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===1994—1999===
===1994—1999===


By the time Norwood was putting the final touches on her debut album with producers Keith Crouch and [[Darryl Williams]], Atlantic Records decided to release "[[I Wanna Be Down]]" as the newcomer's first outing. Although the singer was barely satisfied with her label's debut single choice at the time of its release,<ref name="fifty-one">{{cite web|author=David Nathan|date=2005-01-01|title=Biography|work=SoulTracks|url=http://www.soultracks.com/brandy.htm|accessdate=2008-04-21}}</ref> the song subsequently scored Brandy her first number-one hit on ''[[Billboard]]''’s [[Hot R&B Singles]] chart, where it remained four weeks atop. Its success resulted in a [[remix|remixed version]] of the song, containing new vocals by rappers [[Queen Latifah]], [[Yo-Yo (rapper)|Yo-Yo]] and [[MC Lyte]], and boosted the sales of Norwood's second number-one hit "[[Baby (Brandy song)|Baby]]," her first international top-10 entry. Her [[debut album]] ''[[Brandy (album)|Brandy]]'', a collection of [[hip hop soul]]-oriented [[pop song|pop tunes]], reached number 20 on the U.S. [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and number six on the
By the time Norwood was putting the final touches on her debut album with producers Keith Crouch and [[Darryl Williams]], Atlantic Records decided to release "[[I Wanna Be Down]]" as the newcomer's first outing. Although the singer was barely satisfied with her label's debut single choice at the time of its release,<ref name="fifty-one">{{cite web|author=David Nathan|date=2005-01-01|title=Biography|work=SoulTracks|url=http://www.soultracks.com/brandy.htm|accessdate=2008-04-21}}</ref> the song subsequently scored Brandy her first number-one hit on ''[[Billboard]]''’s [[Hot R&B Singles]] chart, where it remained ten weeks atop. Its success resulted in a [[remix|remixed version]] of the song, containing new vocals by rappers [[Queen Latifah]], [[Yo-Yo (rapper)|Yo-Yo]] and [[MC Lyte]], and boosted the sales of Norwood's second number-one hit "[[Baby (Brandy song)|Baby]]," another international top-10 entry. Her [[debut album]] ''[[Brandy (album)|Brandy]]'', a collection of [[hip hop soul]]-oriented [[pop song|pop tunes]], reached number 1 on the U.S. [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and number 1 on the
[[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|Top R&B Albums]] chart. It eventually sold over four million copies domestically, and although the album's success was limited elsewhere, it produced another two top 10 hits with "[[Best Friend (song)|Best Friend]]" and "[[Brokenhearted]]." Latter single, a re-done version with [[Boyz II Men]] singer [[Wanya Morris]], was recorded during Brandy's two-month stint as the [[opening act]] on the group's national tour.<ref name="fifty-three">{{cite web|title=Brandy; At 16, Her Debut Is a Sweet Success|work=The New York Times|author=Anita M. Samuels|date=1995-04-02|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CEED81F30F931A35757C0A963958260|accessdate=2008-04-24}}</ref><ref name="fifty-four">{{cite web|date=2002-08-26|title=Shaggy The 'Humna Kid,' Brandy And Wanya, Mariah's 'Fantasy': This Week in 1995|work=MTV News|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1457176/20020826/shaggy.jhtml|accessdate=2008-04-24}}</ref>
[[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|Top R&B Albums]] chart. It eventually sold over 4 million copies in the US, and another 20 million copies in other countries around the world. The album banked Brandy $18 million dollars. It produced another two top 10 hits with "[[Best Friend (song)|Best Friend]]" and "[[Brokenhearted]]." Latter single, a re-done version with [[Boyz II Men]] singer [[Wanya Morris]], was recorded during Brandy's two-month stint as the [[opening act]] on the group's world tour.<ref name="fifty-three">{{cite web|title=Brandy; At 16, Her Debut Is a Sweet Success|work=The New York Times|author=Anita M. Samuels|date=1995-04-02|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CEED81F30F931A35757C0A963958260|accessdate=2008-04-24}}</ref><ref name="fifty-four">{{cite web|date=2002-08-26|title=Shaggy The 'Humna Kid,' Brandy And Wanya, Mariah's 'Fantasy': This Week in 1995|work=MTV News|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1457176/20020826/shaggy.jhtml|accessdate=2008-04-24}}</ref>


Critical reaction to ''Brandy'' was generally positive, with ''[[Allmusic]]'' writer Eddie Huffman calling Brandy "a lower-key [[Janet Jackson]] or a more stripped-down [[Mary J. Blige]] [...] with good songs and crisp production."<ref name="fifty-onee">{{cite web|author=Eddie Huffman|title=''Brandy'' review|work=AllMusic|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:nx5ibk59jakx|accessdate=2008-04-21}}</ref> The album eventually earned Norwood two [[Grammy Award]] nominations for "[[Grammy Award for Best New Artist|Best New Artist]]" and "[[Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance|Best Female R&B Vocal Performance]]," four [[Soul Train Music Awards]], two [[Billboard Awards]], and the New York Children's Choice Award. The singer continued to soar the following two years, teaming up with [[Lenny Kravitz]] for the ''[[Batman Forever]]'' soundtrack and scoring another hit single with her ''[[Waiting to Exhale]]'' contribution, "[[Sittin' Up in My Room]]" (1995). In 1996, Norwood also collaborated with [[Tamia]], [[Chaka Khan]], and [[Gladys Knight]] on the single "Missing You," released from the ''[[Set It Off]]'' soundtrack. While not her biggest hit, the single did peak at number 25 on the pop chart, and earned Brandy her third Grammy nomination in the "[[Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals]]" category.
Critical reaction to ''Brandy'' was generally positive, with ''[[Allmusic]]'' writer Eddie Huffman calling Brandy "a lower-key [[Janet Jackson]] or a more stripped-down [[Mary J. Blige]] [...] with good songs and crisp production."<ref name="fifty-onee">{{cite web|author=Eddie Huffman|title=''Brandy'' review|work=AllMusic|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:nx5ibk59jakx|accessdate=2008-04-21}}</ref> The album eventually earned Norwood two [[Grammy Award]] nominations for "[[Grammy Award for Best New Artist|Best New Artist]]" and "[[Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance|Best Female R&B Vocal Performance]]," four [[Soul Train Music Awards]], two [[Billboard Awards]], and the New York Children's Choice Award. The singer continued to soar the following two years, teaming up with [[Lenny Kravitz]] for the ''[[Batman Forever]]'' soundtrack and scoring another hit single with her ''[[Waiting to Exhale]]'' contribution, "[[Sittin' Up in My Room]]" (1995). In 1996, Norwood also collaborated with [[Tamia]], [[Chaka Khan]], and [[Gladys Knight]] on the single "Missing You," released from the ''[[Set It Off]]'' soundtrack. Also one of her biggest hits, the single peaked at number 5 on the pop chart, and earned Brandy her third Grammy nomination in the "[[Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals]]" category.


In 1997, Atlantic Records consulted upcoming producer [[Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins]] to contribute to Norwood's second album ''[[Never Say Never (album)|Never Say Never]]'', which was released on June 9, 1998 stateside. Brandy co-wrote and produced six songs on the album which yielded her first number-one song on the U.S. ''Billboard'' [[Hot 100]], "[[The Boy Is Mine]]," a duet with singer [[Monica (singer)|Monica]]. Exploiting the media's presumption of a rivalry between the two young singers, the song rose to one of the most successful records of the year,<ref name="sixty-one">{{cite web|title=At age 21, the N.J.-based producer is king of his world|author=Jim Farber|date=2002-02-06|work=NY Daily News|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/2000/02/06/2000-02-06_r___b_rodney_at_age_21__the_.html|accessdate=2008-04-22}}</ref> spending record-breaking thirteen weeks on top of the ''Billboard'' charts, and eventually garnered the pair a Grammy Award for "[[Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal]]". The album's success was equally widespread, and following extensive airplay of the single overseas, the label released it globally during the summer. ''Never Say Never'' eventually became Brandy’s biggest album, selling over fourteen million copies worldwide; and critics rated the album highly, with ''Allmusic''`s Stephen Thomas Erlewine praising Brandy and her team for wisely finding "a middle ground between [[Mariah Carey]] and [[Mary J. Blige]] — it's adult contemporary with a slight streetwise edge."<ref name="one">{{cite web|title=''Never Say Never'' review|work=AllMusic|author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0eozefykogf3|accessdate=2006-11-10}}</ref> Altogether the album spawned seven airplay and [[CD single]]s respectively, including Norwood's second number-one song, [[Diane Warren]]-penned "[[Have You Ever?]]."<ref name="two">{{cite web|title=Artist Charty History|work=AllMusic|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistId=119457&model.vnuAlbumId=634096 |accessdate=2006-11-10}}</ref>
In 1997, Atlantic Records consulted upcoming producer [[Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins]] to contribute to Norwood's second album ''[[Never Say Never (album)|Never Say Never]]'', which was released on June 9, 1998 stateside. Brandy co-wrote and produced six songs on the album which yielded another number-one song on the U.S. ''Billboard'' [[Hot 100]], "[[The Boy Is Mine]]," a duet with singer [[Monica (singer)|Monica]]. Exploiting the media's presumption of a rivalry between the two young singers, the song rose to one of the most successful records of the year, anywhere in the world.<ref name="sixty-one">{{cite web|title=At age 21, the N.J.-based producer is king of his world|author=Jim Farber|date=2002-02-06|work=NY Daily News|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/2000/02/06/2000-02-06_r___b_rodney_at_age_21__the_.html|accessdate=2008-04-22}}</ref> spending record-breaking thirteen weeks on top of the ''Billboard'' charts, and eventually garnered the pair a Grammy Award for "[[Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal]]". The album's success was equally widespread, and following extensive airplay of the single overseas, the label released it globally during the summer. ''Never Say Never'' eventually became Brandy’s biggest album, selling 5 million copies in the US and over 35 million copies in other countries worldwide; and critics rated the album highly, with ''Allmusic''`s Stephen Thomas Erlewine praising Brandy and her team for wisely finding "a middle ground between [[Mariah Carey]] and [[Mary J. Blige]] — it's adult contemporary with a slight streetwise edge."<ref name="one">{{cite web|title=''Never Say Never'' review|work=AllMusic|author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0eozefykogf3|accessdate=2006-11-10}}</ref> Altogether the album spawned seven airplay and [[CD single]]s respectively, including Norwood's second number-one song, [[Diane Warren]]-penned "[[Have You Ever?]]."<ref name="two">{{cite web|title=Artist Charty History|work=AllMusic|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistId=119457&model.vnuAlbumId=634096 |accessdate=2006-11-10}}</ref>


===2000—2004===
===2000—2004===

Revision as of 17:51, 8 May 2009

Brandy Norwood

Brandy Rayana Norwood (born February 11, 1979), known professionally as Brandy, is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, actress, television personality, and film producer. Born in McComb, Mississippi and discovered by Chris Stokes when she was a member of a youth singing group, Norwood released her self-titled debut album in 1994 at the age of fifteen.

Following a major success with Grammy Award-winning "The Boy Is Mine," a duet with singer Monica and her second album Never Say Never in 1998, a series of hit records established her position as one of the most successful of the new breed of urban R&B female vocalists to emerge in the mid-to late 1990s. The RIAA ranks Norwood as one of the best-selling female artists in American music history, having sold over 8.6 million copies of her five studio albums in the United States[1] and over 25 million albums worldwide, to date.[2] Additionally, she has won over 100 awards as a recording artist.[3]

While maintaining a recording career Norwood also gained fame for starring in several film and television productions, including popular UPN sitcom Moesha (1996-2001), a supporting role in the 1998 horror sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer and starring roles in a 1997 version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella and Double Platinum, two of television's highest rated special programs.[3]

Biography

Childhood

Brandy is the elder of two siblings born to Willie Norwood, a former R&B singer and choir director, and his wife Sonja Bates-Norwood, a former district manager for H&R Block, in McComb, Mississippi.[4] She is the sister of singer and actor William Raymond "Ray J" Norwood Jr, and a cousin of the late blues singer Bo Diddley and rapper Snoop Dogg.[5]

Through her father's work Brandy started singing at the Brookhaven church of Christ in Brookhaven, Mississippi at an early age of two. By the time she was four, Norwood's parents moved the family from McComb to Carson, California, in hopes of jump-starting careers for their children.[4] Inspired by a spontaneous onstage performance with Diddley and Little Richard in the Los Angeles Forum at the age of six,[4] Brandy began performing at many West Coast functions as part of a youth singing group and then, at 11, met manager Earl Harris and Chris Stokes who landed her gigs as a backing vocalist for the all-male groups such as Norment and the more successful teen R&B trio Immature. In 1993, while shopping around record companies, seeking a record deal, Norwood attended a party held by the Atlantic Recording Corporation. After performing in front of hundreds of people, an executive, Darryl Williams indicated interest in her persona [citation needed] and eventually offered Brandy a recording contract with Atlantic Records.

Recording and performing

1994—1999

By the time Norwood was putting the final touches on her debut album with producers Keith Crouch and Darryl Williams, Atlantic Records decided to release "I Wanna Be Down" as the newcomer's first outing. Although the singer was barely satisfied with her label's debut single choice at the time of its release,[6] the song subsequently scored Brandy her first number-one hit on Billboard’s Hot R&B Singles chart, where it remained ten weeks atop. Its success resulted in a remixed version of the song, containing new vocals by rappers Queen Latifah, Yo-Yo and MC Lyte, and boosted the sales of Norwood's second number-one hit "Baby," another international top-10 entry. Her debut album Brandy, a collection of hip hop soul-oriented pop tunes, reached number 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and number 1 on the Top R&B Albums chart. It eventually sold over 4 million copies in the US, and another 20 million copies in other countries around the world. The album banked Brandy $18 million dollars. It produced another two top 10 hits with "Best Friend" and "Brokenhearted." Latter single, a re-done version with Boyz II Men singer Wanya Morris, was recorded during Brandy's two-month stint as the opening act on the group's world tour.[7][8]

Critical reaction to Brandy was generally positive, with Allmusic writer Eddie Huffman calling Brandy "a lower-key Janet Jackson or a more stripped-down Mary J. Blige [...] with good songs and crisp production."[9] The album eventually earned Norwood two Grammy Award nominations for "Best New Artist" and "Best Female R&B Vocal Performance," four Soul Train Music Awards, two Billboard Awards, and the New York Children's Choice Award. The singer continued to soar the following two years, teaming up with Lenny Kravitz for the Batman Forever soundtrack and scoring another hit single with her Waiting to Exhale contribution, "Sittin' Up in My Room" (1995). In 1996, Norwood also collaborated with Tamia, Chaka Khan, and Gladys Knight on the single "Missing You," released from the Set It Off soundtrack. Also one of her biggest hits, the single peaked at number 5 on the pop chart, and earned Brandy her third Grammy nomination in the "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals" category.

In 1997, Atlantic Records consulted upcoming producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins to contribute to Norwood's second album Never Say Never, which was released on June 9, 1998 stateside. Brandy co-wrote and produced six songs on the album which yielded another number-one song on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, "The Boy Is Mine," a duet with singer Monica. Exploiting the media's presumption of a rivalry between the two young singers, the song rose to one of the most successful records of the year, anywhere in the world.[10] spending record-breaking thirteen weeks on top of the Billboard charts, and eventually garnered the pair a Grammy Award for "Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal". The album's success was equally widespread, and following extensive airplay of the single overseas, the label released it globally during the summer. Never Say Never eventually became Brandy’s biggest album, selling 5 million copies in the US and over 35 million copies in other countries worldwide; and critics rated the album highly, with Allmusic`s Stephen Thomas Erlewine praising Brandy and her team for wisely finding "a middle ground between Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige — it's adult contemporary with a slight streetwise edge."[11] Altogether the album spawned seven airplay and CD singles respectively, including Norwood's second number-one song, Diane Warren-penned "Have You Ever?."[12]

2000—2004

After a lengthy hiatus that saw the end of the Moesha sitcom, and a flurry of tabloid headlines discussing her bout with dehydration, Norwood returned to music when she and brother Ray-J were asked to record a cover version of Phil Collins' 1980s hit "Another Day in Paradise" for the tribute album Urban Renewal: A Tribute to Phil Collins. Released as the album first single in Australia and Europe, the song became an instant international hit overseas, reaching the top 10 on the majority of all charts it appeared on.

During the following production of her third studio album, Norwood became romantically involved with producer Robert "Big Bert" Smith. The couple quietly "married" in the summer of 2001 but their union did not become known until February 2002—the same month Norwood revealed that she was expecting her first child. However, shortly after the birth of their daughter Sy'rai Iman Smith on June 16, 2002 — an event tracked by the four-part MTV reality series Special Delivery — Norwood "divorced" Smith. The "marriage" itself was later exposed as not of legal status but instead was used as a ruse to protect Brandy's image.[13] Norwood later stated that she regarded her relationship with Smith as a "spiritual union and true commitment to each other".[14] Full Moon, Norwood's third studio album, was released in March 2002. It once again comprised a row of R&B and pop-oriented songs with adult contemporary, many of them co-created with Jerkins, Warryn Campbell and Mike City. While its lead single "What About Us?" became a worldwide top 10 hit, the album's title track failed to chart or sell noticeably outside the United States and the UK, where it managed to enter the Top 20 of the single chart. Media reception was generally lukewarm, with Rolling Stone saying that, "[...] this interminable (seventeen-track) product is frantic, faceless, fake-sexy R&B."[15] Still, the album was rather quietly and cautiously declared as a flop by the media. Brandy ignored the rumblings and instead settled further into motherhood. Within the coming year, she and Smith began writing and producing for other artists, such as Toni Braxton, Kelly Rowland, Tarralyn Ramsey, and Kiley Dean.

File:Screenshot talkaboutourlove2.jpg.jpg

This file may be deleted after Sunday, 10 May 2009.

By the following year, Norwood had entered a relationship with New York Knicks guard Quentin Richardson. The couple soon got engaged in July 2004 but Brandy eventually ended her 15-month engagement with the NBA player in October 2005.[16] As reported, Norwood had to get a tattoo of Richardson's face on her back transformed into a cat.[16]

Returning from yet another hiatus, Brandy's fourth album Afrodisiac was released on June 29, 2004 in North America, amidst both her weakest promotional blitz ever and the well-publicized termination of her short-lived business relationship with entertainment manager Benny Medina.[17] Norwood ended her contract with his Los Angeles-based Handprint Entertainment after less than a year of representation following controversies surrounding Medina's handling of the lead single "Talk About Our Love", and failed talks of a purported co-headlining tour with R&B singer Usher.[17] Upon parting Norwood admitted her switch to Medina made her appreciate what she had with her mother, stating that "it was such a drastic change that it didn't work for me. Nobody out there can match her passion for me."[17] Despite the negative blitz, Timbaland-produced Afrodisiac became Brandy's most critically acclaimed album to date,[18] with some citing the "more consistently mature and challenging" effect of Timbaland on Brandy's music,[19] and others calling it "very listenable and emotionally resonant," comparing it to "Janet Jackson at her best".[20] Norwood described the CD as her most mature and versatile effort by then: "I just wanted to sing my heart out and connect with people. I wasn’t old enough or mature enough before to get into people’s hearts. Now I am."[21] Nevertheless Afrodisiac became the least successful album of Brandy's career: While it debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, selling 500,000 copies domestically, the album widely failed to chart or sell noticeably outside the United States.[22] "Talk About Our Love" reached number 6 in the UK but follow-up singles failed to obtain success on the pop charts.

2005—2008

At the end of 2004, however, Norwood asked for and received a release from Atlantic Records, after eleven years with the company. As a direct consequence the label brought a collection of all of her singles, The Best of Brandy, on the market. "I think it's awesome to have an album that reflects the songs that people have enjoyed over the years," Brandy said in an interview the following year, "I'm happy to say that many of the tracks included are my favorites too."[22] Thereupon she reportedly started shopping for a new record deal under Knockout Entertainment, her brother's label.[23]

In June 2006, Norwood was cast as one of three talent judges on the first season of America's Got Talent, an amateur talent contest on NBC with executive producer Simon Cowell and host Regis Philbin. The broadcast was one of the most-watched programs of the summer,[24] and concluded on August 17, 2006 with the win of 11-year-old singer Bianca Ryan.

In late 2006, TMZ broke the story that Brandy was involved in a wreck on a Los Angeles freeway on December 30. The accident claimed the life of 38-year-old Awatef Aboudihaj. An eyewitness tells TMZ Brandy was traveling at around 65 miles per hour but did not stop when traffic in front of her slowed. Brandy's vehicle struck the vehicle in front of her and triggered a four car crash. There is no evidence of drugs or alcohol and she was not arrested. Although Brandy was not charged with vehicular manslaughter, due to "insufficient evidence," she still faces a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit filed by Aboudihaj's family. The lawsuit is set to go to trial in April 2009.[25]. Another car that was involved in the accident was Donald Lite’s, who also filed a law suit against Norwood.Lite filed suit on December 8, 2008 claiming Norwood and Aboudihaj both failed to follow road regulations, resulting in the smash which left him with "serious and permanent injuries". Norwood has denied all of Lite's allegations and wants the matter to be decided by a jury.Lite's personal injury suit is seeking unspecified damages to cover his hospital costs[26]. Brandy was originally scheduled to return for a second season of the America's Got Talent in summer 2007, but eventually decided to step down, feeling that "she couldn't give the new season the attention and commitment it deserved".[27] She was eventually replaced by reality TV star Sharon Osbourne.[27]

Brandy's fifth studio album Human, her first release on Epic Records, was released on December 9, 2008 in North America.[28] Involving a wide range of producers and songwriters such as Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, James Fauntleroy, Toby Gad, Brian Kennedy, and RedOne, among others,[28][29] the album debuted at number five on the U.S. Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and at number fifteen on the official Billboard 200, with moderately successful first week sales of 73,000 copies (about half as much as predecessor Afrodisiac).[30] It was preceded by the album's leading single "Right Here (Departed)," which was premiered on August 14, 2008 via Brandy's official website; while the second single, "Long Distance," was released to U.S. radios in October 2008.[31]

2009—present

In 2009, Norwood signed a new management deal with Jay-Z's Roc Nation.[32] Still with the Epic label, she has reportedly started work on her sixth regular studio album, involving production by The Dream and production team Stargate, so far.[33] In addition, she is said to be preparing a collaboration album with brother Ray J, tentatively titled R&B.[34]

Acting career

In 1993, while recording her debut album, Brandy landed the role of Danesha Turrell in the ABC sitcom Thea, playing the 12-year-old daughter of protagonist Thea Turrell (Thea Vidale). The series was taken off the screens eight months after its release but earned her a Young Artist Award nomination for "Outstanding Youth Ensemble in a Television Series." Her short lived engagement earned Brandy her first starring role in the UPN sitcom Moesha. Appearing alongside Sheryl Lee Ralph and Countess Vaughn, she played Moesha Mitchell, a typical 16-year-old girl from Los Angeles growing into adulthood. The show first aired in January 1996 on UPN and soon became the most watched show broadcasted on the television network. Norwood who had not seen herself as an actress before, finally gained confidence: "I think Moesha is so much like me that I feel real comfortable."[35] In 2001 the network canceled the show after six seasons on the air, leaving it ending with a cliffhanger for a scrapped seventh season.[36]

In 1997, Norwood was hand-picked by executive producer Whitney Houston[37] to play the title character in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s television version of Cinderella featuring a multi-cultural cast that also included Jason Alexander, Whoopi Goldberg, Bernadette Peters and Houston. The two-hour Wonderful World of Disney special garnered an estimated 60 million viewers, giving the network its highest ratings in the time period in 16 years,[38] and won an Emmy Award. About filming Brandy later told Jet: "It was the best experience I could ever have."[37] A year after, Brandy made her big screen debut after winning the supporting role of sassy Karla Wilson in the franchise-flick I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. The movie outperformed the original with a total of 16.5 million at its opening weekend but critical reaction towards the film was largely disappointing, with film review site Rotten Tomatoes calculating a poor rating of 7% based on 46 reviews.[39] Norwood, however, earned positive reviews for her "bouncy" performance,[40] which garnered her both Blockbuster Entertainment Award and MTV Movie Award nominations for "Best Actress" and "Best Breakthrough Female Performance" respectively. In 1999, she co-starred with Diana Ross in the telefilm drama Double Platinum.

Since the early 2000s Norwood's focus on acting has permanently decreased to occasional guest appearances on several television shows such as Reba (2002), Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (2002), American Dreams (2004), House (2005) and One on One (2006). While plans for a Touchstone Television-produced sitcom for The CW network, scripted by Mara Brock Akil for the 2004-2005 season, failed to materialize,[41][42] in 2009, Norwood joined the production of the upcoming ABC series This Little Piggy, also starring Jeff Davis, Rebecca Cheskoff and Kevin Rahm.[42]

Discography

Further information: [[:Brandy discography]]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1997 Cinderella Cinderella television movie, 60,000,000+ viewers
1998 I Still Know What You Did Last Summer Karla Wilson grossed $40,002,112[43][44]
1999 Double Platinum Kayla Harris television movie
2001 Osmosis Jones Leah (voice) grossed $14,026,418[45]

Television series

Reality television

Awards

Main article: List of Brandy awards

References

  1. ^ RIAA Editors. "Top Artists". RIAA.com. Retrieved 2007-04-21. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ Carrie Borzillo-Vrenna (2006-06-30). "The View´s Next Star: Brandy?". People.com. Retrieved 2008-03-02. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ a b NBC (2006-05-18). "Brandy, David Hasselhoff and Piers Morgan named as judges of NBC'S America's Got Talent". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 2008-03-02. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ a b c "Bringing up Brandy". Essence Magazine. Retrieved 2007-05-26.
  5. ^ Corey Moss (2006-09-26). "Snoop Reunites With Dre [...]". MTV News. VH1.com. Retrieved 2006-10-10.
  6. ^ David Nathan (2005-01-01). "Biography". SoulTracks. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
  7. ^ Anita M. Samuels (1995-04-02). "Brandy; At 16, Her Debut Is a Sweet Success". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-04-24.
  8. ^ "Shaggy The 'Humna Kid,' Brandy And Wanya, Mariah's 'Fantasy': This Week in 1995". MTV News. 2002-08-26. Retrieved 2008-04-24.
  9. ^ Eddie Huffman. "Brandy review". AllMusic. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
  10. ^ Jim Farber (2002-02-06). "At age 21, the N.J.-based producer is king of his world". NY Daily News. Retrieved 2008-04-22.
  11. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Never Say Never review". AllMusic. Retrieved 2006-11-10.
  12. ^ "Artist Charty History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2006-11-10.
  13. ^ LAUNCH Radio Networks (2003-06-27). "Brandy And Her Husband On The Outs?". Yahoo! Music. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  14. ^ LAUNCH Radio Networks (2007-06-27). "Brandy's Ex Claims Couple Never Married". Yahoo! Music. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  15. ^ Berger, Arion (2002-04-25). "Full Moon Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  16. ^ a b "Brandy breaks off engagement". UPI News Service. Retrieved 2007-05-27.
  17. ^ a b c "Brandy leaves Medina". Breaking News. 2004-07-19. Retrieved 2007-05-27.
  18. ^ "Afrodisiac by Brandy". Metacritic. Retrieved 2004-08-04.
  19. ^ Sawyer, Terry. "Brandy -Afrodisiac (Atlantic)". Popmatters. Retrieved 2004-06-28.
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External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brandy.
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