Toni was the eldest of six siblings born in Severn, Maryland to Evelyn and Pastor Michael Braxton. She came from a religious family whose members formed a musical group. They were signed by Arista Records in the late eighties.
Their first single attracted Babyface & La Reid. These two persuaded Braxton to leave the family group and become a solo artist.
As she puts it , “My answer was yes to the solo deal—but it was the saddest ‘yes’ I’ve ever given.”
Toni talks about the regret she feels about this decision in her new memoir “Unbreak My Heart”. She also talks about the bankruptcy, being diagnosed with lupus, and divorce as well.