The Unbreakable Bond of the Braxton Sisters
The Braxton first bursted into public light as a girl band called The Braxton. In 1989 they signed with Arista Records which marked the start of their musical journey. Toni Braxton broke off into a solo career soon after leaving behind her four siblings as backup vocalists. In no time Toni’s single career exploded upward propelling her to win seven Grammy Awards and making her a legend in music.
In 2022 Toni Braxton appeared on Tamron Hall where she talked about how unique her relationship with her siblings is. “We’re like twins,” said Toni. “We are more than sisters. There is something that goes beyond blood…DNA.” She explained that there was something else different; they were raised differently by their mother and father because of this deep bond. Their love story is an amazing one based on support, love and a connection that cannot be severed.
Living in the Limelight
The sisters later took their bond to television years after they had made their mark in music becoming stars of the “We TV” reality show known as “Braxton Family Values”. The show was aired from 2011-2020 giving fans an insider look at all aspects of their lives including relationships. However, sometimes even reality TV can test these strong bonds between them because Tony confessed honestly to Essence magazine last year, ‘My sisters and I are like two peas in a bowl full of salad but if I must speak my mind sometimes feathers do ruffle during stressful situations on set.’’
However every time life finds its way back for them revealing once again how indestructible their sisterhood is. Such has been their journey both on and off the stage, which has inspired countless number of fans all over the world. Though they have always had a strong bond, The Braxton sisters—Toni, Traci, Towanda, Trina, and Tamar—came even closer during their time together in reality TV. Their experience on screen opened up new avenues for them to connect with one another for emotional healing and growth.
Healing through the Limelight
In 2011, Trina Braxton recalled the effect that shooting their reality show had on their relationship. “We got really close from this show,” she told New York Daily News. “It allowed us to do a lot of healing.” These challenges of being under public scrutiny ultimately strengthened their bond as sisters in ways that no one could have ever predicted.
Similarly, Toni Braxton mentioned these thoughts while speaking with Essence asserting that love between them perseveres through any disagreements. “At the end of the day we do love each other. We may fuss and fight but five hours later we’re on the phone talking… We probably talk every day.” They are connected deeply with each other and communicate often a testament to how they have stood by each other through good times as well as bad ones.
The loss of Traci Braxton in March (2022) was particularly heartbreaking because of the sisters’ close-knit relationships. After battling esophageal cancer, Traci died, leaving a void that still deeply affects her sisters to date. On what would’ve been Traci’s 51st birthday, Tamar Braxton shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram expressing how much she missed her sister. “People told me that ‘it gets easier.’ That is a lie,” she wrote. “It doesn’t.” She also said, “Our sisterhood holds us together still,” as it reflects the lasting impression Traci had on them.
Honoring Traci’s Legacy: A Return to Reality TV
Two years after the death of Traci, the Braxton sisters are back in reality TV with The Braxton series premiering on “We TV” August 2024. This new chapter is especially significant since it fulfills Traci’s wish for them to continue telling their story. “She would tell us she wanted us to tell her story, She wanted us to do the show” the siblings disclosed. This time around however all the Braxton sisters were united in their decision to proceed with this project and pay homage to an enduring memory of their sister and bond they all have.
From their early childhood until today when they are established professionals; one can observe that love and resilience has always typified lives of these girls who have grown up as family members, brothers and sisters. Their journey goes on marked by challenges and successes while they keep alive the memories of Traci and uphold their inseparable family bond.
The Braxton Family: Roots in Maryland
Maryland was where everything began for Toni Braxton’s family; Toni born October 7th 1967 was the first child among siblings sired by Michael Sr and Evelyn in Severn suburb Baltimore MD. Evelyn met Michael at a YMCA dance when she was 15 years old as described in Toni’s 2015 memoir, Unbreak My Heart. Toni came first followed by her younger siblings who were quickly born to her; Michael in 1968, Traci in 1971, Towanda in 1973, Trina in 1974 and finally Tamar in 1977. It is this loving and modest neighborhood that the six Braxton kids were brought up. Toni Braxton reflects on her modest upbringing in a memoir where she says they did not have much money.
Regardless of their financial constraints, the family developed strong relationships that later laid the foundation for their collective success as music artists. Their values and close family ties are still shaped by Maryland’s humble beginnings in which they had. Prior to becoming an established solo artist, Toni Braxton was known for being part of a pop quintet with her sisters called The Braxton. This group consisted of Toni, Traci, Towanda, Trina and Tamar who started singing together at their childhood church where their father was a pastor. They released their debut single “Good Life” under Arista Records which featured their harmonious voices and love for music since it came out in the year 1990.
Success at an Early Stage and Family Unity
The release of “Good Life” was very significant for the Braxton sisters, as this marked their entry into music professionally. In a 2014 interview with “YouKnowIGotSoul”, Traci Braxton explained how it felt to perform in the company of her siblings: “We were all together singing with them, and there was that kind of harmony… We were one person, one heartbeat.” This served to underscore the deep bond that existed among them.
Toni Braxton caught Babyface’s attention while performing in Los Angeles during a talent show when he was looking for artists to sign on his label LaFace Records. Even though LaFace had already signed TLC and did not need another girl group, Toni’s potential could not be ignored. She admitted in 2011 to Los Angeles Times that “They’d just signed to TLC so they weren’t looking for another girl group”. “My sisters told me ‘You sign with Babyface and then come help us’”.
Following her sisters’ advice, Toni decided on singing solo which made her famous all over the world by gaining many fans. As agreed earlier, Toni did not desert her siblings but instead she used them in some songs as backup singers even after she became successful.
Shared Spotlight
Traci Braxton still marvels at the loyalty and unselfishness of her sister Toni long afterwards: “When Toni signed, she had her sisters singing backgrounds,” Traci told “YouKnowIGotSoul”. “So it was like we weren’t missing a beat; she was just out front.” Moreover, Traci said this about sharing your spotlight with someone else who takes pride in you: “To share your spotlight is amazing. I’m proud of her because she could hold onto it (the spotlight) but she does.”
Through this act of allowing others bask in her limelight, Toni not only confirmed her love for her sisters but also demonstrated the unbreakable link that holds the Braxton family together despite their careers. Their path from a church choir to the top of pop charts has shown their talent, zeal and unwavering commitment.
In 2011, Toni (the oldest), Traci, Towanda, Trina and Tamar opened up themselves to public scrutiny with the debut of their reality show “Braxton Family Values” which was a hit. The TV series provided an insight into the intimate details about how they interacted as a family and what they went through individually. According to New York Daily News, it was Tamar Braxton who came up with this idea in 2008; however, convincing her siblings took some time.
“Like in 2008, I came up with the idea for this show and all my sisters were like, ‘No way,’ ” Tamar remembered. “But eventually we thought about our stories to tell.” It was not a matter of promoting one’s career but a common objective that led to the decision to continue with the show. “This has never been done as a career move. We just had something burning inside us,” Tamar says in her statement. “We thought that as women it might change someone else.”
How Tamar Convinced Toni to Join Braxton Family Values
The year 2011 witnessed Toni narrating the story to Los Angeles Times where she elaborated of how her younger sister Tamar eventually convinced her. “This is a true story. We were playing Monopoly. [Tamar] had Park Place, and I lost. I owed her like $2,800,” Toni remembered with a smile. “And she said, ‘If you do [Braxton Family Values], I won’t make you pay the money you owe.’ And she held me to it.”
The real persuader for Toni was not just monopoly currency but also Tamar appealed to her sister’s desire to control her own narrative. “My sister Tamar said, ‘You should use this to tell your story,’” Toni explained. At that time, Toni was grappling with well documented financial difficulties which prompted Tamar to suggest that show be used as a medium through which she could air out the truth about herself; “She said, ‘Stop letting other people tell your story. Use this show to tell what really happened.’” Toni accepted and opted for Braxton Family Values as a way of sharing her personal journey on her own terms with millions of viewers around the globe enhancing the authenticity of the show and bringing the Braxton sisters closer both on-screen and off.
Michael Conrad Braxton Jr., meet The Braxton Brother.
For all of their five daughters – Traci, Towanda, Trina, Tamar and Toni – who are quite popular among folks in America today owing largely to their media prominence Michael Conrad Braxton Jr., their brother has simply led a quiet life when contrasted against those of his siblings but he shares an equal love for music. Michael has added his own contribution towards his family’s musical history such as composing a song for Traci’s Crash & Burn album released in 2014 called ‘Reasons’. This is one track that holds a special place in the hearts of the family. Traci went on to explain during her interview with “YouKnowIGotSoul” that it was the first song Michael had written for Toni during a rough period in their lives.
It is called ‘Reasons,’ and my brother wrote it for Toni,” Traci said. “He gave it to her a long time ago when my mom and dad went through their divorce. Toni never used the song, and I was like, ‘Hey, I would like to use this song. I love this song!'” While Michael’s role in Braxton musical life is not as pronounced as others, it adds another layer to the already existing rich manifold of shared artistic heritage within this clan.
The Braxton Sisters’ Album without Toni
After Toni Braxton became a solo artist and had successful songs like “Let It Flow”, her sisters Towanda, Trina, and Tamar chose to follow their own music career paths. The trio launched an album called So Many Ways that enjoyed moderate success particularly in foreign lands. Toni disclosed the role she played in helping her sisters get signed by a record label during an interview with the Los Angeles Times. “I got my sisters a record deal on LaFace Records two years after I signed,” she explained. “The person who signed them moved to Atlantic Records and took them with him.”
Though they did not make it big in America, this album was very successful abroad especially Asia, thus proving other audiences for the Braxton sisters music. This album marked an important step in their musical careers, allowing them to shine as a group even as Toni continued to soar as a solo artist.
Traci Braxton’s Viral Moment with Michelle Obama
In the year (2016), Traci created a memorable moment during a Black History Month reception at the White House, hosted by then-President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. Her enthusiastic greeting where she loudly shouted across the room “Hey Michelle!” instantly went viral capturing both internet and President’s attention. It was even more memorable when President Obama referred to Traci’s opening remarks during his opening speech. “We know it is Black History Month when you hear somebody say: ‘Hey, Michelle. Girlllll!’” he joked adding to the lightness of the occasion.
Traci later recounted this story on an episode of “The Real” which aired in 2016 where her sister Tamar co-hosted it. She revealed how that happened saying, “When they walked out, she [Michelle Obama] acknowledged us. She waved, like,’Hi!’ Like ,you know,’Hey girl!’ I’m like, ‘Hey, Michelle! Hey girl! We’re friends now!’” This unscripted and authentic interaction between Traci and the First Lady became one of the highlights of the event which demonstrated Traci’s lively personality and her ability to leave an indelible mark even in such high-profile settings.
The Braxton Sisters: Triumphs and Trials Through Adversity
Throughout their lives, the five sisters have been subjected to numerous hardships that they had to deal with in the public eye via reality TV. The Braxton have encountered a lot together from financial struggles to serious health issues thereby proving that they are indeed tough people. Both Towanda and Toni experienced some financial troubles as highlighted by the Los Angeles Times when it reported about Toni’s bankruptcy filing during 1998, her peak years. Besides the success she had gained; Toni also faced other challenges including lupus which was diagnosed on her body back in 2008. Lupus is an autoimmune condition whereby healthy tissues are attacked causing inflammation among other complications. In September 2022, Toni underwent what she described as a “traumatic” heart procedure reminding everyone about how sick she can get sometimes before ending up dead.
Youngest among sisters, Tamar Braxton has also had to deal with some serious health scares. In 2015, she was compelled to pull out of Dancing with the Stars after discovering a clot in both lungs. “I went back to the hospital … only to find out that I don’t have pneumonia but … several P.E.’s (blood clots in both sides of my lungs),”she shared on Instagram at the time, underscoring that her health had become her primary obstacle.
In July 2020, however, there was another crisis for Tamar when she was admitted to hospital after attempting suicide. After being found unresponsive in her hotel room at Ritz-Carlton, she spoke publicly about it for the first time in an interview last year where she detailed the pain from deep inside that had its roots from her upbringing (“Tamar Braxton Reveals”). She said that she had been molested as a child; an incident that remained buried but kept surfacing itself.
Coping with Loss
Loss has not spared Beatrix family either. Michael Braxton Jr.’s heart broke into pieces after his own daughter aged 24 years old lost her fight against heroin overdose (Lewis). Likewise, their losses continued through 2022 when Traci Braxton surrendered her life due to esophageal cancer. Despite these painful experiences on the members of this family; they are always supportive since they are aware of what each one went through. At no point did financial struggles and diseases hinder their progression as women; rather they came out stronger by standing by each other. They gathered every one of their loved ones including siblings, parents and even brother who were present at the hospital as Traci’s life slowly slipped away.
Toni Braxton interviewed by Tamron Hall in 2022 said “We got to savor that moment with her and talk and laugh and giggle. All my sisters and I, my parents, we all rallied together, my brother.” This united front then brought solace not just for Traci during her final days but for those supporting her throughout this time of bereavement. This was according to Toni who also disclosed that they were there when Traci passed on. She said: “We were just there all the time,” she recalled. “We got to see her take her last breath.” As can be seen from these lines, therefore, it is clear that this family comprised of strong ties simply meant that every single one of them was always beside Traci till the end while expressing their love towards one another.
Tamar’s Marriage to Toni’s Former Manager
It was through working together on a professional level where Tamar met Vincent Herbert whom she married in 2008. Her sister Toni introduced this two because Vince became Toni’s talent manager then. Contrarily, as Tamar’s relationship with Herbert deepened, Toni decided it was best to separate professionally from him. In a 2020 interview with Essence, Toni explained her reasons why: “I thought it was a conflict of interest. There is some truth that business should not mix with family. When it comes to family or business, you can’t separate them. If something goes wrong I can call my manager and scream at him and swear at him; I can’t do that to my brother-in-law.” It’s not cool.”
Toni’s decision to seek new management left Tamar “disappointed”, but more importantly, the matter demonstrated the intricacies involved when one tries blending familial bonds with professional relationships. Eventually, Tamar and Herbert broke up too; in October 2017, Tamar’s representative confirmed the news about their separation, their divorce was finalized in 2020.
Tamar has since moved on and is currently engaged to Jeremy “JR” Robinson whom she met while on the reality show Queen’s Court.
Grammy Recognition and Sibling Rivalry
Among the gifted Braxton sisters, the eldest and youngest, Toni and Tamar, have been awarded considerable appreciation in the music industry. They boast a total number of 18 nominations for Grammy awards including fourteen of Toni’s and four of Tamar’s. Among them are also seven victories for her at the Grammy Awards since she started in 1994 as a rising star with Best New Artist award to her name or rather selection, then culminating into winning Best R&B Album award in 2015. However, she did make light of it when she comically admitted that there is only one field where she envies her siblings – height. “I do have height envy,” Toni told Essence magazine. “I’m 5 foot 1 inch and my sisters are giants, so I do have height envy.”
The challenges of being compared to their famous sister has made Tamar and Traci Braxton very candid over time. In an interview with The Cape Cod Times in 2013, Tamar said that people keep referring to her as “Toni’s sister”. And as much as this may sound okay to some people, it actually filled her with pride, “You know what? It’s funny you mention that because now I am labeled as Toni Braxton‘s sister” In contrast, Traci wants to be known as herself with distinction from others. “People would be like ‘you are Toni’s sister can you sound like her?’ I’m like ‘I’m Traci Braxton, I’m not Toni Braxton, give me a chance ,I have my own distinct sound,” she explains During an interview session held by “YouKnowIGotSoul”.
In spite of all the comparisons and other hardships associated with being born into a celebrity family, each one of the women has found their own niche in the music world, developing exceptional musical skills and surrounding each other with their love.
Honoring Her Late Sister
In 2022, Toni Braxton revealed to Tamron Hall that her movie, Fallen Angels Murder Club: Friends to Die For was dedicated to her late sister who had died earlier that year. According to Toni herself, “The film is about five friends who are detectives and always trying to solve cases.” She stated that it held particular importance for her as it reminded her of the bond she enjoyed with Traci. “I used to talk to Trina every day,” she says. To this end, Toni said of this project” When I look at this project, I think of her with a smile on my face.” A terrifying moment in an episode of The Braxton saw Toni disclosing that she nearly suffered from widow-maker heart attack – a situation often fatal. Fortunately, doctors intervened just in time by inserting a stent into her heart thereby averting the attack.
Toni never forgot what doctors told me: “Your sister watched over you.” And you should still be here.” It is a belief deeply shared between these sisters; even after Traci passed away, they have remained connected at times when lives were in danger.
