Brandy Norwood

Brandy Norwood, born Brandy Rayana Norwood on February 11, 1979, in McComb, Mississippi, is an American singer, actress, and songwriter who became one of the most successful entertainers of the late 1990s and 2000s. She was raised in Carson, California, and showed extraordinary vocal talent from a young age, singing in her church choir and performing in talent shows. Her younger brother is singer and producer Ray J. Brandy signed her first recording contract with Atlantic Records at just 14 years old.

Her self-titled debut album “Brandy” was released in 1994 and went quadruple platinum, producing the hit singles “I Wanna Be Down” and “Baby.” She became a household name with her starring role in the UPN sitcom “Moesha” (1996-2001) and her groundbreaking portrayal of the title character in “Cinderella” (1997), a TV movie produced by Whitney Houston that made her the first Black actress to play the role. Her second album “Never Say Never” (1998) sold over 16 million copies worldwide, fueled by the massive hit “Have You Ever?” and the duet “The Boy Is Mine” with Monica, which spent 13 weeks at number one.

Brandy continued her acting career with notable roles in the horror film “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer” (1998) and the reality TV series “Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business” (2010). She also appeared on Broadway, starring as Roxie Hart in “Chicago” in 2015, and joined the cast of the TV series “Star” and later “Queens” (2021-2022) on ABC. Her later music releases including “Afrodisiac” (2004), “Two Eleven” (2012), and “B7” (2020) showcased her continued artistic evolution.

With an estimated net worth of $12 million in 2026, Brandy has maintained her relevance across decades in the entertainment industry. Her vocal ability, often described as one of the most distinctive in R&B, has influenced a generation of singers including Ariana Grande, who has cited Brandy as a primary influence. Beyond entertainment, Brandy has endorsed brands and participated in various business ventures. She remains active in music and acting, continuing to build on a legacy that spans over 30 years in the spotlight.