History of Brandy Norwood in Timeline
Brandy Norwood, known mononymously as Brandy, is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, model, and actress. She began her career as a backing vocalist before signing with Atlantic Records and releasing her debut album, Brandy, in 1994. Brandy gained fame starring in the sitcom Moesha and the TV film Cinderella. Her duet with Monica, "The Boy Is Mine," won a Grammy and is one of the best-selling female duets ever.
February 11, 1979: Brandy Norwood's Birth
On February 11, 1979, Brandy Rayana Norwood was born in McComb, Mississippi. She is known professionally as Brandy, and is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, model, and actress.
1983: Family Relocation to Carson, California
In 1983, Brandy Norwood's parents relocated to Carson, California. She was later schooled at Bancroft Junior High School and attended the Hollywood High Performing Arts Center.
1990: Signing with Teaspoon Productions
In 1990, Brandy Norwood signed with Teaspoon Productions, headed by Chris Stokes and Earl Harris. This led to her work as a backing vocalist for the R&B boy band Immature and the production of a demo tape.
1993: Signing with Atlantic Records
In 1993, Brandy Norwood signed with Atlantic Records, marking a significant step in her early career. She began her career as a backing vocalist for teen groups.
1993: Recording contract with Atlantic Recording Corporation
In 1993, Brandy Norwood's parents organized a recording contract with the Atlantic Recording Corporation after auditioning for Darryl Williams. This pivotal moment led to her mother resigning from her job to manage Brandy, who dropped out of Hollywood High School to be tutored privately.
September 1994: Release of Debut Album Brandy
In late September 1994, Brandy Norwood's self-titled debut album was released, peaking at number twenty on the U.S. Billboard 200. The album received generally positive reviews and produced three top ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
1995: Touring with Boyz II Men and Soundtrack Contributions
In 1995, Brandy Norwood completed a two-month stint as the opening act on Boyz II Men's national tour and contributed songs to the soundtracks of the films Batman Forever and Waiting to Exhale. This year marked significant steps in her early career.
January 1996: Debut of Moesha on UPN
In January 1996, Brandy Norwood's sitcom Moesha debuted on UPN. The program quickly became the network's most-watched show, marking a significant milestone in her acting career.
1996: Backing out of Set It Off role
In 1996, Brandy Norwood backed out of a role in F. Gary Gray's film Set It Off.
1996: Collaboration on Missing You
In 1996, Brandy Norwood collaborated with Tamia, Chaka Khan, and Gladys Knight on the single "Missing You", released from the soundtrack of the F. Gary Gray film Set It Off. The single earned her a third Grammy nomination.
1996: Norwood Kids Foundation Creation
In 1996, Brandy and her brother Ray J created the Norwood Kids Foundation, aimed at shaping youth through performing arts.
1996: Brief Relationship with Kobe Bryant
In 1996, Brandy had a brief relationship with Kobe Bryant, whom she accompanied to his prom.
1997: Erykah Badu Influenced by Brandy's Debut Album
American neo soul singer Erykah Badu noted that her 1997 debut album, Baduizm, was partly influenced by Brandy's debut album.
1997: Starring in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella
In 1997, Brandy Norwood was hand-picked by Whitney Houston to play the title character in Rodgers and Hammerstein's television version of Cinderella. The special garnered high ratings and won an Emmy Award the following year.
1997: Founding of The Norwood Kids Foundation
In 1997, Brandy Norwood, along with Ray J and their parents, started The Norwood Kids Foundation. The foundation helps disadvantaged, at-risk youths in Los Angeles and Mississippi through arts and self-help programs.
1997: Brandy as Cinderella
In 1997, Brandy became the first African American to play the role of Cinderella in the film, inspiring many African American actors.
June 1998: Release of Never Say Never Album
In June 1998, Brandy Norwood's album Never Say Never was released. The album became her biggest-selling album, reaching number two on the Billboard 200, and featured hit singles like "The Boy Is Mine".
1998: Role in I Still Know What You Did Last Summer
In 1998, Brandy Norwood gained further recognition for her role in the slasher film I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. This marked another notable role in her acting career.
1998: Release of Never Say Never Album
In 1998, Brandy Norwood released her album Never Say Never
1998: Brandy Represents Candie's
In 1998, Brandy represented the brand Candie's.
1999: Norwood Ranked Among Top Pop Artists
In 1999, Billboard ranked Brandy among the top 20 of the Top Pop Artists of the 1990s.
1999: Co-starring in Double Platinum and VH-1's Divas Live '99
In 1999, Brandy Norwood co-starred with Diana Ross in the telefilm drama Double Platinum and headlined VH-1's Divas Live '99 alongside Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, and Cher.
1999: Never Say Never World Tour
In 1999, Brandy Norwood embarked on the Never Say Never World Tour to promote her album. The tour included shows in Europe, Asia, and the United States.
1999: Brandy Becomes a CoverGirl
In 1999, Brandy became a CoverGirl, appearing in a number of commercials.
1999: Brandy as UNICEF Spokesperson
In 1999, Brandy became the first international spokesperson for youth by UNICEF.
2000: Brandy Donates to 2000 WATTS
In 2000, Brandy donated $100,000 to 2000 WATTS, an entertainment community center founded by Tyrese Gibson.
2000: Brandy Represents DKNY and Holiday Brandy Doll Release
In the Spring of 2000, Brandy represented DKNY and Mattel released the Holiday Brandy Doll, along with another "Brandy Doll".
2001: Recording Cover of Another Day in Paradise
In 2001, Brandy Norwood and her brother Ray J recorded a cover version of Phil Collins' 1990 hit "Another Day in Paradise" for the tribute album Urban Renewal: A Tribute to Phil Collins. The song became an international success.
2001: Romance with Robert "Big Bert" Smith
In mid-2001, during the production of her album Full Moon, Brandy Norwood began a romantic relationship with producer Robert "Big Bert" Smith. They kept the relationship a secret.
February 2002: Norwood announces pregnancy
In February 2002, Brandy Norwood announced that she was expecting her first child with producer Robert "Big Bert" Smith. The couple had kept their relationship secret until this announcement.
2002: Release of Full Moon Album
In 2002, Brandy Norwood experienced continued critical and commercial success with her third album, Full Moon. The album marked a significant point in her music career.
June 2004: Release of Afrodisiac Album
In June 2004, Brandy Norwood's fourth album, Afrodisiac, was released amidst controversies surrounding her business relationship with Benny Medina. Despite the negative publicity, Afrodisiac became Norwood's most critically acclaimed album.
July 2004: Engagement to Quentin Richardson
In July 2004, Brandy Norwood became engaged to NBA guard Quentin Richardson, who was playing for the Los Angeles Clippers at the time.
2004: Release from Atlantic Records
At the end of 2004, Brandy Norwood asked for and received an unconditional release from Atlantic Records after eleven years with the company.
2004: Release of Afrodisiac Album
In 2004, Brandy Norwood continued to experience critical and commercial success with her fourth album, Afrodisiac. The album further solidified her position in the music industry.
2004: Brandy Shifts to Experimental Vision for Afrodisiac
In 2004, Brandy's motherhood and affinity for Coldplay led her to shift toward a more experimental vision for her fourth studio album, Afrodisiac, collaborating with Timbaland and Kanye West.
2004: Smith reveals no legal marriage
In 2004, Robert "Big Bert" Smith revealed that he and Brandy Norwood had never been legally married, but had pretended to be to preserve Norwood's public image.
March 2005: Release of The Best of Brandy Compilation Album
In March 2005, Brandy Norwood's compilation album titled The Best of Brandy was released without any promotional single. It reached the top 30 in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
September 2005: Engagement ended
In September 2005, Brandy Norwood ended her 14-month engagement to Quentin Richardson. It was reported that she had to get a tattoo of Richardson's face on her back transformed into a cat.
2005: Brandy Becomes Ultima Spokesperson
In 2005, Brandy became the spokesperson for Ultima, a company for hair weaves and wigs.
December 30, 2006: Involved in fatal car accident
On December 30, 2006, Brandy Norwood was driving on the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles when she struck a Toyota driven by 38-year-old Awatef Aboudihaj, who later died from her injuries.
2006: Red Hot Chili Peppers Inspired by Norwood
John Frusciante, guitarist for Red Hot Chili Peppers, cited Norwood as the "main inspiration" behind the guitar work on Red Hot Chili Peppers' 2006 album, Stadium Arcadium.
2007: Rihanna Inspired by Brandy's Album 'Afrodisiac'
Barbadian singer Rihanna said that Brandy's 2007 album Good Girl Gone Bad was inspired by listening to Afrodisiac every day in the studio.
2008: "The Boy Is Mine" Ranked Among Biggest Duets
In 2008, Billboard ranked Brandy's song "The Boy Is Mine" third on a special The 40 Biggest Duets of All Time listing.
2008: Release of Human Album
In 2008, Brandy Norwood released her fifth album, Human. The album experienced modest commercial success, marking a continuation of her music career.
2008: Skechers Campaign Involvement
In 2008, Brandy teamed up with shoe company Skechers' “Nothing Compares to Family” campaign.
2008: Brandy Returns with 'Human'
In late 2008, after a four-year hiatus, Brandy returned to the music industry with her fifth studio album, Human, which discussed topics of love, heartache, and honesty.
February 2009: Rejection of settlement offer
In February 2009, Aboudihaj's husband rejected his part of a $1.2 million settlement offer in the lawsuit against Brandy Norwood following the fatal car accident.
April 2009: Wrongful death lawsuit cancelled
In April 2009, the wrongful death lawsuit filed by Awatef Aboudihaj's parents against Brandy Norwood, initially set to go to trial, was cancelled as Norwood settled out of court with them.
May 2009: Norwood reflects on accident
In May 2009, Brandy Norwood stated that the car accident had completely changed her life and she believed she was a better person because of it, expressing sympathy for everyone involved and stating she prays about it every day.
2009: Album Sales Reach 8.6 Million
By 2009, Brandy's album sales had reached 8.6 million.
2010: Norwood Included in Top R&B and Hip Hop Artists List
In 2010, Billboard included Brandy in their Top 50 R&B and Hip Hop Artists list of the past 25 years.
2010: Brief relationship with Flo Rida
In 2010, Brandy Norwood briefly dated rapper Flo Rida.
2010: Get Schooled Involvement
In 2010, Brandy became involved with Get Schooled, a national non-profit using celebrity mobile phone calls to wake up students for school.
2012: Engagement to Ryan Press
At the end of 2012, Brandy Norwood became engaged to music executive Ryan Press.
2012: Series Regular in The Game and Album Release
In 2012, Brandy Norwood became a series regular in the BET series The Game and also released her sixth album, Two Eleven. This year marked significant achievements in both her television and music careers.
2012: Brandy Returns to R&B with 'Two Eleven'
In 2012, Brandy scaled back her pop style to return to R&B on her sixth studio album Two Eleven, a melding of her 1990s sound and post-2000s contemporary hip-hop trends.
April 2014: Engagement to Ryan Press Called Off
In April 2014, Brandy Norwood called off her engagement with music executive Ryan Press following their breakup earlier that year.
2014: End of Ultima Spokesperson Role
As of 2014, Brandy no longer represented Ultima.
2014: Partnership with Text4baby and Unstoppable Foundation
In 2014, Brandy teamed up with "text4baby" for health and wellness promotion and became an honorary co-chairman of the 2014 Unstoppable Foundation.
2014: Brandy on Whitney Houston's Influence
In a 2014 interview, Brandy stated that Whitney Houston is the greatest voice of all time and was always her 'idea,' influencing her music and career.
2014: Solange Discusses Brandy's Influence on R&B
In a 2014 music and fashion conversation with NPR, Solange discussed Brandy's influence on innovative, progressive, and experimental R&B, influencing artists like Frank Ocean and Miguel.
2015: Broadway Debut in Chicago
In 2015, Brandy Norwood made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago, marking a significant achievement in her performing career.
2017: Brandy Makes Broadway History
In 2017, Brandy made Broadway history along with co-star Lana Gordan by becoming the first black co-leads in Chicago the Musical.
2018: American Heart Association PSA Appearance
In 2018, Brandy appeared in a PSA for the American Heart Association and Hands-Only CPR with fellow Chicago the Musical cast members.
2020: Release of B7 Album
In 2020, Brandy Norwood released her seventh studio album, B7. This album marked another addition to her discography.
October 8, 2021: Rerelease of "Open" Track
On October 8, 2021, the Mike City track "Open", to which Norwood contributed, was rereleased on digital download and streaming sites. The track was originally part of the Osmosis Jones soundtrack.
June 2022: Brandy Signs with Motown Records
In June 2022, Brandy signed with Motown Records, marking her major label return.
April 2023: Sy'Rai Confirms Brandy as Vocal and Executive Producer
In April 2023, Brandy's daughter, Sy'Rai, confirmed that her mother would serve as the vocal and executive producer on her upcoming debut EP.
November 2023: Brandy Releases Christmas with Brandy
In November 2023, Brandy released her eighth studio album, Christmas with Brandy, featuring six original songs and six cover versions of Christmas standards. The album reached the top thirty on the US Top Holiday Albums chart and coincided with the release of the Netflix film Best. Christmas. Ever!.
November 23, 2023: Brandy Performs at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
On November 23, 2023, Brandy performed "Someday at Christmas" at the 2023 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
2023: Release of Christmas With Brandy Album
In 2023, Brandy Norwood released her holiday album, Christmas With Brandy. This album added a festive touch to her discography.
2023: Rolling Stone Ranks Brandy Among Greatest Singers
In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Brandy at number 193 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.
February 4, 2024: Brandy Performs at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards
On February 4, 2024, Brandy performed at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, where Burna Boy's single, "Sittin' on Top of the World," which sampled Brandy's "Top of the World," was nominated.
June 7, 2024: Brandy Cameo in Ariana Grande's Music Video
On June 7, 2024, Brandy made a cameo appearance as a news anchor in Ariana Grande's "The Boy Is Mine" music video, alongside Monica.
June 21, 2024: Ariana Grande Releases 'The Boy Is Mine (Remix)' Featuring Brandy and Monica
On June 21, 2024, Ariana Grande released "The Boy Is Mine (Remix)," featuring both Brandy and Monica.
July 2024: Brandy Reprises Role in Descendants: The Rise of Red
In July 2024, Descendants: The Rise of Red was released on Disney+, with Brandy reprising her role as Cinderella and contributing vocals to the film's soundtrack on "Love Ain't It" and "So This Is Love".
September 2024: Release of The Front Room Starring Brandy
In September 2024, A24 released The Front Room, a psychological horror film starring Brandy as Belinda, garnering positive reviews for her performance. The film grossed just over $3.8 million worldwide.
January 8, 2025: Announcement of Brandy's Memoir Release
On January 8, 2025, it was announced that Brandy would release her memoir on October 7 of the same year, published by Hanover Square Press.
February 12, 2025: AJ Tracey and Jorja Smith Release Single Sampling Brandy
On February 12, 2025, British artists AJ Tracey and Jorja Smith released the single "Crush," which heavily samples Brandy's 2002 Full Moon track "Love Wouldn't Count Me Out".
May 2025: Brandy Reprises Cinderella Role in Descendants Franchise
In May 2025, it was announced that Brandy would reprise the role of Cinderella in Descendants: Wicked Wonderland, the fifth installment of the Descendants franchise.
June 24, 2025: Brandy and Monica Announce Co-Headlining Tour
On June 24, 2025, it was announced that Brandy and Monica would co-headline a United States tour, titled the Boy Is Mine Tour, which will commence in October 2025 and finish in December 2025, featuring Kelly Rowland, Muni Long, and Jamal Roberts as support acts.
July 2025: Brandy's Cameo Appearance in Film
In July 2025, Brandy made a cameo appearance in a mid-credits scene in the 2025 sequel film I Know What You Did Last Summer.
July 23, 2025: Brandy to Star in and Executive Produce Lifetime Film
On July 23, 2025, it was announced that Brandy would star in and executive produce the Lifetime film Christmas Everyday, starring alongside her daughter Sy'Rai in her acting debut.
September 18, 2025: Brandy's Memoir Release Date Pushed Back
On September 18, 2025, the release date of Brandy's memoir was pushed back to March 2026, with the title announced as "Phases".
October 2025: Commencement of 'The Boy Is Mine Tour'
In October 2025, 'The Boy Is Mine Tour' co-headlined by Brandy and Monica is due to commence.
December 2025: Completion of 'The Boy Is Mine Tour'
In December 2025, 'The Boy Is Mine Tour' co-headlined by Brandy and Monica is due to finish.
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