Toni Braxton Wiki: 5 Facts To Know About The 'Un-Break My Heart' Singer

Some of the adults who grew up or were youths in the ’90s know what is to be a Toni Bratton’s fan. Those were the days when either Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, or Babyface played on the radio. Braxton was unbeatable in the game, and her amazing voice was felt deeply and the passionate lyrics would make someone fall in love unawares. Toni Braxton’s voice is soothing and she used her talent as a singer to narrate the different issues that affect relationships. Toni Braxton is not only a singer, but she is also a songwriter, pianist, a record producer, an actress, TV personality, and philanthropist. 50-year-old Toni Braxton, also known as Michelle, was born in Severn, Maryland. Braxton’s father, Michael Conrad Braxton Sr. was a Methodist clergyman and worked at a power company. The mother of Toni Braxton was a former opera singer, cosmetologist, and a pastor. Braxton’s mother’s father was a pastor as well. Braxton grew up with her six siblings under strict religious rules and Braxton first performed as a singer in her church choir. Braxton attended Bowie State University where she acquired a teaching degree. William E. Pettaway Jr. discovered Braxton after he heard her singing to herself. He decided to take her and train her to do professional singing, in his words.

In 2014, Braxton talked about how he met William and she said that she wasn’t singing to herself at the gas station where William discovered her. William was working as an attendant at the service station and Braxton drove by to refuel. William saw her and went ahead to introduce himself. He told Braxton that he had seen her performing locally and said that he wanted to produce her. Braxton decided to take a chance and accepted the offer. The singer began performing with her sisters in the late 80s before she got Babyface’s attention. She recorded some songs for Babyface before he signed her to his label, LaFace Records. Toni Braxton’s debut album was self-titled and was released to the music market in 1993. The album topped the Billboard top 200 chart in the US and sold over 10 million copies all over the world. Some songs on the album, including “Another Sad Love Song” and “Breathe Again”, were radio hits and she got three Grammys including Best New Artist. Braxton’s second album, “Secrets” was released in 1996 and one of the hit songs in the album was “Un-Break My Heart” which was the Braxton’s first song to top the Billboard Hot 100. Braxton’s third album is “The Heat,” released in 2000 and “He Wasn’t Man Enough” reached number two on the Billboard. Braxton has also starred in movies, the most notable ones being “Kingdom Come”, and “Twist of Faith.”

The “Un-Break My Heart”, “He Wasn’t a Man Enough”, and “Breathe Again” singer was seen at the screening of TV film “Faith Under Fire” in New York City on January 23 wearing an elegant strapless dress. But that wasn’t the only reason that made her the center of attention. Braxton was wearing a giant diamond ring that stole the show. The singer is rumored to be dating Birdman, and many assumed that it was an engagement ring from the rapper. As Braxton brushed her long raven locks, her engagement ring glittered and it looked larger than life itself. She also wore a delicate necklace that had a diamond heart pendant. It wasn’t the first time that Braxton was showing off the engagement ring as she had been seeing wearing it since October last year. At the time, it had been rumored that Toni Braxton had married Birdman secretly. There have been rumors of the two dating for over two years now and neither of them has talked about it. The “Twist of Faith” and Kingdom Come” actress was married to Keri Lewis from 2001 to 2009. They have two kids together, their firstborn being Denim Cole Braxton-Lewis and the second one being Diezel Ky Braxton-Lewis. Cole was born in 2001 and Ky was born in 2003. Braxton announced that she had separated with Lewis in 2009 and their divorce was finalized in 2013. She settled her contentious child support case with Lewis in 2016. Since then, she has been with Birdman- if the speculations are actually true.

Birdman had a chance to sit with Wendy Williams on her show on February 20, and he took that opportunity to settle the rumors. Williams told Birdman that there were so many rumors making rounds about him and Toni Braxton being a couple and that Braxton had been seen rocking a massive engagement ring. She then asked him if there was something between him and the “Un-Break My Heart”, “He Wasn’t Man Enough”, and “Breathe Again” singer. The Cash Money boss responded that Braxton was his girl, his friend and his family. Williams interjected and inquired about his sex life hoping to hear him say that he is romantically linked to Braxton, but Birdman played coy for a moment before he continued to praise his ‘everything.’ He further said that she was his love, his soldier, his life and his everything. Birdman went ahead to explain that Toni Braxton is his life and he loves him to death and that they had been friends for almost 18 years that things between them just happen. Being the critic everyone knows and one who is never afraid to speak her mind, Wendy told Birdman point blank that she wasn’t a fan of the couple in the beginning because of the image then rapper portrayed. Birdman responded to Wendy saying that he’s just a gangster and it didn’t mean a thing. He then asked her what it got to do with love. The interview happened almost a month after Toni Braxton was at Good Morning America where after she said that despite what people thought she hadn’t walked down the aisle. However, she winked at the camera when she said that Birdman and her were just working together meaning she was just flattering.

Rihanna was celebrating her last hours of her 20s in New York City. She was photographed celebrating her big day at the Seagram Building this past Tuesday. The singer started the evening with a dinner at the famous The Grill with her close associates and family. After that, Rihanna attended her after party at the Pool Restaurant, and can you guess who entertained the singer? Toni Braxton herself. The elegant singer and actress stole the show and among those who attended were celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio, Paris Hilton and her fiancé Chris Zylka, and Rihanna’s boyfriend, Hassan Jameel. Early that day Rihanna had thanked her mother through Instagram where she stated that she was thankful to God for making Monica Fenty her mother. The event happened a few days after Toni Braxton seemingly confirmed that she was engaged to Birdman.

Braxton’s son, Diezel was diagnosed with autism and the singer has been outspoken blaming her doctor for not diagnosing Diezel earlier. She believes that if he had done so, her son could have been helped. In October 2006 while performing in Las Vegas, Braxton couldn’t hold back her emotions and she broke down talking about her son’s condition. She has become involved with Autism Speaks and the singer is their International Spokeswoman. Braxton herself has Lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune disease and every day she is at risk of losing her life. Braxton said that the disease often makes her feel extremely tired after performing. So next time you will see Toni Braxton exit the stage yet you have paid for tickets, don’t complain. Braxton’s brother is also a carrier of Lupus and her uncle died from its complications.

On August 2007, rumors made rounds that the singer was diagnosed with the deadly breast cancer. Braxton told Access Hollywood that there were just speculations and that she was in good health. The next year, a benign lump was removed from Braxton’s breast. The same year, while she was at Flamingo Hotel, she was taken to the hospital, and the show that she was running had to be canceled. When she appeared on another show, she stated that she had suffered from microvascular angina, a small vessel disease.

The actress who has starred in “Twist of Faith” and “Kingdom Come” was forced to file a bankruptcy for the second time in October 2010. It sucks to be in debt, especially if you are famous, and Toni Braxton was caught in that situation. There was a time when Braxton had a debt of almost $50 million, a hefty sum that would reduce her net worth drastically. She owed money to creditors like Tiffany & Co, Neiman Marcus, AT&T, the IRS and several others. It was reported that she spent $2.5 million on makeup, her hair and clothing in two years. In 2013, she lost the rights to 27 of her hit songs including “You’re Making Me High” as part of her bankrupt case. That meant she wouldn’t get the lions share of the royalties from the sales of the songs.

In 2001, the singer of “Un-Break My Heart”, “He Wasn’t Man Enough”, and “Breathe Again” was approached by Playboy to pose in their famous magazine but she turned down the request stating that she had sons. Even though she didn’t accept to pose for the magazine, Toni Braxton is one of the most beautiful stars out there. If you doubt, ask Birdman. She has however featured in other prestigious magazines and perhaps another reason why she turned down the offer was that she didn’t need the fame. She already had it.

According to Bankrate, Toni Braxton has a net worth of $10 million. The singer would probably have over $60 million in net worth was it not for her financial debts. She has made her wealth through entertainment with songs like “Un-Break My Heart”, “He Wasn’t Man Enough”, and “Breathe Again” and movies like “Kingdom Come” and “Twist of Faith.” Her rumored fiancé, Birdman, has a net worth of $110 million and it’s right to say that Toni Braxton is completely covered.

There is nothing wrong with Braxton falling in love with Birdman. After she divorced her former husband, she deserved to be loved again and if Birdman was the right guy for her, then that would be okay. Hopefully, she will continue performing and stabilize again.