Brandy Norwood Is a Doting Mom and Successful Singer - Glimpse inside Her Motherhood & Career
Brandy Norwood has been a significant force in the entertainment industry ever since her 90s debut. Although she is regarded as a sensational songstress by fans, the entertainer is simply a wonderful mother to her daughter.
Brandy Norwood is a name widely recognized and respected in the music and film industry. With several awards under her belt and a legion of adoring fans, the 41-year-old has earned a place as one of the best entertainers in the world.
However, her successful career isn't the singer's only source of joy as she is also the proud mother of a beautiful daughter. Norwood is definitely living the dream, but it didn't come easy; here are the details about the proud mother's life.
Brandy Norwood attends the LA Pride Music Festival and Parade 2017 on June 11, 2017, in West Hollywood, California. | Photo by Tara Ziemba/Getty Images
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
The singer was born on February 11, 1979, in McComb, Mississippi, as Brandy Rayana Norwood. She is the daughter of Willie and Sonja Norwood and the entertainer Ray J's older sister. Norwood graduated from Hollywood High School in Los Angeles.
She was also Kobe Bryant's high school prom date, years before he became an NBA star. However, Norwood's school days weren't always peaceful, as she was reportedly bullied in junior high and used to hide from her tormentors in the teachers' parking lot.
Brandy attends the 21st Annual EIF Revlon Run Walk For Women on May 10, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. | Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for EIF Revlon Run Walk
HER CAREER
Norwood always knew singing was her passion from the age of four, and her first single was reportedly released when she was 11-years-old. Her commitment to music made her drop out of Pepperdine University, but she wasn't the only one who made sacrifices.
Sonja also supported her children's passion for music by quitting her job to manage Brandy and Ray J's careers. The 41-year-old's signature Contralto singing voice impressed not only fans but also her colleagues, such as the late icon Whitney Houston.
Aside from music, Norwood made headlines with her achievements in the film industry, including being the first African American woman to play Cinderella on screen. She also had a successful TV show known as "Moesha."
Brandy attends 2019 Urban One Honors at MGM National Harbor on December 05, 2019 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. | Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images
BEING A MOTHER
Norwood welcomed her first and only daughter, Sy'rai, in 2002 with the music producer Robert Smith. The couple went their separate ways a year after the girl's birth, but the singer handled their split by focusing on what mattered, her daughter.
However, many more trials awaited the mother-of-one, including a tragic car accident that claimed a woman's life in 2006. This incident, as well as Norwood's failed relationships, nearly ruined the singer's life. But her daughter's love saved her from the insurmountable darkness in her heart.
Sy'rai Iman Smith and mother Brandy Norwood pose at the Opening Night After Party for Brandy's debut in "Chicago" on Broadway at David Burke fabrick on April 30, 2015, in New York City. | Photo by Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic/Getty Images
The 41-year-old has publicly expressed her gratitude for her daughter's existence in her life on various occasions while her Instagram page is flooded with pictures of precious family moments.
The proud mom once stated that she believed in being a friend before acting like a mother. While this method gave her the occasional sass, the singer claimed it helped deepen the relationship she has with her daughter.
Her claims weren't far from the truth, as the mother and daughter pictures on social media showed a close connection between the pair, especially their striking resemblance. The duo has been captured in several fun moments and could easily be mistaken as sisters.
In 2019, Norwood showered her daughter with praises on her 17th birthday and blessed fans with a picture of the stunning teenager on Instagram. The mother-of-one expressed her love for Sy'rai, who she described as a "beautiful soul," and stated that her music would inspire the world.
LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER
Just like her famous mother and father, Sy'rai has a passion for music. The teenager blessed the world with her amazing vocals in April 2020, with a single titled "At Your Best," which was also a tribute to the late singer Aaliyah's 1994 hit, "At Your Best (You Are Love)."
However, this track wasn't the first time the icon's daughter amazed the world with her musical prowess. Syria has been captured in various videos on social media, where she flaunted her vocals and proved she was indeed her mother's child.