Toni Braxton learning to ‘Breathe Again’ after surviving many crises

Toni Braxton —RUBEN V. NEPALES

LOS ANGELES—Talk about survivor. Toni Braxton is one. The singer behind such hits as “Un-Break My Heart,” “Breathe Again” and “Another Sad Love Song” and occasional actress has weathered lawsuits and bankruptcy (not once but twice), personal and health crises.

These days, the Grammy-winning singer is battling lupus, but that hasn’t stopped her from starring in and executive producing a TV movie for Lifetime.

Based on a true incident in 2013, “Faith Under Fire” recounts how Antoinette Tuff, played by Toni, dealt with a deranged man, Michael Hill (Trevor Morgan), who was clutching an AK-47 and stormed into a school in Decatur, Georgia, where she worked.

Tapping her faith, Antoinette talked to Michael and persuaded him to surrender. Antoinette saved the lives of more than 800 students.

In real life, Toni is also a deeply spiritual person. “I’m a preacher’s kid, so I grew up singing and being in church,” said the multiplatinum artist in this interview.

Wearing a sparkling diamond ring, Toni is reportedly dating Cash Money Records mogul Bryan Williams, popularly known as Birdman.

How do you un-break your heart, to paraphrase one of your biggest hits? I went through a divorce with my husband (Keri Lewis). I’ve sang “Un-Break My Heart” millions of times, but I actually felt the lyrics for the first time when I had my divorce. I understand what love is, now that I’m a lot older.

Looking back, what are some of your biggest regrets? What would you have done differently? Career-wise, just the business side of music, I would have done things differently.

I made some poor choices with some guys I chose. Things like that.

With all the turmoil you experienced in your career, who do you consider is your best guide? The best guide for me throughout this journey is Babyface. I call him my musical husband, but he’s really one of my dearest friends. I remember telling myself I was going to retire in the business. I was feeling a little sorry for myself. I found out I had lupus. The doctors told me I would never be able to perform again.

My dear friend and brother Babyface called me and said, “You cannot retire. This is just something you’re going through. Everyone’s been there. You’re depressed. You’re a little down, but it’s OK. Let music help you get out of it … Let it allow you to be happy again.”

He’s my influence. He had everyone from Ms Barbra Streisand to Anita Baker call me and say, “Don’t retire.”

Was your bankruptcy the result of you having to get out of your record contract? It’s complicated. I think every artist in the business … gets terrible deals … they were trying to send it to Congress to say all artists, if you file bankruptcy, everything’s null and void, except for your recording contract. But in my case, that stopped it from happening, so it helped other artists.

What was the first album you bought? When I was younger, I could only listen to gospel music. But I remember the first time I heard Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” in the ’80s, I fell in love. The first album I bought was “Thriller.”

My first concert was Prince, but my seat was all the way at the top.

Both Michael Jackson and Prince are sadly no longer with us. Did you get a chance to bond with them? I called Prince my guide brother because he helped me in so many things. When I went through bankruptcy, Prince called me and said, “What can I do? This is what you need to do. This is the attorney you need.” He was a big influence. He was proartist.

Even when the doctor said I couldn’t work, Prince called me and said, “Why don’t you open my shows? I’ll pay you this much.”

I remember before I met Michael in person, he called me one day. I thought he was my brother playing a prank on me (laughs) … I hung up on Michael Jackson, oh, my God (laughs).

Later on, I was at the Carousel [of Hope] Ball. Michael came over to me and said, “Miss Toni Braxton, I love you.” He knew my name. I was flattered. I loved him. He was wonderful.

What do you remember after learning that Prince has died? I cried. I was very sad. We were both performing in Vegas. After my show, which was earlier than his because he kept real rock and roll hours, I would go see him, and we would hang out. He was supposed to do a photo shoot with me. He was a very good photographer.

Can you talk about your involvement with Autism Speaks? My youngest son Diezel was diagnosed with autism when he was 3 years old. As a mom, I knew a little. Dear friends came to me because as a mom, I thought it was something I did.

And this kid worked his butt off. He is 14 years old now. He’s in regular schools.

“Faith Under Fire” is mostly about these two very different characters, yours (Antoinette Tuff) and Trevor Morgan’s (Michael Hill). Can you talk about shooting those scenes with Trevor? It was very difficult shooting them. I remember when we were shooting this scene when he was firing the AK-47 assault rifle, as a mom, I was imagining if my kid was in this school—how would I react?

Faith was what drove Antoinette Tuff to do what she did in that school room. How do you relate to faith? We know my family is religious, but spirituality is something that you develop on your own. When I met Ms Tuff, I talked to her about spirituality, her faith and not being afraid.

You hear mothers often say they’re willing to give their lives for their children. But, this is a woman who was willing to give her life for her children, my children, your children, everyone’s children.

How do you take care of your voice? If my voice is phlegmy, I’ll eat an apple, and it takes the phlegm off. If my voice is dry, I might have a chicken leg, a piece of chicken or something oily, something fried. I should say French fries.

Who taught you those tricks? Eartha Kitt actually told me about the apple. But the chicken and fries, I figured that out for myself.

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