Toni Braxton: Medics warned my career was over

TONI BRAXTON feared her music career was over after being told by doctors she would never perform again.
But she is a fighter, the singer told Guilty Pleasures, and this year marks her 25th in the business. ‘I’m an old bitch but I’m still hot,’ Toni laughed during our exclusive chat.
The seven-time Grammy winner, who has been diagnosed with lupus, battled back from her health problems.
‘Originally they told me I would never be able to perform,’ she said. ‘My illness has made it challenging for me to tour in the past but I’m doing so well my doctors are like, “You can go on tour”.’
But she has to take precautions: ‘I have to pace myself. If my load is too heavy, I get fatigued.’
A tour is expected to follow the release of her eighth album Sex & Cigarettes, out on Friday. As for which she prefers, Toni giggled: ‘I’m more of a cigar smoker… but probably sex.’
The 50-year-old mum-of- two has no problem warbling about what goes on in the bedroom. ‘I do feel comfortable,’ she said. ‘I find that we try to be clever about it [sex]. I’m going straight to it.’
The Unbreak My Heart chart-topper, who is engaged to rapper Birdman, also teased a possible collaboration with Rihanna after performing at RiRi’s 30th birthday bash last month.
‘It was her birthday gift, I was the surprise for her,’ Toni revealed. ‘It definitely brought us together on a personal level.’
Author: Tom Stichbury