Tionne Watkins

Tionne Tenese Watkins (born April 26, 1970),<ref name=biographycom>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> also known by her stage name T-Boz, is an American singer. Watkins rose to fame in the early 1990s as a member of the girl-group TLC. She has won four Grammy Awards for her work with TLC.

Early life

Tionne Watkins was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on April 26, 1970, to James and Gayle Watkins. She has written that she is of African American, Native American and Irish descent.<ref>Thoughts accessed 2008-08-29, Author Tionne Watkins, Published 1999, Publisher HarperCollins Publishers</ref><ref name="wp">Template:Cite news</ref> Her parents divorced when she was young.<ref name="Watkins2017"/> Watkins' mother moved her from Des Moines to Atlanta, when she was nine years old, after living in California and Houston for a short time.<ref name="Watkins2017">Template:Cite book</ref>

Career

TLC

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Crystal Jones held auditions for a singing group and chose Watkins, and Lisa Lopes. The group eventually attracted the attention of Perri "Pebbles" Reid and her husband, Antonio "L.A." Reid, head of LaFace Records. Jones was replaced with Rozonda Thomas and the group was signed in 1991 as TLC. In order to preserve the TLC name, Watkins is now named "T-Boz", while Lopes became "Left Eye" and Thomas became "Chilli". The successful group sold more than 65 million records.<ref name="Hollywood Reporter">Template:Cite news</ref> T-Boz has won four Grammy Awards as a member of TLC.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} Best R&B song is awarded to the songwriter(s) of the winning song, not to the performing artist(s) (except if the songwriter is also the performing artist)</ref> Since Lopes' death in 2002, T-Boz and Chilli have performed as a duo.

In late 2011, VH1 announced plans to produce a biopic on the group.<ref name="VH1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Watkins and Thomas signed on as producers. The film, CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story, premiered October 21, 2013. The role of Watkins was portrayed by actress/singer Drew Sidora. Watkins' daughter, Chase, portrayed a younger Tionne in the film.

Solo work

In addition to her work with TLC, Watkins has recorded solo singles like "Touch Myself" (for the soundtrack of the 1996 film Fled) and "My Getaway" (for the soundtrack of the 2000 film Rugrats in Paris: The Movie). Additionally, she has been a featured vocalist on songs such as "Ghetto Love" with Da Brat, "Changes" with Society of Soul, "He Say She Say" with Keith Sweat, "Different Times" with Raphael Saadiq and "Be Somebody" with Paula Cole. She also featured on the song "It's Good" by YoungBloodZ.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> On January 22, 2013, Watkins released her first solo single in over 15 years titled "Champion".<ref name="Champion">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The song was released digitally, and proceeds went to help raise awareness for people suffering from blood conditions such as sickle cell and leukemia.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On September 6, 2017, Watkins digitally released her latest single titled "Dreams" from her audiobook "A Sick Life".<ref name="Dreams">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Television and film

Watkins has worked as an actress, appearing in Hype Williams' 1998 film Belly.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She also appeared in two episodes of Living Single, the first time guest-starring along with her bandmates and another time without them. Watkins served as one of the executive producers for the 2006 movie ATL featuring the rapper T.I.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> She also appeared on The Real Housewives of Atlanta as a friend of Kandi Burruss.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Watkins made a guest appearance as Pam Grier in one episode of the Adult Swim series Black Dynamite. In 2009, Watkins was a participant in the eighth season of The Apprentice, finishing in 11th place.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Watkins' reality TV show, Totally T-Boz, premiered January 1, 2013, on the TLC network, and ran four episodes.<ref name="Hollywood Reporter" /> The show chronicled Watkins' quest to create a solo album, reunite with bandmember, Chilli, and her life with her daughter Chase.

In 2016, Watkins and Chili joined actress Zoe Saldaña onstage for her second round performance of "No Scrubs" on Spike's Lip Sync Battle against actor Zachary Quinto.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In November 2016, she began a two-month acting stint as Sheila, a hardened prison inmate, on Days of Our Lives.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Watkins would later return to Days of Our Lives as a recurring character, playing the zany ex-con Sheila, in both 2017 and 2018. In 2017, she lent her voice to a character in Trolland, also known as Trollz, a direct-to-DVD CGI-animated movie.

Other work

Watkins published a book of semi-autobiographical poetry called Thoughts on November 3, 1999.<ref name="ust">Template:Cite news</ref> In 2005, Watkins and stylist Tara Brivic (who would later appear regularly on Totally T-Boz) opened a children's boutique called Chase's Closet (named after her daughter).<ref>Template:Cite magazineTemplate:Dead link</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was shut down years later.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> TLC also released a soundtrack album 20 marking both the band's 20-plus year legacy in entertainment business and the release of their biopic, this album included a new track written by singer Ne-Yo, "Meant to Be". They also had guest vocals on J. Cole's track "Crooked Smile".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> TLC celebrated their return with a series of highly publicized performances which included 2 dates: VH1's Mixtape Festival in Hershey, Pennsylvania, on July 27, 2013, and Drake's OVO Fest in Toronto on August 5, 2013. They released an album, TLC, on June 30, 2017.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Personal life

As a child, Watkins was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia.<ref name="cbn">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Since the age of seven, she has been in and out of the hospital due to the painful condition.<ref name="cbn" /> T-Boz opened up to the public about the disease in 1996;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> she later became one of the spokespersons for Sickle Cell Disease Association of America.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2002, she was hospitalized for four months due to a flare-up of sickle-cell anemia.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> She is a national co-chair of the progressive organization Health Care Voter.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On August 19, 2000, Watkins married rapper Mack 10 in California.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The couple's daughter was born prematurely in 2000.<ref name="Watkins2017" /> In June 2004, she filed for divorce, and requested a restraining order against the rapper.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2012, Watkins moved with the couple's daughter from Atlanta to Los Angeles, California, in order for Chase to be closer to her father.

In October 2009, Watkins said that she had had a potentially fatal brain tumor for three years.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In March 2006, she was diagnosed as having a grape-sized acoustic neuroma on her vestibular nerve that affected her balance, weight, hearing, sight, and facial movement. Many physicians refused to remove the tumor due to her sickle-cell-related complications. Ultimately, she underwent surgery at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Watkins filed for bankruptcy in February 2011 and again in October 2011.<ref name="broke famous">"TLC: Broke & Famous." Broke & Famous. Exec. Prod. Joe Houlihan and Simon Lloyd. Reelz, October 6, 2017. Television.</ref> In an episode of the Reelz TV series Broke & Famous, entertainment reporter Viviana Vigil stated Watkins spent $9,000 a month and owed $770,000 on her home with a reported monthly income of $11,000, while another reporter Nina Parker cited Watkins's medical bills and brain tumor.<ref name="broke famous" />

In June 2016, Watkins announced that she had adopted a 10-month-old boy.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Publication

• Template:Cite book
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Discography

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles as a lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name

Title	Year	Peak chart positions				Album
		US <ref name="Hot100">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	US R&B/HH <ref name="HotR&BRap">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	AUS <ref>Template:Cite Ryan</ref>	UK <ref name="UK">* "Touch Myself": {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation		CitationClass=web }} "My Getaway": {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
"Touch Myself"	1996	40	23	—	48	Fled
"My Getaway"	2000	—	79	86	44	Rugrats in Paris: The Movie: Music from the Motion Picture
"Champion"<ref name="Champion" />	2013	—	—	—	—	rowspan="2" Template:Non-album singles
"Dreams"<ref name="Dreams" />	2017	—	—	—	—

As featured artist

List of singles as a featured artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name

Title	Year	Peak chart positions			Album
		US <ref name="Hot100" />	US R&B/HH <ref name="HotR&BRap" />	US Rap <ref name="HotRap">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
"Touch Myself" (Remix) (Richie Rich featuring T-Boz and Jermaine Dupri)	1996	—	—	—	Seasoned Veteran
"Ghetto Love" (Da Brat featuring T-Boz)	1997	16	11	4	Anuthatantrum
"Tight to Def" (Mack 10 featuring T-Boz)	2000	—	65	—	The Paper Route
"Someday"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> (DJ Deckstream featuring T-Boz)	2009	—	—	—	Deckstream Soundtracks 2

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name

Title	Year	Other artist(s)	Album
"Word to the Badd"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1991	Jermaine Jackson	You Said
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1995	Society of Soul	Brainchild
"Be Somebody"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1999	Paula Cole	Amen
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2000	Keith Sweat	Didn't See Me Coming
"Wanna Take Me Back"	Template:Non-album single		Backstage: Music Inspired by the Film
"Different Times"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2002	Raphael Saadiq	Instant Vintage
"It's Good"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2005	YoungBloodZ	Ev'rybody Know Me
"Red Planet"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2012	Little Mix	DNA
"Creep"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2015	Eric Bellinger	Cuffing Season

Music videos

Year	Video	Director
1997	"Ghetto Love" (with Da Brat)	Gustavo Garzon

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role
1994	House Party 3	Sex as a Weapon (as TLC)
1998	Belly	Tionne
2016	Trolland	Jarvik (voice)
2021	After Masks	Cheryl

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1992	CBS Schoolbreak Special	1st Rapper (as TLC)	Episode: "Words Up!"
	Out All Night	Herself (as TLC)	Episode: "Pilot"
	Showtime at the Apollo	Herself (as TLC)	Episode: "#6.12"
1995	Living Single	Herself (as TLC)	Episode: "The Following Is a Sponsored Program"
1997		The Hitchhiker	Episode: "Three Men and a Buckeye"
1999	Ultra Sound	Herself (as TLC)	Episode: "TLC: You've Got Mail"
1999–2004	Behind the Music	Herself	Episode: "TLC" & "TLC: The Final Chapter"
2000	Sally Jessy Raphael	Herself	Episode: "I'm 13 and Too Ugly to Live!"
2001	Top Ten	Herself	Episode: "Girl Bands"
2003	Born to Diva	Judge	TV Series
2003	Inside Out	Herself	Episode: "Toni Braxton: Family Comes First"
2005	R U the Girl	Herself/hostess	TV Series
2009	The Apprentice	Herself/Contestant	Main Cast: Season 8
	The Real Housewives of Atlanta	Herself	Episode: "Unbeweavable"
2010	What Chilli Wants	Herself	Episode: "The Floyd Situation"
2013	Totally T-Boz	Herself	Main Cast
2014	Black Dynamite	Pam Grier / Anti-Bionic Girl	Episode: "Sweet Bill's Badass Singalong Song or Bill Cosby Ain't Himself"
2016	The Haunting of...	Herself	Episode: "The Haunting of Tionne T-Boz Watkins"
2017	Lip Sync Battle	Herself (as TLC)	Episode: "Zoe Saldana vs. Zachary Quinto"
	Hollywood Medium With Tyler Henry	Herself	Episode: "Mel B/Reza Farahan/Jana Kramer/Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins"
2019	Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta	Herself	2 Episodes
2016–20	Days of Our Lives	Sheila Watkins	Regular Cast

External links

• Template:Official website
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