Top 10 Little-Known Facts about Brandy

Brandy From New York City Essence awards April 4, 1997. Photo by Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com- Wikimedia

Top 10 Little-Known Facts about Brandy

Brandy Rayana Norwood, famously known as Brandy, is an American singer, record producer, actress, model, and songwriter. She is popularly recognized for her distinctive sound, which earned her the title the Vocal Bible.

Her music career started as a backing vocalist for teen groups. After signing with Atlantic Records in 1993, she released her self-titled debut album, which sold over six million copies worldwide and that is how she became known in the music industry.

Probably there are many things you don’t know about Brandy. In this article, you will discover the top 10 little-known facts about Brandy.

1. Brandy Was Born into A Musical Background

Brandy was born on February 11, 1979, in McComb, Mississippi. She was the daughter of Willie Norwood, a gospel singer and choir director, and Sonja Norwood, a district manager for H&R Block.

Brandy’s younger brother, William Raymond Norwood Jr., is also a singer and actor. The siblings have a famous first cousin in America’s singing industry, Snoop Dogg. 

Raised in a Christian home, she started singing through her father’s work as part of a local church choir, performing her first gospel solo at two.

Discover 20 Best Female Singers of All Times

2. Brandy’s Father was Instrumental in Her Music Career

American singer and actress Brandy Norwood. Photo by Mike D. Photography- Wikimedia

Brandy always credits his father for playing a key role in discovering and developing her successful music career. Brandy stated, “I grew up singing in church with my dad, where he was the musical director, and we sang gospel songs in a cappella almost exclusively. He bought me my first 4-track tape recorder. At first, I didn’t like my voice, but he encouraged me to embrace the unique qualities of my voice.”

3. Brandy is Referred to as the Vocal Bible

Brandy’s vocal stylings have significantly impacted the music industry, most notably with pop, gospel genres, and contemporary R&B, and she is often referred to as the Vocal Bible. Her voice has been described as raspy, soft, and husky by music critics and herself.

Her work has influenced numerous artists, including Ariane Grande, Jessie J, Jhene Aiko, and Jordin Sparks. It has been praised by several of her peers, including Ty Dolla Sign, Tamar Braxton, Jennifer Hudson, and Jill Scott, among others.

Subsequently, Brandy has been considered a talented artist whom music producers and songwriters have used to enhance their artistic and creative energies.

4. Brandy Tried Dancing

Photo vy Timothy M. Moore-Wikimedia

Brandy appeared as a contestant on Season 11 of the ABC reality show Dancing with the Stars in the fall of 2010 together with professional dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy. She ultimately placed fourth in the competition, which was a shock to the judges, viewers, and other contestants that considered her one of the show’s frontrunners throughout the entire competition.

During the semi-final, Brandy and Maksim were eliminated against Bristol Palin and her partner. The audience was surprised by the results; when asked how she felt, Brandy said she didn’t know because she hadn’t processed the results yet.

5. Brandy is a Huge Fan of Whitney Houston

Since her career, she has named Whitney Houston her most prominent music and entertainment influence. She often described Houston as her ‘idol,’ crediting her music, voice, and performance as critical to her personally and professionally.

After Whitney Houston’s death, Brandy regretted not trying to build a stronger connection with the singer. To honor her idol and her birthday, Brandy named her sixth studio album Two Eleven, the year Brandy turned 33.

During an interview, Brandy stated, “as a professional musician, I would say that Whitney Houston is the greatest voice of all time.” She added that “She was always the idea for me. I wanted to be like her, sing, and do everything she was doing.”

Discover Top 10 Interesting Facts About Whitney Houston

6. Brandy Was the First African American to Play the Role of Cinderella: A Black Princess

Photo by WBLS- Wikimedia

Brandy revealed Whitney Houston had a significant influence on her career, and one influence was to get her cast in a new Disney Cinderella,but this time it was African American Cinderella. On the first night it was aired on ABC, it was estimated to have around 60 million people who were watching.

The 1997 Cinderella became a memorable movie because it inspired many African American actors and girls of color, as this princess was someone, they could relate to themselves.

7. Brandy Lied About Being Married

In 2002 Brandy announced that she was secretly married to producer Robert Smith and was expecting a child. One year after the birth of their daughter Syrai Iman Smith, Brandy and Smith separated.

In 2014, Brandy revealed that she had not legally wedded Smith but pretended to have married to preserve Brandy’s Image and the pressure of Brandy having to be a role model. She later stated that she regarded her relationship with Smith as a “spiritual union and true commitment to each other.”

8. Brandy Was Made an Honorary Sorority Member

Photo by Bob Bekian- Wikimedia

 Brandy’s mother was a member of the Beta Psi Chapter at Southern University during her college days. They made Brandy an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. on July 16, 2014.

The event took place in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the 66th Boule, during the 106th year of the sorority’s sisterhood celebration. Marking the day, Brandy posted a photo from the ceremony with a caption expressing that it was a memorable day as she became an honorary member.

9. Brandy Had Many Endorsements in Her Career

In the late 1990s, Brandy was represented by Wilhelmina Agency, and in 1999 she became a CoverGirl, appearing in various commercials. Subsequently, in 1999, Mattel released the Brandy dol. 

The doll featured her in a reddish-orange blouse and a long orange skirt. In 2000 a Holiday Brandy Doll was released. Millions of dolls were sold, and it became one of Mattel’s biggest-selling toys.

Also read 10 of the Most Famous American singers

10. Brandy Was Involved in a Car Accident

 On December 30, 2006, while driving on the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles, Brandy struck a Toyota driven by 38-year-old Awatef Aboudihaj, who later passed on from injuries at the Los Angeles Providence Holy Cross Medical Center.

After investigation, it was concluded that there was insufficient evidence for Brandy to be charged. However, Aboudihaj’s husband sued Brandy for an undisclosed amount of financial relief to cover medical, funeral expenses, legal costs, and other damages.

The couple’s two children received $300,000 each, with the other two drivers who were involved settled with Norwood for undisclosed amounts.