording music came to an end.
“For what I do I have to love it.
I have to feel that excitement and it’s gone,” Braxton revealed.
But no new projects.”
Fans were devastated by the news, as was Braxton’s longtime collaborator and mentor,Babyface.
The songwriter urged the singer to continue using her music to connect with her fans.
He wasn’t the only iconic singer protesting her retirement.
The report indicated that a friend phoned 911 after finding Lauren unresponsive in the kitchen.
When paramedics arrived, they were unable to revive her.
TMZ originally reported that Lauren’s death was due to complications from a heart condition.
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available.
Visit theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration websiteor contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Despite frequently getting on everyone’s nerves (what else are sisters for?)
she has always been fiercely protected by the Braxton family.
In July 2020, the tight-knit sisters were all left shaken by the news of Tamar’s attempted suicide.
Adefeso called 911 and told authorities that she may have overdosed.
She was then briefly hospitalized while she recovered from the terrifying experience.
The cameras rolled as Toni learned of Tamar’s hospitalization.
She frantically asked the person on the line for more details before rushing out of the room.
“It just seemed like a dream, a bad dream,” Toni said in a confessional.
After rushing to Tamar’s side, Toni shared aphotoon Instagram of her sisters with an uplifting message.
“Family is everything,” she captioned the post.
“Especially sisters!”
When together, the sisters providedjaw-dropping harmoniesand nonstop laughs.
Of course, they would also bicker like typical siblings but the love was always there.
At the time of her death, Traci was surrounded by her sisters and friends.
Shortly after the news broke, Toni took toInstagramto share a moving tribute to her big sister.
We will miss her dearly," she wrote.
In an interview withTamron Hall, Toni explained that she feels like her late sister still communicates with her.
“Her favorite bird was a hummingbird.
I saw a hummingbird the other day.
It kind of flew around me and kind of suspended itself,” Toni said.
“I felt like she was trying to say hello to me.”
“I found out that I needed a coronary stent.
My left main coronary artery was 80% blocked.
The doctors told me I could’ve had a massive heart attack, I would not have survived.”
“I know we’re all scared sometimes to go to the doctor.
Especially for me having lupus, I was scared, I didn’t want to know.
