While there may not be that many famous families in Black Hollywood, the Braxton sisters are definitely among the most notable and talented. Toni, Tamar, Towanda, Traci, and Trina have delivered decades of good vocals, viral reality TV moments, and enough family drama fodder for conversations for years.
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However, things haven’t always gone great for the musical family as personal health battles, marital issues, and sibling deaths served as a sobering reminder that even strong families like the Braxtons aren’t immune to darkness. It also reminds us that each sister has gone through their fair share of both tragedy and triumphs through the years.
As today marks what would’ve been Traci Braxton’s 55th birthday, we thought we’d take a look at the famous family and myriad of successes and hardships they’ve faced as the years have gone by, in memory of Traci.
Tamar Braxton’s Solo Success
While Tamar made a name for herself on their popular show “Braxton Family Values” (sometimes for not-so-good reasons), it quickly became clear that she was talented and determined to see that talent pay off. Thankfully, things would turn in her favor in 2013 when she dropped “Love and War” and officially stepped out of her sister Toni’s shadow. The title track was nominated for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance at the Grammys the next year. From 2013 to 2016, she also gained even more fans when she became a cohost on the popular daytime talk show, “The Real.” Bringing the laughs and the shade along with powerhouse vocals, Tamar became even more of a household name.
Tamar’s Public Mental Health Struggles
Despite the successes, Tamar has also had to deal with her own set of hardships, especially when it came to her mental health. In addition to feuding off and on with her sister Toni, fans were shook when Tamar was hospitalized after a suicide attempt. For someone always seen as the loud, funny one, it was a harsh reminder of how much pain can hide behind a smile. Tamar later revealed that she was driven to that sad attempt at ending her life due to the pressures of reality TV and other familial issues. Thankfully, she’s been on a mostly upward spiral since then.
Tamar’s Tumultuous Upbringing and Love Life
Tamar has also been open about the difficulties she faced as a child, detailing in 2021 that she’s suffered sexual abuse by a family member while growing up. Though she began her healing journey to address her traumas, the road hasn’t been easy. Additionally, when it came to her love life, things haven’t gone too smoothly. While she was married to her ex-husband Vincent Herbert and welcomed a child with him, every relationship she’s had since then has been rocked by challenges like alleged cheating, alleged domestic violence and more.
Toni Braxton Breaks Out and Finds Stardom
When Toni dropped “Love Shoulda Brought You Home” in 1992, that should’ve been all the sign we needed that she was bound for greatness. But if we needed further proof, her self-titled debut in 1993 set the R&B blueprint for the entire decade. From songs like “Breathe Again,” “Another Sad Love Song,” and later “Un-Break My Heart,” Toni became the ultimate sultry voice for heartbreak ballads and sexy, fun uptempo hits. It’s no wonder she took home five Grammys in the 90’s alone, she was putting out that good stuff!
Toni’s Unexpected Bankruptcy Issues
Despite all of Toni’s accolades and success, her career has included its fair share of controversy thanks to shady contracts and industry exploitation. In fact, things were so bad that the “Un-Break My Heart” singer shocked her fans when she filed for bankruptcy in 1998. To add insult to injury, her less-than-stellar financial state made it a negative talking point when she sat down for an interview with Oprah Winfrey that same year. Fourteen years later, Toni referred to the popular TV host’s comments as “so freaking mean” and said that Winfrey made her feel small. Sadly, history would repeat itself in 2010, when Toni filed for bankruptcy again, citing “tens of millions of dollars” she allegedly owed to creditors.
Toni’s Shocking Lupus Diagnosis and Struggles
In news that came as a shock to many, in 2010, Toni revealed she was battling lupus, an autoimmune disease where the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissues and organs. While the chronic inflammation and hardship would prove to be a roadblock in her frequent touring and performing schedule, Toni assured her fans she’d keep pushing no matter what. However, after collapsing twice onstage due to complications from lupus, tour dates being canceled every now and then, and the heart procedure she underwent in 2023, many are just praying for her overall well-being to improve. The music and her legacy are established; that’s not going anywhere, but now, fans are praying for better days for her and fewer flare-ups.
Traci Braxton Finds Success on Her Own Terms
Though Traci may have spent years being viewed as “the sister left out of the group,” she got her glow-up moment when her song “Last Call” reached 16 on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart in 2014. She even got into her acting bag, most notably in the 2018 film “Sinners Wanted.” She also appeared in “Chaaw” and “There’s a Stranger in my House,” which only proved that success can come at any stage in life.
Traci’s Death Rocks the Family and Fans
The year 2022 rocked the Braxton sisters once again when it was publicized that Traci passed away after a private battle with esophageal cancer. With the rest of the family utterly devastated, fans of the show flooded social media with tributes, kind words and fond memories of a talented woman gone far too soon. Her absence is no doubt still deeply felt by many, and she remains one of the most beloved Braxtons. Rest easy, Traci.
Trina Braxton Emerging As Fan MVP on “Braxton Family Values”
While “Braxton Family Values” was never short of mess and drama, Trina quickly and thankfully became the comic relief on the show thanks to her hilarious one-liners. It’s no wonder viewers dubbed her “the fun sister” and the one who brought the much-needed levity when things got too heavy.
Tragedy Strikes Trina’s Ex-Husband
Sadly, in 2018, Trina’s world was turned upside down when her ex-husband and the man who helped raise her two sons from a previous relationship–Gabe Solis–passed away. Though their tough relationship played out on TV for years, they had finally come to a cordial resolution in the years after their divorce. Fans who watched them fight and may not have been Solis’ biggest fan still felt Trina’s loss and couldn’t help but empathize with her grief. It was one of the realest storylines ever to play out on the show.
Trina Eventually Finds Love Again
Despite her grief, Trina found love again in Von Scales, whom she married in 2019. Although they’re still together to this day, the two made headlines in 2024 when Trina revealed in a podcast episode that she felt Scales “punished her” for how much she grieved over Solis.
Explaining his viewpoint, Scales said at the time: “To me, the grief seemed too strong for someone you’d had all those problems with. It looked like you still had real strong feelings for the dude, which made me think, ‘What am I doing here?’ I didn’t like any parts of it.”
Towanda’s Divorce Drama Takes Centerstage
It’s never the best when you have to live out your divorce on TV, but that’s exactly what Towanda had to do with her ex, Andre Carter. Their messy split kept fans glued to their screens thanks in large part to the awkward family dinners and explosive arguments. Fortunately for her, she made sure to keep her two kids at the forefront and in a good place so that they could start fresh.
Towanda Reveals Surprising Alopecia Diagnosis
In June 2024, Towanda got a fresh start when she decided to shave off all the hair on her head to seemingly support her late sister Traci’s cancer journey. However, by August of that same year, she finally revealed that she’d been dealing with the hair loss disease and would be openly talking about it on that season of “Braxton Family Values” to serve as an inspiration for others who were going through the same thing.
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