SB: The conversation that you, your sisters, and your mom had with Iyanla Vanzant for the world to see on Braxton Family Values was something. Looking back on that now — especially the scene where your mom was “regulating” and Toni [Braxton] saying that sometimes she doesn’t like her family — what are your thoughts on how it all played out on TV?
TB: Well, just to be honest about it, it was a train wreck and it was a lot of things that were fictitious, a lot of clips what was put together, and I know a lot of people feel like I’m making it up, and I’m not. A lot of the combative things that you saw just wasn’t real. A lot of my reactions was just the frustration of knowing what was getting ready to happen, which was basically people being combative to get a reaction, and so that is a lot of what happened that day, and I really don’t want to get all the way into it because if people get into their feelings because if you tell the truth they get upset about that, but it was not a good experience for me, and I don’t recommend it. Just being honest.
SB: But you’re in a good place right now with your mom and your sisters, right?
TB: I’m in a great place with my mom and my sisters. As a matter of fact, my shows that I have coming up in D.C. and in New York City, I’ve asked Traci to come and open up for me. I didn’t have anything to do with her not being on Toni’s tour, unbeknownst to what everybody thinks. I don’t have anything to do with anybody else’s business — when it comes to my business, I have control over it — and I felt bad for her, you know, because I’m sure that she really looked forward to performing. And so, I really wanted to make that come true for her, and I really wanted her to know that I didn’t and I don’t wish any ill will on her career. I want her to thrive, I want her to win, and whatever I could do I’m going to be here for you, so please, will you please open up for me? You know, here in New York and in D.C., and she accepted, and I’m really excited about sharing the stage with my sister, doing her own music. Not singing doo-wop-wop, not singing the song with me — doing her own music, and I think that that’s amazing for her.
SB: As we close out the year and prepare to enter a new one, have you had any major life revelation or “aha moment” that you’re contemplating as you go into 2019 and beyond?
TB: I’ve had a lot of “aha moments” [laughter]. I think the whole episodes from The Braxtons was an eye-opener for me, and that’s why I decided in that moment to apologize to my family for whatever my role was, any type of disappointment or hurt, and I had no idea that that moment would be a breakthrough for my entire family. Yeah. Sometimes it’s not about you, you know? Most of the time it’s not about you, and sometimes the other person needs to hear I’m sorry, or my bad, or [have you] take responsibility, even if you’re not all the way wrong. Sometimes it’s about what a person needs to hear in order for them to move on, and then you all move on. And so that was the biggest “aha moment” for me.
SB: Is there anything that you want to share with your fans as we close out this year and go into a fresh one? Anything you want to clear up or let your fans know about Tamar Braxton and where she’s headed?
- Advertisement -TB: For me, I just want to give a huge thanks to all of my fans, and even if you’re not a fan of mine — even if you watch me on The Braxtons and you’re like, that girl is a hot mess, she’s drama, or whatever, well guess what? Everybody at some point in their lives has a moment [that] they’re not always proud of, or they react to something that they shouldn’t react to. But I think the best thing about life is having an opportunity to redeem yourself and to make a conscious decision to change, and to be a better person. Not only just for yourself but for somebody else who needs to see it, who [doesn’t] really think that they could change or know how to change. All I can do is grow and be a better me than I was yesterday, and I’m real happy about life. God is a God of second chances, and I thank God that I keep getting a third, and a fourth, and a tenth, and as long as you wake up the next day you have another opportunity to be a better person.
Catch Tamar Braxton with opening act Traci Braxton live in concert in New York City at Sony Hall on Friday, December 28th and in Washington, D.C. at Howard Theatre on Saturday, December 29th.
