As we get used to the words “Toni Braxton” and “music” not being in the same sentence (since she wants to retire from music and focus on an acting career), the songstress spoke with The Grio about advice given to her by Whitney Houston regarding career passion, and she also dished on her desire to have a lesbian role on film.
“She taught me and educated me a lot about the business,” Braxton said, revealing Houston gave her dating advice on what it’s like dating while being a celebrity. “‘Guys don’t really like us at first,” Braxton recalled Houston saying. “Because they think we’re too strong, they say we’re too controlling. But it’s not that… they’re just uncomfortable.’”
Braxton’s decision to slow up on music and do acting may’ve come from Whitney’s resonating advice. She stressed for her to do what her heart desires despite what others say. “Do what you want to do,” Whitney said. “You have to be your own artist.’”
Toni stressed that she might tour a bit, but in terms of new music, it’s a wrap. “For what I do I have to love it. I have to feel that excitement and it’s gone,” she revealed. Her focused has completely shifted to acting, her latest role being Lifetime’s Twist of Faith. It's is the singer-turned-actor’s first role since 2002’s Kingdom Come starring LL Cool J, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Vivica A. Fox, and Loretta Devine. But her ultimate dream role would be to play a lesbian, something people wouldn’t expect of the usually low-key artist. “Do a whole make-out scene and the whole thing…not a lipstick lesbian, either,” she clarified.
Catch Toni on the upcoming season 3 of Braxton Family Values premiering March 14 on WE TV at 9pm.
Toni Braxton is a well-known singer and actress who has managed to make her mark in the music industry. She has been around for more than two decades, with multiple awards under her belt including six Grammys, seven American Music Awards, and eight Billboard Music Awards. Recently she shared some insight into Whitney Houston’s advice that she received early on in her career as well as her aspirations to portray a lesbian character on film. Her story serves as an inspiration to many aspiring singers and actors alike.
Braxton’s career began when she performed at a local talent show where she was noticed by L.A Reid of LaFace Records. From then on, Braxton went on to sign a record deal with them which would eventually launch her successful singing career. It was during this time that Whitney Houston took it upon herself to give Toni life lessons and words of encouragement before becoming one of the most iconic singers of all time.
The advice from Houston wasn’t what only propelled Braxton forward either; alongside continuing her own musical success, Braxton remains determined to break through stereotypes within Hollywood by playing roles that represent marginalized communities – particularly those within the LGBTQ+ community such as lesbians or bisexual women. Read ahead for more details about Braxton’s journey over the last few years and how she plans to use her platform moving forward!
Toni Braxton’s Career
Toni Braxton has had a long and successful career in music, television, and film. She first burst onto the scene with her debut album released in 1993 which spawned four number one hits. Since then, she’s been nominated for over 200 awards including six Grammys and an Emmy. Throughout all of this success, Braxton has said that Whitney Houston was one of her biggest inspirations and gave her advice on how to stay focused while achieving fame.
Braxton recently announced that she would like to transition from acting into producing, specifically by portraying lesbian roles onscreen as a way to further LGBTQ representation in Hollywood. In order to accomplish this goal, she says she needs more industry experience but also wants to make sure it’s done right so people can learn something from it. She believes that everyone should have access to stories about diverse characters as well as see themselves represented authentically in media.
Though there is still much work ahead for both Braxton and the entertainment industry at large when it comes to equal representation, the fact remains that Toni Braxton continues using her influence and platform to promote diversity within the arts community—a message we should all take note of.
Whitney Houston’s Influence
Throughout her career, Toni Braxton has been inspired by Whitney Houston and the advice she gave. In a recent interview, Braxton reflected on these words of wisdom: “She said to me, ‘Toni, just always make sure you don’t get too big for your britches.’ She was like ‘You gotta stay humble’.” This sentiment is something that Braxton has taken with her throughout all of her endeavors in entertainment.
Braxton’s latest goal is to transition from acting into producing films featuring lesbian roles. As someone who believes strongly in representation in media, this effort is an extension of what has already been accomplished through music and television performances. It will also serve as another platform for stories about diverse characters—stories which are often overlooked or not given the same level of attention as more mainstream projects.
Through her work both past and present, it’s clear that Toni Braxton is aiming to break down barriers within the entertainment industry while celebrating minority voices at the same time. And despite whatever challenges come up along the way, it appears that she’ll continue striving towards making Hollywood a place where everyone can see themselves represented authentically—a mission we should all strive for too.
Conclusion
I am inspired by Toni Braxton’s success and her ambition to portray a lesbian character in an upcoming film. Throughout her career, she has been shaped by the advice of Whitney Houston who encouraged her to never give up on her dreams. Her determination is admirable and I wholeheartedly applaud her for striving to raise awareness about LGBTQ+ representation in film.
Braxton’s story resonates with me as we all can learn from each other and strive for excellence no matter what our circumstances may be. It takes courage to pursue one’s goals despite any obstacles that may come along the way, but it also requires dedication and commitment which are qualities that Toni exemplifies through her work ethic.
Overall, this article was insightful into understanding more about how Toni Braxton looks back at the words of wisdom given by Whitney Houston while still staying true to herself and pushing forward towards achieving greater heights. Without question, Toni continues to serve as an inspiration for those looking to break boundaries and follow their passions in life.