Brandy Throwback Photos

01 of 18

Voice of an Angel

A 14-year-old Brandy hit a high note while performing in Chicago in 1994. She would release her self-titled album later that year.

02 of 18

Record Success

Brandy dropped in September 1994, and the newly minted teen star giggled with glee while signing albums (at a Blockbuster!) two months later.

Brandy was a smash success, reaching No. 20 on the Billboard 200 chart and peaking with two No. 1 singles on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop chart, per Billboard.

03 of 18

Like Brother, Like Sister

Show business was a family affair for the Norwood kids! Brandy leaned on her younger brother Ray J at the 1994 Kids Choice Awards in Los Angeles.

04 of 18

Taking the Stage

Joseph A. Califano Jr. Patti LaBelle Brandy Bill Clinton First Lady of the United States — Bill Nation/Sygma/Getty

Lending her voice to an important cause, Brandy stood alongside Tony Bennett, Patti LaBelle, then-President Bill Clinton, former first lady Betty Ford and former President Gerald Ford at Bennett's "Here's to the Ladies, A Concert of Hope."

The 1995 musical event benefitted the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse.

05 of 18

Hot in Pink

The rising star smiled at the Billboard Music Awards in 1995, where she won best new R&B artist and best R&B female artist, as well as best new clip in both the rap and R&B/urban categories for her song "I Wanna Be Down."

06 of 18

Meet Moesha

The teen idol struck a pose in a promotional poster for Moesha, her acting debut. Brandy starred on the UPN sitcom for six seasons, playing the titular character – a spunky teen growing up in Los Angeles – from 1996 to 2001.

07 of 18

Cinderella Moment

Brandy Norwood in Cinderella — Walt Disney Television/Everett

A dream is a wish your heart makes! Brandy made television history when she became the first Black woman to play Cinderella onscreen in ABC's 1997 TV musical.

08 of 18

Making Magic

CINDERELLA — Walt Disney Television/courtesy Everett

In a real-life fairytale twist, the starlet was handpicked by her idol Whitney Houston to play the iconic princess in the TV special, which was celebrated for its diverse cast.

"My childhood dreams were to be a singer, touch as many people as I could and to meet Whitney Houston, just meet her," Brandy told PEOPLE in 2020. "So to meet her, hang out with her and sing with her, it was unbelievable. For her to cast me in such a role, the first Black princess, I don't know the words to really describe what that feels like."

09 of 18

My Mentor & Me

Sparkling onscreen and off, the superstars posed for a picture at the Hollywood premiere of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella in 1997.

10 of 18

Grammy Whammy

Brandy kissed her Grammy Award at the 1999 ceremony, where she won for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals for her duet with Monica for "The Boy Is Mine."

11 of 18

Hello, Leno

Brandy Norwood — Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images/Getty

The actress and singer waved on her way into The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 1999.

12 of 18

Teen Queen

Brandy beamed at the Fox's 1st Annual Teen Choice Awards in 1999.

13 of 18

Brandy Barbie

The artist got the Barbie treatment when Mattel made dolls in her likeness in 2000.

14 of 18

Have Each Other's Backs

Ray J leaned on his older sister for a playful picture at the 1st Annual BET Awards in 2001.

15 of 18

Multitasking Mama

The "Sitting Up in My Room" singer held her daughter Sy'rai, then 1, at a Bel Air event benefitting the Aaliyah Memorial Fund.

"I met Aaliyah when I was about 15. It was I think at a rehearsal for the Soul Train Awards and someone introduced us," Brandy told Billboard in 2011. "I was so excited to meet her because she was the first girl on the scene. She came out before Monica and I did, she was our inspiration."

16 of 18

The Other Side of the Stage

Piers Morgan Regis Philbin Brandy Norwood David Hasselhoff — Trae Patton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty

The actress and singer served as one of the original judges on the first season of America's Got Talent, which premiered in 2006. In this throwback photo, Brandy smiled alongside her fellow judges Piers Morgan and David Hasselhoff, plus host Regis Philbin.