Toni Braxton’s recent emotional state about retire from music has turned into many shining moments for the Grammy winning superstar. Riding on the welcoming success of her latest album, 'Love, Marriage & Divorce', a duet record with Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds, Braxton is looking to add several other accomplishments to her iconic career — enters the Broadway musical 'After Midnight'.
Braxton and Edmonds inked a deal for a two-week run (March 18-30, 2014) in the production, which celebrates jazz icon Duke Ellington's years at Harlem's famous Cotton Club.
During a recent Meet the Press event, Singersroom spoke with Miss Braxton about the play and why she’s more nervous now, her new album 'Love, Marriage & Divorce', moments with Babyface and more.
Joining 'After Midnight' on Broadway: They original asked us last year and we couldn't do it, our schedules, we couldn't work them out. So when they said how about just two weeks; it was very fortunate that we could work this out. I love the music from the rolling 20s and the Cotton Club era, so it's very exciting being here.
Ironically, I'm more nervous about this play than any other plays. Aida and Beauty and the Beast, I'm playing a character…this is like come to life.
Love, Marriage & Divorce: It was a therapeutic album for me. I was going through a divorce, I was gonna retire; I was in a crunchy space in my life. Babyface, like my big brother, came and said 'It's not time, you can't do it'….So here I am today, I was gonna to retire, don't know what I was thinking but thank God for friends and people like him.
The Song "I Wish": The idea came to me from my mom…she don't like my dad. She kinda said, 'I just can't stand your father, I just wish he catch a disease and die.' Great lyrics! I mean she didn't really feel that, she was just hurt and disappointed about some things.
Next for Toni: Babyface and I are going to go on tour so I'm excited about that. I have a book coming out mother’s day, little bit of family personal stuff.
Tickets for Braxton and Babyface’s engagement are on sale now at Ticketmaster and in-person at the Brooks Atkinson box office.
Stay tuned for our sit down with Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds.
Founder and Creator of Singersroom.com and IncredibleWork.com. Follow me on Instagram at @gary.gentles.