01of 18Voice of an AngelRaymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/GettyA 14-year-old Brandy hit a high note while performing in Chicago in 1994. She would release her self-titled album later that year.
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Voice of an Angel
Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
A 14-year-old Brandy hit a high note while performing in Chicago in 1994. She would release her self-titled album later that year.
02of 18Record SuccessRaymond Boyd/Getty ImagesBrandydropped in September 1994, and the newly minted teen star giggled with glee while signing albums (at a Blockbuster!) two months later.Brandywas a smash success, reaching No. 20 on the Billboard 200 chart and peaking with two No. 1 singles on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop chart, perBillboard.
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Record Success
Raymond Boyd/Getty Images
Brandydropped in September 1994, and the newly minted teen star giggled with glee while signing albums (at a Blockbuster!) two months later.
Brandywas a smash success, reaching No. 20 on the Billboard 200 chart and peaking with two No. 1 singles on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop chart, perBillboard.
03of 18Like Brother, Like SisterJeff Kravitz/FilmMagicShow business was a family affair for the Norwood kids! Brandy leaned on her younger brotherRay Jat the 1994 Kids Choice Awards in Los Angeles.
03of 18
Like Brother, Like Sister
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Show business was a family affair for the Norwood kids! Brandy leaned on her younger brotherRay Jat the 1994 Kids Choice Awards in Los Angeles.
04of 18Taking the StageBill Nation/Sygma/GettyLending her voice to an important cause, Brandy stood alongsideTony Bennett,Patti LaBelle, then-PresidentBill Clinton, former first ladyBetty Fordand former PresidentGerald Fordat Bennett’s “Here’s to the Ladies, A Concert of Hope.“The 1995 musical event benefitted the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse.
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Taking the Stage
Bill Nation/Sygma/Getty
Lending her voice to an important cause, Brandy stood alongsideTony Bennett,Patti LaBelle, then-PresidentBill Clinton, former first ladyBetty Fordand former PresidentGerald Fordat Bennett’s “Here’s to the Ladies, A Concert of Hope.”
The 1995 musical event benefitted the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse.
05of 18Hot in PinkEvan Agostini/LiaisonThe rising star smiled at the Billboard Music Awards in 1995, where she won best new R&B artist and best R&B female artist, as well as best new clip in both the rap and R&B/urban categories for her song “I Wanna Be Down.”
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Hot in Pink
Evan Agostini/Liaison
The rising star smiled at the Billboard Music Awards in 1995, where she won best new R&B artist and best R&B female artist, as well as best new clip in both the rap and R&B/urban categories for her song “I Wanna Be Down.”
06of 18Meet MoeshaMatthew Rolson/United Paramount NetworkThe teen idol struck a pose in a promotional poster forMoesha,her acting debut. Brandy starred on the UPN sitcom for six seasons, playing the titular character – a spunky teen growing up in Los Angeles – from 1996 to 2001.
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Meet Moesha
Matthew Rolson/United Paramount Network
The teen idol struck a pose in a promotional poster forMoesha,her acting debut. Brandy starred on the UPN sitcom for six seasons, playing the titular character – a spunky teen growing up in Los Angeles – from 1996 to 2001.
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Cinderella Moment
Walt Disney Television/Everett
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Making Magic
Walt Disney Television/courtesy Everett
“My childhood dreams were to be a singer, touch as many people as I could and to meet Whitney Houston, just meet her,” Brandy toldPEOPLEin 2020. “So to meet her, hang out with her and sing with her, it was unbelievable. For her to cast me in such a role, the first Black princess, I don’t know the words to really describe what that feels like.”
09of 18My Mentor & MeGettySparkling onscreen and off, the superstars posed for a picture at the Hollywood premiere ofRodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderellain 1997.
09of 18
My Mentor & Me
Getty
Sparkling onscreen and off, the superstars posed for a picture at the Hollywood premiere ofRodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderellain 1997.
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Grammy Whammy
SGranitz/WireImage
11of 18Hello, LenoChris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images/GettyThe actress and singer waved on her way intoThe Tonight Show with Jay Lenoin 1999.
11of 18
Hello, Leno
Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images/Getty
The actress and singer waved on her way intoThe Tonight Show with Jay Lenoin 1999.
12of 18Teen QueenSGranitz/WireImageBrandy beamed at the Fox’s 1st Annual Teen Choice Awards in 1999.
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Teen Queen
Brandy beamed at the Fox’s 1st Annual Teen Choice Awards in 1999.
13of 18Brandy BarbieOnline USA/Getty (2)The artist got the Barbie treatment when Mattel made dolls in her likeness in 2000.
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Brandy Barbie
Online USA/Getty (2)
The artist got the Barbie treatment when Mattel made dolls in her likeness in 2000.
14of 18Have Each Other’s BacksGregg DeGuire/WireImageRay J leaned on his older sister for a playful picture at the 1st Annual BET Awards in 2001.
14of 18
Have Each Other’s Backs
Gregg DeGuire/WireImage
Ray J leaned on his older sister for a playful picture at the 1st Annual BET Awards in 2001.
15of 18Multitasking MamaDonato Sardella/WireImageThe “Sitting Up in My Room” singer held her daughter Sy’rai, then 1, at a Bel Air event benefitting theAaliyahMemorial Fund.“I met Aaliyah when I was about 15. It was I think at a rehearsal for the Soul Train Awards and someone introduced us,” Brandy toldBillboardin 2011. “I was so excited to meet her because she was the first girl on the scene. She came out before Monica and I did, she was our inspiration.”
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Multitasking Mama
Donato Sardella/WireImage
The “Sitting Up in My Room” singer held her daughter Sy’rai, then 1, at a Bel Air event benefitting theAaliyahMemorial Fund.
“I met Aaliyah when I was about 15. It was I think at a rehearsal for the Soul Train Awards and someone introduced us,” Brandy toldBillboardin 2011. “I was so excited to meet her because she was the first girl on the scene. She came out before Monica and I did, she was our inspiration.”
16of 18The Other Side of the StageTrae Patton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/GettyThe actress and singer served as one of the original judges on the first season ofAmerica’s Got Talent,which premiered in 2006. In this throwback photo, Brandy smiled alongside her fellow judgesPiers MorganandDavid Hasselhoff, plus hostRegis Philbin.
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The Other Side of the Stage
Trae Patton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty
The actress and singer served as one of the original judges on the first season ofAmerica’s Got Talent,which premiered in 2006. In this throwback photo, Brandy smiled alongside her fellow judgesPiers MorganandDavid Hasselhoff, plus hostRegis Philbin.
17of 18Lights, Camera, DanceAdam Larkey/Disney General Entertainment Content/GettyThe multi-hyphenate entertainer competed on season 11 ofDancing with the Starswith pro partnerMaksim Chmerkovskiy.
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Lights, Camera, Dance
Adam Larkey/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty
The multi-hyphenate entertainer competed on season 11 ofDancing with the Starswith pro partnerMaksim Chmerkovskiy.
18of 18Velvet VocalsKevin Winter/DCNYRE2013/Getty/DCPBrandy graced the stage with some emotive backup dancers at Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin' Eve celebration in 2012.
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Velvet Vocals
Kevin Winter/DCNYRE2013/Getty/DCP
Brandy graced the stage with some emotive backup dancers at Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin' Eve celebration in 2012.
source: people.com
