Traci Braxton

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title: "Traci Braxton" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1971-births", "2022-deaths", "20th-century-african-american-women-singers", "20th-century-american-women-singers", "20th-century-american-singers", "21st-century-african-american-women-singers", "21st-century-american-women-singers", "methodists-from-maryland", "american-contemporary-r&b-singers", "deaths-from-esophageal-cancer", "place-of-death-missing", "musicians-from-maryland", "people-from-severn,-maryland", "the-braxtons-members"] description: "American singer and media personality (1971–2022)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traci_Braxton" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American singer and media personality (1971–2022) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist"]

Field	Value
name	Traci Braxton
image	TraciBraxton2018.png
caption	Braxton in 2018.
birth_name	Traci Renee Braxton
birth_date
birth_place	Severn, Maryland, U.S
death_date
death_place	New York City, New York, U.S
genre
occupation
years_active	1989–2022
spouse
label
website
::

| name = Traci Braxton | image = TraciBraxton2018.png | caption = Braxton in 2018. | birth_name = Traci Renee Braxton | birth_date = | birth_place = Severn, Maryland, U.S | death_date = | death_place = New York City, New York, U.S | genre = | occupation = | years_active = 1989–2022 | spouse = | label = | website = Traci Renee Braxton (April 2, 1971 – March 12, 2022) was an American singer, reality television personality, and radio personality.

Early life

Traci Renee Braxton was born in Severn, Maryland the third child of her parents. Her father, Michael Conrad Braxton Sr., was a Methodist clergyman and power company worker, and her mother, Evelyn Jackson, a native of South Carolina, was a former opera singer and cosmetologist, as well as a pastor. Braxton's maternal grandfather was also a pastor.

Traci Renee Braxton has an older brother, Michael Jr. (born in 1968), and four sisters, Toni (born in 1967), Towanda (born in 1973), Trina (born in 1974) and Tamar (born in 1977). Braxton and her siblings were raised in a strict religious household, and Braxton's first performing experience was singing in her church choir.

Career

1989–1991: Career beginnings with The Braxtons

Toni, Traci, Towanda, Trina, and Tamar Braxton signed their first record deal with Arista Records in 1989. In 1990, they released their first single, "Good Life". It would be their only single as a fivesome. "Good Life" peaked at No. 79 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart. At the time of the single's release, the members' age differences created a problem with marketing. Subsequently, The Braxtons were dropped from Arista Records.

In 1991, during a showcase with Antonio "L.A." Reid and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds—who were in the process of forming LaFace Records—Toni Braxton, minus her four sisters, was chosen and signed as the label's first female solo artist. At the time, the remaining members were told that LaFace was not looking for another girl group, since they had just signed TLC.

1992–1995: Career complications and pregnancy

Main article: The Braxtons

After Toni's departure from the group in 1991, the remaining Braxtons ultimately became backup singers for Toni's first U.S. tour, music videos, and promotional appearances. The sisters—Traci, Towanda, Trina, and Tamar—made several televised appearances as backing vocalists with Toni, and gave answers during interviews, such as on The Today Show. They were also featured in the music video for Toni Braxton's third single, "Seven Whole Days", from her debut album.

In 1993, LaFace Records A&R Vice President, Bryant Reid, signed The Braxtons to LaFace. However, the group never released an album or single for the record label. When Reid moved on to work for Atlantic Records, he convinced executives at LaFace to allow him take the group to Atlantic also.

It was reported in Vibe magazine that in 1995, Traci Braxton had left the group to pursue a career as a youth counselor; however, it was not revealed until 2004–when Towanda Braxton appeared on season two of the reality show Starting Over—that Traci was not allowed to sign with Atlantic because of her pregnancy at the time.

2011–2014: Reality television and ''Crash & Burn''

In 2011, Braxton reunited with her sisters for the WE tv reality show, Braxton Family Values. She makes appearances as backing vocal singer of her sisters in some shows over the years. In 2013, Braxton and her husband Kevin Surratt joined the third season of Marriage Boot Camp.

In 2013, Braxton began her solo career after signing with independent media conglomerate Entertainment One under eOne Music and Soul World Entertainment to release an album. The same year, she got her own radio show called The Traci Braxton show on the BLIS.F.M. radio.

Her solo debut album, Crash & Burn, was released on October 7, 2014. The album's lead single "Last Call" peaked at number 16 on the US R&B Adult. "Crash & Burn" debuted at No. 108 on the Billboard Hot 200 with sales of 4,000 in its first week. The album also reached No. 11 on the relaunched Billboard R&B Albums chart and at No. 1 on the Heatseekers Albums chart. A follow-up single "Perfect Time" was released in 2015.

2015–2022: The Braxtons reunion, films and ''On Earth''

On January 14, 2015, she joined the judging panel of Mrs. DC America 2015. In October 2015, The Braxtons released their second album, Braxton Family Christmas. The album was released on October 30, and pre-ordered on October 16. Braxton Family Christmas debuted at number 27 on the US Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, number 10 on the US R&B chart, and number 12 on the US Top Holiday Albums on November 21, 2015. The album charted at number 1 on the US Heatseekers Albums on December 12, 2015.

On May 17, 2016, during a Facebook live video on the Braxton Family Values page, it was announced that Traci Braxton was releasing a new single in 2016, titled "Body Shots", from her upcoming sophomore studio album.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Traci_Braxton_in_2014.jpg" caption="Braxton performing at [[Howard University]] in 2014"] ::

On May 21, 2017, she starred in the stageplay There's a Stranger in My House. On September 26, 2017, Braxton was featured on the rapper Kokayi’s track "Moonlight".

On April 20, 2018, she released the single "Broken Things" featuring her sisters Toni, Towanda and Trina. On August 3, 2018, Traci Braxton released "Lifeline" as the official lead single from her second album, On Earth, which was released on August 24, 2018.

In the same time, she made her movie acting debut in the feature film Sinners Wanted. On June 13, 2019, she acted in the film, All In, starring Lil Mama.

On December 12, 2020, she starred in the film (and her last to be released in her lifetime) The Christmas Lottery.

On September 24, 2021, her final collaboration was featured on the song "Stay with Me", performed by Candiace, taken from her album Deep Space.

Illness and death

Braxton died on March 12, 2022, at the age of 50. She had been suffering from esophageal cancer for at least one year before her death.

Discography

Albums

::data[format=table] | Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Crash & Burn | On Earth | |---|---|---|---|---| | | 108 | 1 | 11 | 18 | | | — | — | 24 | — | ::

Singles

::data[format=table]

Year	Song	Peaks	Album
2014	"Last Call"	16	Crash & Burn
2015	"Perfect Time"	—
2017	"Moonlight" (Kokayi featuring Traci Braxton)	—	—
2018	"Broken Things" (featuring Toni, Towanda and Trina)	—	On Earth
2018	"Lifeline"
2025	"U Know Its Christmas"
::

Appearances

Film

• 2018: Sinners Wanted: Nana
• 2019: All In: Foster Mom
• 2020: The Christmas Lottery: Announcer

Television

• Braxton Family Values (as herself, 2011–2020)
• Marriage Boot Camp (as herself, 2014)

Radio

• The Traci Braxton Show

Theater

• There's a Stranger in My House (2017)

References

References

1. Holpuch, Amanda. (2022-03-12). "Traci Braxton, Television Personality and Singer, Dies at 50". The New York Times.
2. (June 20, 1994). "Jet". Johnson Publishing whatCompany.
3. Dougherty, Steve. (October 9, 2000). "Greener Pastures". [[People (magazine).
4. "Braxton Family Values – Evelyn Braxton". AMC Networks.
5. Ney, Angela Winter. (February 6, 1994). "Award-winning pastor reaches out to teen-agers". [[The Baltimore Sun]].
6. "Toni Braxton Tickets". Premium Seats USA.
7. (7 May 2023). "Tamar Braxton, Past, Present, Future".
8. (7 May 2023). "Tamar Braxton (artist page)".
9. "Toni Braxton: From the heart". Bluesandsoul.com.
10. (May 22, 2011). "Toni Braxton: The Sunday Conversation – latimes". Los Angeles Times.
11. (27 July 2018). "Toni Braxton - Breathe Again Live on the Today Show 1994". Clarke, Alex.
12. Reynolds, J.R. "'So Many' Braxtons on Atlantic Label Downplays Link To Famous Sister." ''Billboard''. July 6, 1996: 18–19. Print.
13. Davis, Joyce E. "The Braxtons: And then there were three." ''Vibe Magazine''. September 1, 1996: 92. Print.
14. MacIntyre, April. (June 17, 2011). "Toni Braxton's Bankruptcy Issues Resolved: Braxton Family Values on We TV". MonstersandCritics.com.
15. L'oreal Thompson, May. (May 30, 2013). "Traci Braxton on 'Marriage Boot Camp'". Jetmag.
16. Vanessa Barnett, July. (July 30, 2014). "Traci Braxton's Solo Career Set To "Crash & Burn"?". HipHollywood.
17. [http://www.soulbounce.com/soul/2013/07/traci_braxton_makes_a_strong_debut_with_new_radio_show/ Traci Braxton show on soulbounce.com]
18. [http://www.lushradioonline.com/news/traci-braxton-doing-things-on-her-own-braxton-family-values-new-album-smash-crash-burn/ Traci Braxton bio on lushradioonline.com]
19. [http://alwaysalist.com/radio/tracibraxton-heat/ Traci Braxton show on alwayssalist.com] {{Webarchive. link. (February 6, 2015)
20. [http://www.billboard.com/artist/1541558/traci-braxton/chart Traci Braxton Last Call Single Charts on Billboard.com]
21. "Top 200 Albums Billboard 25 October 2014".
22. [http://ink361.com/app/users/ig-184278047/therealtracibraxton/photos/ig-832789102673765139_184278047 Traci Braxton charts]
23. Caulfield, Keith. (October 16, 2014). "Keyshia Cole Collects Third No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums".
24. Traci Braxton. (May 21, 2015). "Check out my new single 'Perfect Time' Written by: Talented singer and songwriter (Tank) @TheRealTank".
25. "Traci Braxton joined the judging panel of Ms Dc Ameerica Pageant sur www.wsu9.com".
26. "Braxton Family Christmas". Braxton Sisters to Release Christmas Album.
27. "The Braxtons". Target.
28. (October 5, 1996). "The Braxtons – Chart history".
29. (October 5, 1996). "The Braxtons – Chart history".
30. (October 5, 1996). "The Braxtons – Chart history".
31. "The Braxtons Chart History". The Braxtons.
32. "Hi all! So excited to be Live and answering your q's. Braxton Family Values premieres on We tv Thursday May 19 at 9 pm EST.".
33. [http://www.eventsinpa.com/event/28543/vernon-williams-presents-there39s-a-stranger-in-my-house-stage-play/ Traci Braxton There's a stranger in my house stageplay on www.eventsinpa.com]
34. [https://music.apple.com/us/album/moonlight-single/1289351896 Kokayi Moonlight featuring Traci Braxton on itunes.com]
35. [https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0762TZPCD/ref=ap_ws_tlw_trk3 Kokayi featuring Traci Braxton Moonlight single on amazon.com]
36. "Tamar Braxton release single Broken Things featuring her sisters on tracibraxton.com".
37. [http://thatgrapejuice.net/2018/04/new-single-traci-braxton-broken-things-featuring-toni-braxton-towanda-braxton-trina-braxton/ Traci Braxton release the single Broken Things on thatgrapejuice.net]
38. (August 24, 2018). "On Earth by Traci Braxton on Apple Music".
39. "Sinners Wanted". IMDb.
40. [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6767728/?ref_=nm_knf_t2 All In Movie on www.imdb.com]
41. [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13403782/?ref_=ttrel_rel_tt The Christmas Lottery on www.imdb.com]
42. "Album Stream: Candiace Dillard – 'Deep Space' – That Grape Juice".
43. (September 24, 2021). "Stream: Candiace Dillard Bassett's Debut Album 'Deep Space'".
44. Croft, Jay. (March 12, 2022). "Singer Traci Braxton of 'Family Values' dies at 50". [[CNN]].
45. (March 12, 2022). "Traci Braxton Dead at 50 from Cancer".
46. "Heatseekers Album Chart: October 25, 2014".
47. "R&B Albums Chart: October 25, 2014".
48. "Top R&B Hip Hop Albums Chart: October 25, 2014".

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