Brandy Rayana Norwood, more commonly known simply as “Brandy,” is, both in life and at heart, a singer.  This has been a passion for her ever since being a little girl lining up her stuffed animals and singing for them, toy microphone in hand.

This hasn't stopped Brandy from also developing and seeing much success from other talents; but “to sing” is her true passion - evidenced even by one of several tattoos she has, which reads those very words in oriental script.

Brandy has shared her beautiful voice with the world thus far on four albums, as well as in numerous other appearances (see the music reviews section).  Her albums to date are:

Brandy and Monica together won a Grammy Award in 1999 for their duet, “The Boy Is Mine”, which appeared both on Never Say Never and Monica's The Boy Is Mine.  Brandy, who wrote the song (along with Japhe Tejeda and Darkchild), approached Monica to sing it with her in order to dispel rumors that the two despised each other as competitors.  Whether or not it accomplished that, it certainly brought immense success to both R&B divas.

Born in McComb, Mississippi, Brandy and her family moved to Carson, California, when Brandy expressed an interest in being a singer.  She idolized Whitney Houston, and had said of Whitney, “I sing like her a little bit,” which was quite enough to compel Brandy's very supportive parents to make the move to the heart of the entertainment scene.

Brandy was absolutely ecstatic when, some years later, her mentor, Whitney Houston herself, would ask Brandy to star in Disney's live-action version of Cinderella (1997).  Brandy would have been happy with even a minor part beside Whitney, but was instead chosen for the title role.  For this, Brandy practiced long hours, and long hours beyond what she was asked to.  Brandy fit the role perfectly, sang remarkably, and was an utterly beautiful Cinderella in every way.

Whitney isn't the only R&B diva Brandy has starred beside.  Brandy also both produced and played the main role in Double Platinum (1999), starring alongside Diana Ross.  Brandy has also worked with the likes of Quincy Jones, Lenny Kravitz, and Michael Jackson, just to name a few.

Brandy also lent her voice to the animated feature film Osmosis Jones (2001), along with Chris Rock, Laurence Fishburne, David Hyde Pierce (of Frasier), Joel Silver, and William Shatner.

Brandy made her first starring role in a Hollywood feature film in the slash thriller I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998), co-starring alongside Jennifer Love Hewitt, Mekhi Phifer, Freddie Prinze Jr., Muse Watson, Bill Cobbs, and Matthew Settle.  This was the sequel to the teen thriller I Know What You Did Last Summer, which Brandy watched probably more times than would ideally be healthy.     

Brandy also became a household name in TV-land, with her own sit-com, Moesha, which ran for six seasons (from 1996 to 2001).  Before that, Brandy played the daughter of Thea Turell (played by Thea Vidale) on ABC's ill-fated sit-com, Thea (1993), which lasted less than a season, despite good ratings.

Brandy's music and television careers have won her a plethora of awards and accolades. In fact, her smash hit “Sittin' Up In My Room”, from the Waiting To Exhale soundtrack won Brandy “Best Song From A Movie” in the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards, with U2, Whitney Houston, and Seal as other contenders for that award.

Brandy was born on the Sunday before Valentine's Day - February 11, 1979, to Sonja Bates-Norwood, a financial analyst, and William Raymond Norword Sr., a pastor and choir director.  The couple had tried for children for some time before Brandy finally arrived.  When, long at last Brandy was born, her mother declared to the doctor in attendance that he'd just helped the birth of a star.  (Well, she was right!)

Brandy has a younger brother, William Raymond Norwood Jr., better known as “Ray-J” who is also an R&B singer with three albums out thus far: Everything U Want (1997), This Ain't a Game (2001), and Raydiation (2005).  He starred alongside Brandy in later seasons of Moesha as Moesha's supposed cousin Dorian.

Brandy and Ray-J get along better than most siblings. One of Brandy's first songs, “Best Friend”, is dedicated to Ray-J.  They've done a number of songs together, including a little-known but very good cover of Phil Collins' Another Day in Paradise.

Brandy also concerns herself with humanitarian causes.  She has acted as International Spokesperson for Youth for UNICEF.  Brandy and her family also launched the Norwood Kids Foundation, which offers educational and artistic programs to the underprivileged youth of California and Mississippi.

However, success didn't come easy for Brandy.  She initially faced many closed doors.  In one particularly saddening case, Brandy was told at an audition that she wasn't going to make it in show business because she, quote, “isn't drop-dead gorgeous.”  That Brandy “isn't drop-dead gorgeous” is the most troublingly false load of bulls??? I've ever heard to date.  And as for her not making it, my question to whoever made that statement is, “don't you feel stupid now?”

Where others would give up, Brandy showed the strength to carry on.  On one occasion, Brandy was singing at a function which included music industry importants.  When people were talking and not listening to her, Brandy stopped and told them all they were being rude.  And of course from there forward they listened.

Brandy's perseverence ultimately paid off.  Brandy won a role in a sit-com, was soon picked up by Atlantic Records, and the rest is history.

Sadly, not everything has always been right in Brandy's life, however.  In 1999, Brandy collapsed on the set of Moesha and had to be hospitalized.  Brandy has subsequently revealed that, in addition to running herself ragged, she was at the time suffering from an eating disorder.

Brandy also revealed that she was at that point in an emotionally abusive relationship, which no doubt played a big role in her breakdown.  I can't begin to understand how any man could mistreat such a sweet and beautiful woman as Brandy.  It makes me sick just thinking about it.

Moesha was cancelled after six seasons in 2001 (with the show departing on a maddening cliffhanger), and Brandy took some much-needed time off.

In 2002, Brandy re-appeared with a new look and a new album, Full Moon.  Shortly after the album's release, Brandy announced that she had fallen in love with and quietly married producer Robert Smith, a cousin of Rodney Jerkins (aka Darkchild).  Rodney was the producer on two of Brandy's albums (Never Say Never and Full Moon).

Shortly thereafter, Brandy revealed that the couple had a baby girl on the way.  The whole event was documented in an MTV special, Brandy: Special Delivery.  Sy'rai was born on June 16, 2002.  Brandy is a very proud and devoted mother to her.

In 2003, Brandy announced that her and Robert were divorcing.

While Brandy always spoke kindly of Robert in interviews, on her fourth album, Afrodisiac, Brandy made obvious references to Robert which painted him as a no-good cheater (a picture that had been told to me long before).

Robert's reaction was to publically claim that the two had in fact never been married, and that the marriage story was merely a fabrication to protect Brandy's good-girl image in the face of being an unwed mother.  Brandy's reply was that she was hurt by Robert's remarks, and that while the couple was not legally married, they shared a spiritual union.

While I believe Brandy's sincerity in that relationship, it is more doubtful in Robert's case; I've heard it strongly suggested that his primary interest in Brandy was in being able to advance his own career.  Isn't that how it always goes, that males don't realize how lucky they really are, and don't truly appreciate what they have?

It's unfortunate that the media and public would hold Brandy to some unrealistic standard that other people are not held to.  Today, children being born out of wedlock is commonplace, and nobody seems to think anything of it - until it's Brandy.  Increasingly, Brandy has been understandably trying to shake the good-girl image; an image ultimately bound to become more trouble than it's worth.

In all the drama, some people lose sight of the main point:  Brandy is a very caring, patient, proud, and devoted mother to Sy'rai; isn't that what really matters?

It is perhaps not a good thing that Brandy's latest albums were released in the midst of all this drama.  Her last two albums sold only modestly compared to her previous releases.  Afrodisiac in particular did not sell well in spite of critical acclaim.  Lack of promotion and widespread on-line piracy are both likely contributing factors to the comparatively poor sales.

Ultimately, Brandy and Atlantic Records parted ways.  (Brandy's next release will reportedly be on her brother's label, Knockout Entertainment.)

More recently, Brandy joined David Hasselhoff and Piers Morgan to judge talent on the first season of NBC's America's Got Talent.

Brandy boasts an exceptional list of accomplishments and has thus far achieved a longevity that eludes many young stars.  She's also been through a lot in her life, some of which it is very sad that she ever had to deal with.  In spite of all of this, Brandy has remained a sweet, charming, and down-to-Earth lady, and a very beautiful one at that.