The Braxtons (2024) s01e01 Episode Script
The Braxtons are Back!
1
[Camera shutter clicks]
Toni:
Trina, hurry up.
Trina:
I'm coming right now!
Man: We've got Trina
in makeup.
Toni's here.
Towanda is on the way.
Towanda: You good?
You ready for today?
Um, I'm getting ready
emotionally, yeah.
I'm getting made up for it,
but emotionally, eh, we'll see.
Are you good?Yeah, I'm in a good space.
Woman:
Tamar is in route.
Man:
Miss E's in the kitchen.
She's gonna be cooking.
We should be shooting
in about 20 minutes.
"The Braxtons."
The Braxtons are back, guys!
Look at God.
Man: All right, y'all,
let's get last looks in
so we can get this going.
Let's get this party started.
This is my first
green screen.
What's the black gonna
what's the background gonna be?
In the back?
-Yep.
Miss E:
It's been a long time coming.
We've dealt with a lot,
and so we have a lot to share.
Matter of fact, the Braxtons
never should have gone away.
How 'bout that?
Wouldn't you agree?
I love you guys,
in case you didn't know.
Yeah, baby.
Now we talkin'.
I think that the Braxtons
remind every family
of themselves in some aspect
[Cheering]
whether it's
the music aspect
Oh, Mary, don't you weep
[Vocalizing]
Mother, don't you Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah!
Let's watch these Let's watch
these pitches, honey.
When you ready for me,
let me know.
-Oh, you tryin'.
-I can't I'm standing.
whether you're getting along,
whether you're not
getting along
Well, since you left
the group, Toni, somebody
had to take control.
[Laughter]
the cliques that's
within the families,
it somehow reminds you
of your own.
Hey. I'm so glad
you're cooking.Mwah!
Trina: With our family,
there's always an opportunity
for things to go left.
[Laughs]
I am just really excited
that things are going right.
[Laughs]
-[Sighs]
-Aah!
Towanda: You know, I'm glad
that we're back.
But the other part of it is,
I know that we have
a missing piece
that is never gonna be
the same without her.
Toni: This week is the second
anniversary of Traci's passing.
Traci wanted everybody to know
that she was a fighter and that,
you know, her illness was
not going to break her spirit.
She was gonna
always remain the Traci
that we all knew her to be.
Hey!
Hi. Why y'all so excited
to see me?
My sisters are here.
Traci may not be here
physically,
but her spirit and her energy
will alwaysbe here.
It'll be here forever.
Toni:
Give it up for Traci!
Miss E:
She called me.
She said, "Mommy,
I have cancer."
Toni: I felt so helpless,
like I couldn't do anything
to save her.
I feel like we need to have
some type of support.
-Like grief management?
-Grief management or
because that's a lot.
I had the echo done.
I had the EKG.
I had bloodwork done.
What's wrong
with your heart?
[Crying]
Suppose that I got my boys.
What's gonna happen
to Denim and Diezel?
I am who I am. You accept me
or you just don't accept me.
It's just a part of who I am.
I have alopecia,
and that's just it.
Trina: We're just calling
to check in on you,
see how you feeling,
see how you doing.
I don't want him
to go into a downward spiral.
We need to go ahead
and go in grief counseling.
Tell me, what do you feel
like you need help with?
I don't think
I'm ready.
So I have no idea
what to expect.
Any idea for what
may need to happen tonight
in order to make sure that it
stays in a positive direction?
♪♪
[Tape rewinding]
♪♪
♪♪
-All right.
-Unh-unh. Unh-unh.
Braxtons, baby.
Let's get it.
♪♪
Come on, Caleb.
Take care.
All right, love you.
Trina: You, too.
Have a great day.
What is that
you're making?
Beef chorizo.
I am hungry.
I haven't had any food today.
Oh, shocker.
Are you putting
all that cheese in there?
Uh, no, not unless you want to
stay in the bathroom
for the next
couple of days.
Yeah, I'm good.
When's that
gonna be done?
In a few minutes.
What are we gonna eat
with it?
-Chips.
-That's it?
It's dip.
Mm. Any broccoli?
Trina:
Von and I have been married
for almost five years now,
and our blended family
has blended together
quite beautifully, and I'm
still so much in love with Von,
it's like the first day
that I married him.
["Bridal Chorus" plays]
Walk all the way up
and then let it go.
Man: Pause.
-Yeah.
-Now spread out. Ooh!
-Oh, [bleep]
-I got you, I got you,
I got you, I got you.
Got you.
She slipped.
I did.
I knew my pants was too long.
I couldn't hold my pants up
and hold Trina dress up
at the same time.
It was either her or me.
I ain't drink nothing.Watch your boob.
Watch your boob.
Watch your boob.
How you feeling
about the show coming back?
I'm a little leery.
It's been three years now
since we've last done the show.
And then ever since everything
happened even with Traci, I
I would have thought
that maybe, you know,
it would have brought
everybody to a different place
where we're closer
and things like that.
But that's not
what happened here.
And I just wonder
how that's gonna be
actually working together again,
'cause we haven't really done
any kind of works together,
not collaboratively.
And that's it
that worries me.
I won't say that my sisters
and I have become estranged
since Traci's passing.
I feel like no one really wanted
to address it and talk about it.
So my feelings were enclosed.
They were put in a box.
And especially for me,
that was unhealthy.
I should have had my sisters
to lean on to be those people
for me to talk to,
but it just didn't feel
like that's what they wanted
for themselves.
You know we're supposed
to be going to dinner
with Toni
and the girls tonight.
Well, not youWho is "we"?
-but me and
-Okay, cool.
Towanda and Tamar
and Mommy.
Nice. Y'all need some time
together.
I'm really glad that Toni is
in town for a couple of days
because we never see each other.
okay?
Tonight will be
a good check-in to see
how everyone's doing,
especially as we get close
to the two-year anniversary
of Traci's passing.
Mommy's been pushing for us
to talk to a grief counselor
together, but we haven't decided
if we're ready to do that yet.
We're gonna talk about,
you know, Traci.
We never really sat and talked
about it as a family
ever since
That day.
you know,
we had her memorial service.
Yep.
How are you feeling?
It's been difficult.
It's been difficult.
Grieving is a very real thing,
you know what I mean?
That's a given, yeah.And it's
That's why it's so important
for us to stay in contact
with Baby Kevin,
with Little Kevin.
Little Kevin is
not just Traci's son.
He's her only child.Hey!
They had the deepest bond
in the whole entire world.
Hey, Kevin!
I think the loss of Traci
for Little Kevin
was one of the most
detrimental things
he's ever been through
in his life,
and we need to make sure
he knows that
just because he lost his mother,
he isn't alone.
Dude lost his mom
very early in life.
But he doesn't speak
to his dad as much either.
What?
I didn't know that.
Not as often as I would
I would think.
I won't speak negatively
about his dad
because his dad
was grieving, too.
No matter my personal opinion
toward him,
he's still a grieving husband.
But when your surviving parent
is shut down
and the parent that you lost
is gone,
who do you
who do you have?
It's almost a loss
of both parents.
I think we should check on him,
see how he's doing.
I just don't know
The situation was
tough for everybody.
Yeah.
It's tough for everybody.
But Toni said that
she has something to say to us.
But you just never know
what it's gonna be.
Good or bad?
I don't know,
Toni, in true Toni fashion,
asked the family
to come to dinner,
and she had something
to tell us, you know.
But this time, when she told us
that she wanted to talk,
the setting of her tone
was very melancholy.
And I'm really afraid 'cause
Toni has always been recluse
when it comes to her feelings.
She's never really been
this person
who just wants everybody to know
what's going on with her.
-You know what?
-Hmm?
It don't matter
what she wants to talk about.
The fact of the matter is
that all of y'all be together.
Now, that I agree with.
♪♪
Trina: We've never truly grieved
together since Traci's passing.
'Cause I don't think
I'm ready.
I haven't talked
to anyone at all.
I just try to live
with a broken heart.
This is really messed up.
I'm scared, like, every day.
[Crying] And I can't even
handle that feeling.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
-Hey, Mama.
-Hey.
-Everybody looks amazing.
-Nice.
I would just like to say,
for the record,
I'm not paying because y'all
do this to me every time.
Who's paying?
Towanda. She's late.
[Laughs]
Miss E: This family dinner is
the first time
that everyone's together
filming again.
It feels so good to have
everyone in the same room.
However, I'm missing Traci.
How's everybody been?
I ain't seen everybody.
I haven't seen or talked to you.
Where you been?
I know.
I've been working.
-Good.
-I'm excited.
I haven't worked
in 15 months.
These days, I'm a bit bicoastal
between L.A. and Atlanta,
but I've been seeing in L.A.
more lately
since I've been rehearsing
for my new Las Vegas show
with Cedric the Entertainer.
It's called "Love & Laughter,"
and it's a variety show with
singing and dancing and comedy,
which is kind of new for me,
but I'm getting more
and more excited
about the challenge of it all.
-You feel like you ready?
-I'm a little nervous.
Yesterday I was like,
"I'm nervous, Cedric.
I haven't performed in "
I'm never nervous like this.
So just anxiety,
that's all.
-You got this.
-Yeah, you're fine.
You got this.
I actually had a Vegas show
over 15 years ago, in 2007,
and while I was doing that show,
I had chest pains.
That's when I was diagnosed
with lupus.
And I was told then that I may
never be able to perform again.
And I was scared to tell anyone.
The truth is that
I have lupus,
What do you mean?
I've been battling it
for a while,
and I didn't want to tell anyone
'cause everyone's like,
"Oh, you can't tell anyone
'cause you can't work.
You don't want to tell anybody
'cause it might defer people
from wanting to work
with you."
So anyway,
now I'm tired of faking it.
[Sobs]
I'm a little scared 'cause
I haven't performed it so long.
But the doctor said 15 months,
and this is exactly 15 months.
Oh.
Ugh. I know I have to tell the
girls about the health scare,
which makes me feel
some kind of way,
'cause the last health scare
we heard was Traci.
My family know
that a few months ago
I had to have a stent
put in my heart,
which was extremely scary,
but I haven't told them the
nitty gritty, the details of it,
what really has happened.
So I gotta make sure
that, you know, I tell them
without making them
I want them to feel at ease,
I should say.
And it's not easy
to talk about for myself.
But on the brink
of Traci's stuff,
I don't want to get
them riled up.
"Ooh, is Toni okay?"
So I don't even want
to tell them.
Maybe I shouldn't.
I don't know.
You look really good,
by the way.I do?
I can tell you've been
over there in that
California lifestyle.
I'm over here in
this Georgia lifestyle.
It's a little different.
I hate living
in Lemon Pepper Island.
-You know what?
-Where's that?
-What's Lemon Pepper Island?
-That's where I live at.
Everything is lemon pepper.
They probably got
lemon pepper pedicures.
It's lemon pepper everything.
Lemon pepper and hookah.
Hookah, lemon, hookah, lemon,
hookah.
But we have guacamole.
We eat avocado toast.
-I'll eat that.
-What?
What about you?
Is you single? What's the tea?
Oh, that's a big tea.
Ah, I feel like
I'm single.
I feel like
I'm pretty much single.
What's that mean?
"Pretty much"?
I was engaged.
I'm not married.
I'm not engaged anymore.
And I'm not married.
And that's all I'm gonna say.
So you got a boyfriend?
I'm focused on my two boys
and my work.
It's been a strange time
since Traci's passed,
but I am happy in my life
overall.
Just not in a place
for a relationshipright now.
-Yeah. What are you checking?
-Under my eye.
What are you doing,
First Wives Club?
-Under my eye.
-Oh, yeah.
-Ahhhhh!
-Wow.
-[Laughs]
-Oh, wow. Twins!
-Y'all did this on purpose.
-We did not.
Oh, my God!
Why are you copying
off of me?
Nothing wrong with it.
They did it on purpose.
I did not, I was
I didn't see Trina all day.
All I want to know is,
what's new, pussycat?
Y'all used to dress like this
when y'all were younger.
-I'm flabbergasted.
-Oh, my God!
Traci is, like, 100% looking
down, cracking up.
I mean, I've been missing this.
Whenever we get together,
there's always this crazy
and silly moments.
And with Traci,
it was even crazier.
She made everything fun.
Traci: I have to pee right now.
I can't wait.
Woman: Don't pee, Traci,
just 'cause it's ocean!
Don't pee. Traci!I have to pee!
Wait for a bathroom,
Traci!
[Whistling and singing]
Where do you get
that big Bob Marley one?
[Laughter]
It just don't seem right.
It's like a seat's missing.
-Yeah, it is missing.
-Traci's holding our purses.
-Yeah.
-Not exactly.
"I'm not holding
everybody purse."
"Everybody take their own.
Here you, here you,
and here you."
I hear all the time
from our fans
how they miss watching
our antics
♪♪
[All screaming]
laughing with us.
[Laughter]
No, no!
[Indistinct conversation]
Clink, clink, clink, clink,
clink, clink, clink.
-Yes!
-That's that old Whitney clap.
Whitney gonna get you.
Have a seat.
Mm!
Toni:
and crying with us
I don't want to
talk about that.
But it's the truth.
and singing with us.
The trumpet
Sound
[Singing indistinctly]
Because
[Singing indistinctly]
♪♪
She got four kids,
and that's enough ♪
She don't want no more kids,
and that's just ♪
Dear dog
Dear dog
We don't like all y'all
Dear dog
Happy birthday to you
-Thank you, guys!
-Yes!
When we were filming
for your birthday in L.A.,
she was telling me and Trina,
she was like,
"I can't even swallow.
It hurts. It burns.
Oh, my God. It burns.
Burns when I swallow.
Ooh, it burns.
Ooh, it burns.
Can I get a Ketel One?"
[Laughter]
-Yeah.
-She was sick.
When she finally went
to the doctor
When she went is
when she get homeI was in LA.
-Yeah.
-And she called me.
She said, "Mommy,
I have cancer."
That was
She said,
"But I'm gonna beat this."
I said,
"I know you will."
When Traci got diagnosed,
it didn't seem real at all.
It still doesn't.
For me, family is the most
important thing in my life.
I spent my whole life caring for
and protecting my sisters.
But this was different 'cause
there's nothing I could do.
I felt so helpless,
like I couldn't do anything
to save her.
That's really hard
for me to digest
because I was the sick one,
not Traci.
Anyway, I'm sorry, guys.
I just need a moment.
[Clears throat]
[Exhales]
Okay, here we go.
[Clears throat]
I can't mess up my makeup.
You know, I feel like we need to
have some type of support.
-Like grief management?
-Grief management or
because that's a lot to
-It's a lot.
-You know what I'm saying?
-Yes.
Miss E: Everybody is dealing
with it in their own way.
But I think Trina really
and truly
need extensive counseling
because she was there
when Traci took her last breath.
Has anybody gone to
grief counseling?
I probably should have
after Traci.Yeah.
I have before,
but not after Traci,
and I probably should have.Yeah.
Every time I see
your necklace
-Oh, yeah.
-I don't have mine on today.
-I think of Tray.
-Traci wanted us to wear this.
And she just
She's like, "I want my sisters
to all wear"
No, she said she want us
to take her wherever
All: We go.
Traci loved hummingbirds.
There was a just this whole
mural on her back.
It was five hummingbirds,
so it represented every sister.
Before she passed,
she told us that she always
wants us to take her with us
so she can continue her journey.
So wherever I go, whatever
I'm doing, I take her with me.
She's still here.
She's still here.
Now, the only time
I ever take Traci off
is when I'm in a moment
with my husband.
I'm sure she doesn't
want to be there.
Sorry, Traci, but I'm sure you
didn't want to be there.
[Laughs]
How's Little Kevin doing?
He's going through
some things,
you know, he's going through
a divorce, so
Wait, what happ
what what happened?
He told everybody what happen?
What happened?
I am taken aback
that Little Kevin is going
through a divorce
because I see Little Kevin
all the time.
We have dinner and catch up
and things like that.
But he's never told me about
his situations with my niece.
Traci would be sad about that,
very sad.
Toni: Has Little Kevin done
grief management?
-No.
-No, no, no.
'Cause loss of his mom
that's a lot.
His best friend.
[Sighs] I heard that
Kevin was getting a divorce,
and I know
I think of Traci.
That would break her heart.
And 'cause it's breaking mine,
for God's sakes.
Towanda: She about to cry.
What's wrong?
-I'm not.
-Yes, she is.
It's time.
Tamar: You can't touch Trina
when she's crying.
Mnh-mnh.
As time go by
Don't! Don't handle my plate
like that!
[Laughter]
-Let's change the subject.
-I'd like to hear Toni's news.
I went to the doctor.
♪♪
-Here's to Traci.
-I'm not above you.
-Clink, clink, clink.
-I'm not below you.
Together:
I'm right here with you.
How are you guys feeling
about being here tonight?
What's going on?
Y'all got so many secrets.
-I don't have any secrets.
-It's so irritating.
Trina's going tapping,
and it's like
But this is not the forum.
This is not the forum.
Trina: I would like to hear
Toni's news.
I went to the doctor.
My heart was aching.
It was like I had had
every test done.
I had the echo done.
I had the EKG.
I had bloodwork done.
And I went to get the angio
and the doctor was like,
"No, that's your pre-op.
I said, "What you mean,
my pre-op?"
"No, you having surgery.
Gotta look inside your heart."
What's wrong
with your heart?
If the heart attack
had happened,
they caught it
just before it happened.
If I had had a heart attack,
I wouldn't have survived.
I wouldn't be here
right now.
But it was something
called the Widowmaker.
They told me, "Your sister
was watching over you
'cause you, by rights,
should be dead today.
You should not
be alive today."
I've always known
Toni's health was serious.
I didn't take it lightly.
As a mother, I worry.
And I think she feels
that if Traci can leave now,
so soon, well, maybe me too.
The thing that's
really messed up
doctor I was told that
It's okay, Tonieven though
I got the stent in,
you will eventually need
bypass surgery.
Because if I have
a heart attack, I won't survive.
I had to have
a stent put in my heart,
which was extremely scary.
It's very scary procedure
itself.
But when my doctor told me
I might not ever be
able to do a tour again,
okay, I heard it before,
but this was different.
They say you may never be able
to do another tour
because you could have a heart
attack and it could kill you.
It's, like, crazy anxiety.
It's like
[crying] I just think about it
all the time.
What's gonna happen
to Denim and Diezel?
Who would take care of them?
This is really bad stuff, so I'm
scared, like, every day.
If I have a heart attack,
I won't survive,
and I can't even handle
that feeling.
Just because they say it
doesn't make it true.
-Oh, absolutely.
-Can I offer you something?
All I could think about
were the boys.
And I hate saying it
out loud even now,
'cause it's real.
It's real life.
So I have to be scared
every day.
Every day!
You can't even understand.
Like, oh, is that heartburn
or am I having a heart attack?
The Bible says, "Speak things,
although they are" what?
"so. And so it is."
-That's it.
-That's how that works.
It's a personal thing.
As soon as you feel that
the fear is comingAmen.
in here, you demand it
to leave and it will.
That's just it.Did you point
to my vagina?
Yes. You made you made it
to leave, and it will.
Well, if you don't
use it
-You don't use it
-You lose it.
Now, that's a fact.
Trina: Seeing my family
rally around Toni
with so much love and support
reminded me of
how many times
we've hugged each other
and loved on each other
in the past,
and it gives me hope that we can
be as close as we used to be.
And it might take time, but
we always have Traci with us,
making us stronger.
Toni: I needed this more than
I wanted to admit to myself,
and I honestly think we all did.
-Aw, you'll be fine, girl.
-Yep.
-You're already okay.
-You're already good.
Trina:
You're already okay.
For me, the main reason
for wanting to do "The Braxtons"
again is because of Traci.
She wanted us to do the show.
She wanted us to talk
about her cancer, her illness,
in hopes that it would help
someone else maybe battling it.
Whenever there's a loss,
a death in the family,
it can go either way
it can bring you closer
or further apart.
And I think this was her way
of making sure we stay together.
♪♪
-And it is so.
-Let me tell you something.
You already living.
You can't be afraid to live.
[Crying] I thought I was
strong enough,
but I wasn't strong enough
to see it.
And if somebody said,
"Trina drink too much,"
well, I'm sorry!
That's what Trina needs
right now!
You act like
you guys are enemies.
I can't take it!
It's too much!
Turn it up
You look adorable.
-So do you.
-Thank you.
I got you a drink,
and I got me a drink.
All right, but after today,
I'm on a hiatus.
So, why?
'Cause I need my stomach
to be flat.
[Laughs]
Umba and I
have always been super close.
You know, Towanda
and I live in Georgia.
Toni and Tamara
lived in California.
My brother Mikey and Traci
lived together in Maryland.
So it just made more sense
for Towanda and I
to gravitate towards each other.
But especially after
Traci's passing,
we've gotten even closer
because you just never know.
-Thank you.
-Thank you so much.
So, you know, Trina,
a lot of people
were sending me messages saying,
"Oh, my God.
Is Towanda sick?
Is Towanda sick?
Oh, my God.
Is she sick, too?"
First of all,
you remember that we all said
that we were gonna cut
our hair, right?
Butyou didn't
cut your hair.
I have a face that's round
like Mommy's.
[Laughs]
Y'all have slender faces.
Mine is round.
That was my inheritance.
I hadn't exactly told
the world that I have alopecia.
A lot of people assume
a lot of different things.
I took pride in how I looked,
and I have to be honest
I didn't think about my body.
It was what was going on
in the inside.
And that was, "Oh, my gosh.
People are gonna know
that I have alopecia.
Oh, my God.
Maybe people aren't gonna
like me anymore."
How do you feel
about it now?
I am who I am. You accept me
or you just don't accept me.
It's just a part
of who I am.
I have alopecia,
and that's just it.
-I like it.
-Well, thank you.
There's this video of Traci.
And she got her long,
little, skinny fingers.
And she's just rubbing
on Towanda's head.
And Towanda has all these
patches, you know,
of, like, missing hair.
Traci used to always do my hair,
didn't you, Trace?
Mm-hmm.
Remember that?
Only Trace would just always
just rub it, just
just rub Towanda's hair.
And
Towanda
cut off her hair,
and Traci said
that she should do it.
And
[Exhales] I need a second,
'cause you're not gonna get me.
You're not gonna get me today.
Mm. I don't know why,
but Little Kevin's on my mind.
-Is he really?
-Yeah, yeah.
-Want me to call him? Okay.
-Yeah.
Towanda:
Since Traci passed,
we have really been trying
to be there
for Little Kevin as much
as possible.
I know we can never fill
that void of losing his mom
and his best friend,
but we are definitely doing
the best that we can
to be there for him.
-Aunties.
-Hi!
-Hey!
-How y'all?
We're just calling
to check in on you,
see how you feeling,
see how you doing.
Towanda: Well, I love you.
You look amazing.
Who did your hair?Yeah, your twists are cute.
Thank you.
Wait, wait. What?
What?! Your wife
braided your hair?
When did she do that?
-But she did your hair.
-Right.
Little Kevin is Traci's
only son,
and I think
that the death of Traci
has really affected
his marriage.
-Gotta keep it moving.
-I'm sorry.
Especially in the middle of
-Yeah.
-Yeah.
He's lost a mom
and a best friend,
and he's losing his wife,
so I can only imagine what
he's going through emotionally.
We were all together
last night,
and what we understand is
that we need to go ahead
and go in grief counseling.
Okay.
After last night, we all agreed
to have family grief therapy,
and we're deciding that we're
gonna go to Toni's house.
Mommy and Trina are cooking
Traci's favorite meals,
like oxtail and turkey wings,
to celebrate her.
And we're also gonna meet
with the grief therapist.
This is a different journey
for us,
and I'm very hopeful
that maybe whatever's going on
with everybody in the family,
maybe they can get it out,
because I think
that's important.
Would you want to be
a part of that, too?
-Yeah.
-Mm-hmm.
Of course.
Of course.
-Yeah.
-I know you do.
I don't want him
to go into a downward spiral,
you know,
especially during holidays,
especially during
those commemorative moments.
That's when a lot of people
get so downtrodden,
you know, they just don't want
to have to deal with the stress.
They don't want to have
to deal with the hurt.
They don't want to have
to deal with their feelings.
He's gotta get it out
of his body.
But you know, we're gonna
get through this together.
Yes.
I love you!
Kisses.
Bye.
-Here's to Traci.
-I'm not above you.
Clink, clink, clink,
clink, clink.
-I'm not below you.
-I'm right here with you.
Yes.
Ahh.
Tell me, what do you feel
like you need help with?
Towanda: When we go through
therapy sessions,
a lot of things are revealed.
I have to call y'all back.
-Are you okay?
-No.
-Okay.
-Go check on him, Towanda.
-He has a warrant.
-Wait a minute. What?
♪♪
♪♪
Onions?
No, ma'am. I need you
to slice the, um
the onions
and the garlic.
Oh, no!
I can't get that stuff
in my clothes.
Well, I hadn't
changed yet, so
-I'll have Michelle to do it.
-Oh, my God!
-Yeah, girl!
-Prima donna.
Everybody knows that.
That's my middle name.
This week is the two-year
anniversary of Traci's passing,
and we're getting ready
for our family grief therapy
at Toni's house.
I invited a therapist,
and her name is Spirit,
and she helped me so much
in the past,
and I'm hoping she can do
the same for everyone else.
Mommy and I came early
to start cooking
some of Traci's favorite dishes,
but Tonihas to get camera-ready
and Towanda and Tamar
are on their way now.
[Line ringing]
-Umba!
-Hey, Tone.
Toni:
Are you on your way here?
Towanda: Yeah.
I'll be there in a few minutes.Okay.
Like, I'm just doing
the temperature check.
You good?
You ready for today?
Um, I'm getting ready
emotionally, yeah.
I'm getting made up for it,
but emotionally, uh, we'll see.
Good.
I'm in a good space.
You know,
I'm eager to listen.
I'm eager to learn.
I'm eager to grow.
Yeah. Yeah, I haven't I
haven't talked to anyone at all
about Traci stuff.
I've been dealing with it
on my own, so
I'm optimistic
that this will help me.
Yes. Yes!
Toni: I'm optimistic that
this grief management thing
will work, but
I just miss her.
[Crying]
I just miss her every day.
I try to make myself think
of something positive,
like the butterfly doesn't know
it used to be a caterpillar,
and a caterpillar doesn't know
it's gonna be a butterfly.
So Traci's a butterfly.
You just try
to live with a broken heart,
and it's really difficult
trying to make yourself live
with a broken heart.
Toni: Well, you know what?
This is gonna sound real corny.
It's hard to try
to live with a broken heart.
So maybe she can help
unbreak our hearts.
I know that sounds
real corny.
Toni Braxton!
You had to put your song
in there, "Unbreak My Heart"?
I wasn't even
thinking about
I'm talking about
Johnny Mathis version.
I'm singing Johnny Mathis
version.
Oh, no. Unh-unh.
No. No, no.
That is amazing.
Well, at least we can smile
and laugh, you know?
Well, I'll see you in a minute.
-All right. See you.
-Bye.
♪♪
♪♪
Hey!
Tamar: I think grief counseling
is very important.
Whether you lose someone
to death
or lose someone
in a relationship, you know,
I just feel like it's something
that you have to do.
Why you Why you got on
surgical gloves?
-Hey, there, Mother.
-'Cause I had to clean oxtail.
Tamar: Oh.
Miss E:
Traci loved buttermilk biscuits,
so I'm making her in her honor.
-Let's have some cham-pag-ne.
-I got a quick question.
So, what's the objective
of today?
I think it depends
on the individual.
What do you want
to accomplish?
Oh, I'm here
for moral support.
I've been to I've been to,
uh, counseling.
I've been to every kind
of counselor.
I've been to a psychiatrist.
I've been
to a spiritual counselor.
I've been to EFAs. I've been
I've been to everybody.
Different things call for
different kind of people
to explain it to you properly.
The way my help is set up,
I don't care where it come from
as long as I get it.
Grief counseling is
a lot different than
regular counseling.
'Cause I've been to regular
counseling before.
Let me ask you a question.
This is not
I'm not trying
to be derogatory.
No, ask the questions
that you want to ask.
Where Spirit come from?
Why is you calling her
Spirit?
-That's her name.
-That's her name.
Oh.
Obviously,
she didn't come from you.
Well, I've actually known her
for a lot of years.
Towanda: Okay, what was the
first experience with her?
HonestlyPlease.
the first time that
I had a conversation with her,
and this was
almost five years ago,
and that's when
Gabe passed away.
Oh.
It was very helpful.
But I just wasn't ready.
-No, I feel you.
-I wasn't ready.
I'm asking you
to marry me.
Before I was married to Von,
I was married to Gabe
for 14 1/2 years,
and we were on and off
for the last few years.
[Laughs] What the [bleep]
did you do to your hair?
-You don't like it?
-No!
Trina: He loved me.
He loved my family.
They loved him in their own way.
Put on some pants.
-Mm, mm, mm.
-What?
Nobody want to see Dick Van Dyke
all over the place.
-Wait!
[Laughter]
Trina:
After Gabe and I divorced,
we stayed really good friends.
And when he passed away
from cancer,
he was only 43 years old.
And even though I was
very happy with Von
at the time, and still am,
the pain was unexpected,
'cause I lose someone who was
a really big part of my family
and in the lives of my children,
and that wasn't something
I was ready for.
So when you asked her to come,
"Can you help my family?",
what did you ask her
to help?
I just knew, even from
a short period of time,
how she helped me.
She asked questions
that I didn't want to face
at the time,
but I knew
that I had to.Okay.
Well, can we get this show
on the road, because
I'm ready.We gonna get
this road on the show.
I gotta go upstairs and change.
I brought my stuff.
Why do you
have to change?
'Cause I brought an outfit
that Traci gave to me.Oh, okay.
Oh, that's what
you doing today?Very Traci-esque.
That's what
I'm doing today.
-Okay,
-I'm gonna tell you what I need.
Tamar: Let's make some tea.
Let Trina go get dressed.
When you come back down,
we're gonna set up over here
and get all comfortable
so whatever's happening,
we'll be ready.That part.
Be also ready.
Okay.
Where's your fancy stuff?
Where's
the Toni Braxton stuff?
[Laughter]
Go get the Toni Braxton stuff.
Go get the Toni Braxton stuff.
Okay, I do have a little bit
of fancy Toni Braxton tea stuff.
I'm a tea girl.
I love tea parties.
I like collecting tea sets.
And Tamar she loves it.
What are your
Toni Braxton trays?
I haven't been here
in Atlanta in a second.
I've been in L.A. working on,
you know, that show stuff.
You cannot find, like,
paper cups and bowls and spoons
in her house
unless I bring it there.
It's Toni Braxton. She got
expensive [bleep] house.
[Laughs]
Like, what you think she got?
Tamar:
You got a tea towel?
I have everything,
I just don't know where it is.
-Oh thank you, Mommy.
-Oh, you look beautiful.
-Thank you.
-You go, girl.
[Doorbell rings]You hear the doorbell?
Trina, can you answer?
'Cause I don't know her.
I'm gonna take off my robe.
That'd be nice.
Come on, let's go sit down.
Hurry up.
Hurry up. Let's sit down.
-I'm coming.
-Come on.
-Why are we running?
Because we want to be seated
when she gets here.
We're not late
for class.
Knocking, knocking.
It's me and Spirit.
Tamar: Hurry up. Let's sit down.
Come on.
-I don't get a lot of space.
-You got space right there.
Nuh-uh. That's mine
over here. Go ahead.
Trina: Yes, sir.
♪♪
Trina: Yes, sir.
Okay.
-Okay.
-He's still up?
My daddy's up?
He took a nap.
-Everybody got slate?
-Cameras all speeding.
♪♪
-Hey, everybody.
-Hey!
-This is Spirit.
-Hi.
-That's Mom. Tamar.
-Hi, Spirit.
-Towanda. Toni.
-Hello.
Miss E:
After the passing of Traci,
everybody's trying
to deal with their pain.
-Okay. Is this my chair?
-Yes. That's your chair.
I want them
to have grief counseling
because they need it,
for God's sakes.
I need extensive
grief counseling also.
-Hey, Daddy.
-Hello.
-Hi, Dad.
-Y'all good?
[Laughs] Daddy got
his name tag on.
Trina:
That's hilarious.
Hey, Mom-Mom.
Hi, handsome.
Mwah!
Hey, Kev.
Spirit: One of the things that
I like to start off by saying is
grief looks different
for everybody.
And sometimes we think
that we're grieving one thing
and we start
to pull on that,
and then we realize that
there's a whole lot of things
that are connected
to that,
because grief is really
just a feeling.
But I'm wondering, since
you're the person that called,
tell me, what do you feel
like you need help with?
Can I not go first?
Why don't you want
to go first?
'Cause I don't think
I'm ready to say how I feel yet.
Hmm. Okay.
Toni:
We're clearly nervous about
this family grief counseling
session.
And the truth is, we're
not great communicators, okay?
We don't know how
to communicate with each other.
We don't.
We just shut down
and the next time
we see each other, "Hey!"
But we never talked about it.
We just brushed it
under the rug.
I miss you all terribly.
Toni: I'm worried
that holding our feelings in
will be the worst thing for us
in the long run.
So I think this is really
just really needed.
Okay.
Who else?
What are you all
feeling?
We've always dabbled
in a little bit
of family group therapy,
and I think in a lot
of cases it has worked.
I love you girls.
When we, as a family,
go through therapy sessions,
a lot of things are revealed,
like, things
that have been suppressed,
conversations
that have been suppressed
that we didn't deal with.
So I don't think that today
is gonna be any different.
Sometimes
everybody is ready
and sometimes nobody
really wants to.
How are you guys feeling
about being here tonight?
[Clears throat]
Um
I have no idea
how to feel yet.
So are we just kind of
disconnected from our feelings?
No, not disconnected.
Maybe a little.
But I haven't done
grief management before,
so I have no idea
what to expect.
Okay.
How do I help you?
I wish I could give you
some answers.
I want this to be what I like
to call a no-judgment zone.
I do not believe in pitting
individuals against each other.
I do not believe
in creating conflict.
And I do not believe that any
individual is ever a problem
in a situation.
I believe that the problems
are the problem,
and it is up to you
as a family
to be able to work through
those problems.
It's shifted.
It's gone past how we feel
in this whole bereavement
situation.
I can't help you
if you guys aren't clear on
what you actually want
to talk about as real problems.
♪♪
Miss E: You act like you guys
are enemies.
Woman: Her death, instead of
bringing all of you together,
has created
a bit of division.
Man: Why the decision
to return to the show?Oh
Being a Braxton is my legacy.
It's my birthright, right?
Look at God.
Oh, bitch!
[Laughs]
[Laughs]
This is fast!
It's too fast!
Toni:
I'm telling some jokes.
They didn't tell you
to stick to singing?
I'ma tell you what
your joke sounds like.
Ask me if I'm a tree.
-Are you a tree?
-No. [Laughs]
Hit it!
Family is very important
for all of us.
How was school?
If I hit the bull's-eye,
get a grandbaby.
You told my children
to get vasectomies?
If they don't want kids,
yeah.
Aren't you setting
something up for me?
I'm gonna do it.
Get you a date.
-You ready.
-Ready, friend.
Last time we talked,
y'all were gonna
take it another step.
I just have one question
for you.Okay.
[Screams]
I haven't performed
in over four years.
Toni: Just a few months ago,
I had a major scare
involving my heart.
Every day I'm like, I just hope
I don't get sick.
I hope I don't get sick.
I just lost a child!
Trina: There are parts of my
story that has to be told.
[Crying]
I wasn't strong enough.
I wasn't strong enough
to see it.
I'll stop the entire show.
[Cheers and applause]
♪♪
[Camera shutter clicks]
Toni:
Trina, hurry up.
Trina:
I'm coming right now!
Man: We've got Trina
in makeup.
Toni's here.
Towanda is on the way.
Towanda: You good?
You ready for today?
Um, I'm getting ready
emotionally, yeah.
I'm getting made up for it,
but emotionally, eh, we'll see.
Are you good?Yeah, I'm in a good space.
Woman:
Tamar is in route.
Man:
Miss E's in the kitchen.
She's gonna be cooking.
We should be shooting
in about 20 minutes.
"The Braxtons."
The Braxtons are back, guys!
Look at God.
Man: All right, y'all,
let's get last looks in
so we can get this going.
Let's get this party started.
This is my first
green screen.
What's the black gonna
what's the background gonna be?
In the back?
-Yep.
Miss E:
It's been a long time coming.
We've dealt with a lot,
and so we have a lot to share.
Matter of fact, the Braxtons
never should have gone away.
How 'bout that?
Wouldn't you agree?
I love you guys,
in case you didn't know.
Yeah, baby.
Now we talkin'.
I think that the Braxtons
remind every family
of themselves in some aspect
[Cheering]
whether it's
the music aspect
Oh, Mary, don't you weep
[Vocalizing]
Mother, don't you Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah!
Let's watch these Let's watch
these pitches, honey.
When you ready for me,
let me know.
-Oh, you tryin'.
-I can't I'm standing.
whether you're getting along,
whether you're not
getting along
Well, since you left
the group, Toni, somebody
had to take control.
[Laughter]
the cliques that's
within the families,
it somehow reminds you
of your own.
Hey. I'm so glad
you're cooking.Mwah!
Trina: With our family,
there's always an opportunity
for things to go left.
[Laughs]
I am just really excited
that things are going right.
[Laughs]
-[Sighs]
-Aah!
Towanda: You know, I'm glad
that we're back.
But the other part of it is,
I know that we have
a missing piece
that is never gonna be
the same without her.
Toni: This week is the second
anniversary of Traci's passing.
Traci wanted everybody to know
that she was a fighter and that,
you know, her illness was
not going to break her spirit.
She was gonna
always remain the Traci
that we all knew her to be.
Hey!
Hi. Why y'all so excited
to see me?
My sisters are here.
Traci may not be here
physically,
but her spirit and her energy
will alwaysbe here.
It'll be here forever.
Toni:
Give it up for Traci!
Miss E:
She called me.
She said, "Mommy,
I have cancer."
Toni: I felt so helpless,
like I couldn't do anything
to save her.
I feel like we need to have
some type of support.
-Like grief management?
-Grief management or
because that's a lot.
I had the echo done.
I had the EKG.
I had bloodwork done.
What's wrong
with your heart?
[Crying]
Suppose that I got my boys.
What's gonna happen
to Denim and Diezel?
I am who I am. You accept me
or you just don't accept me.
It's just a part of who I am.
I have alopecia,
and that's just it.
Trina: We're just calling
to check in on you,
see how you feeling,
see how you doing.
I don't want him
to go into a downward spiral.
We need to go ahead
and go in grief counseling.
Tell me, what do you feel
like you need help with?
I don't think
I'm ready.
So I have no idea
what to expect.
Any idea for what
may need to happen tonight
in order to make sure that it
stays in a positive direction?
♪♪
[Tape rewinding]
♪♪
♪♪
-All right.
-Unh-unh. Unh-unh.
Braxtons, baby.
Let's get it.
♪♪
Come on, Caleb.
Take care.
All right, love you.
Trina: You, too.
Have a great day.
What is that
you're making?
Beef chorizo.
I am hungry.
I haven't had any food today.
Oh, shocker.
Are you putting
all that cheese in there?
Uh, no, not unless you want to
stay in the bathroom
for the next
couple of days.
Yeah, I'm good.
When's that
gonna be done?
In a few minutes.
What are we gonna eat
with it?
-Chips.
-That's it?
It's dip.
Mm. Any broccoli?
Trina:
Von and I have been married
for almost five years now,
and our blended family
has blended together
quite beautifully, and I'm
still so much in love with Von,
it's like the first day
that I married him.
["Bridal Chorus" plays]
Walk all the way up
and then let it go.
Man: Pause.
-Yeah.
-Now spread out. Ooh!
-Oh, [bleep]
-I got you, I got you,
I got you, I got you.
Got you.
She slipped.
I did.
I knew my pants was too long.
I couldn't hold my pants up
and hold Trina dress up
at the same time.
It was either her or me.
I ain't drink nothing.Watch your boob.
Watch your boob.
Watch your boob.
How you feeling
about the show coming back?
I'm a little leery.
It's been three years now
since we've last done the show.
And then ever since everything
happened even with Traci, I
I would have thought
that maybe, you know,
it would have brought
everybody to a different place
where we're closer
and things like that.
But that's not
what happened here.
And I just wonder
how that's gonna be
actually working together again,
'cause we haven't really done
any kind of works together,
not collaboratively.
And that's it
that worries me.
I won't say that my sisters
and I have become estranged
since Traci's passing.
I feel like no one really wanted
to address it and talk about it.
So my feelings were enclosed.
They were put in a box.
And especially for me,
that was unhealthy.
I should have had my sisters
to lean on to be those people
for me to talk to,
but it just didn't feel
like that's what they wanted
for themselves.
You know we're supposed
to be going to dinner
with Toni
and the girls tonight.
Well, not youWho is "we"?
-but me and
-Okay, cool.
Towanda and Tamar
and Mommy.
Nice. Y'all need some time
together.
I'm really glad that Toni is
in town for a couple of days
because we never see each other.
okay?
Tonight will be
a good check-in to see
how everyone's doing,
especially as we get close
to the two-year anniversary
of Traci's passing.
Mommy's been pushing for us
to talk to a grief counselor
together, but we haven't decided
if we're ready to do that yet.
We're gonna talk about,
you know, Traci.
We never really sat and talked
about it as a family
ever since
That day.
you know,
we had her memorial service.
Yep.
How are you feeling?
It's been difficult.
It's been difficult.
Grieving is a very real thing,
you know what I mean?
That's a given, yeah.And it's
That's why it's so important
for us to stay in contact
with Baby Kevin,
with Little Kevin.
Little Kevin is
not just Traci's son.
He's her only child.Hey!
They had the deepest bond
in the whole entire world.
Hey, Kevin!
I think the loss of Traci
for Little Kevin
was one of the most
detrimental things
he's ever been through
in his life,
and we need to make sure
he knows that
just because he lost his mother,
he isn't alone.
Dude lost his mom
very early in life.
But he doesn't speak
to his dad as much either.
What?
I didn't know that.
Not as often as I would
I would think.
I won't speak negatively
about his dad
because his dad
was grieving, too.
No matter my personal opinion
toward him,
he's still a grieving husband.
But when your surviving parent
is shut down
and the parent that you lost
is gone,
who do you
who do you have?
It's almost a loss
of both parents.
I think we should check on him,
see how he's doing.
I just don't know
The situation was
tough for everybody.
Yeah.
It's tough for everybody.
But Toni said that
she has something to say to us.
But you just never know
what it's gonna be.
Good or bad?
I don't know,
Toni, in true Toni fashion,
asked the family
to come to dinner,
and she had something
to tell us, you know.
But this time, when she told us
that she wanted to talk,
the setting of her tone
was very melancholy.
And I'm really afraid 'cause
Toni has always been recluse
when it comes to her feelings.
She's never really been
this person
who just wants everybody to know
what's going on with her.
-You know what?
-Hmm?
It don't matter
what she wants to talk about.
The fact of the matter is
that all of y'all be together.
Now, that I agree with.
♪♪
Trina: We've never truly grieved
together since Traci's passing.
'Cause I don't think
I'm ready.
I haven't talked
to anyone at all.
I just try to live
with a broken heart.
This is really messed up.
I'm scared, like, every day.
[Crying] And I can't even
handle that feeling.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
-Hey, Mama.
-Hey.
-Everybody looks amazing.
-Nice.
I would just like to say,
for the record,
I'm not paying because y'all
do this to me every time.
Who's paying?
Towanda. She's late.
[Laughs]
Miss E: This family dinner is
the first time
that everyone's together
filming again.
It feels so good to have
everyone in the same room.
However, I'm missing Traci.
How's everybody been?
I ain't seen everybody.
I haven't seen or talked to you.
Where you been?
I know.
I've been working.
-Good.
-I'm excited.
I haven't worked
in 15 months.
These days, I'm a bit bicoastal
between L.A. and Atlanta,
but I've been seeing in L.A.
more lately
since I've been rehearsing
for my new Las Vegas show
with Cedric the Entertainer.
It's called "Love & Laughter,"
and it's a variety show with
singing and dancing and comedy,
which is kind of new for me,
but I'm getting more
and more excited
about the challenge of it all.
-You feel like you ready?
-I'm a little nervous.
Yesterday I was like,
"I'm nervous, Cedric.
I haven't performed in "
I'm never nervous like this.
So just anxiety,
that's all.
-You got this.
-Yeah, you're fine.
You got this.
I actually had a Vegas show
over 15 years ago, in 2007,
and while I was doing that show,
I had chest pains.
That's when I was diagnosed
with lupus.
And I was told then that I may
never be able to perform again.
And I was scared to tell anyone.
The truth is that
I have lupus,
What do you mean?
I've been battling it
for a while,
and I didn't want to tell anyone
'cause everyone's like,
"Oh, you can't tell anyone
'cause you can't work.
You don't want to tell anybody
'cause it might defer people
from wanting to work
with you."
So anyway,
now I'm tired of faking it.
[Sobs]
I'm a little scared 'cause
I haven't performed it so long.
But the doctor said 15 months,
and this is exactly 15 months.
Oh.
Ugh. I know I have to tell the
girls about the health scare,
which makes me feel
some kind of way,
'cause the last health scare
we heard was Traci.
My family know
that a few months ago
I had to have a stent
put in my heart,
which was extremely scary,
but I haven't told them the
nitty gritty, the details of it,
what really has happened.
So I gotta make sure
that, you know, I tell them
without making them
I want them to feel at ease,
I should say.
And it's not easy
to talk about for myself.
But on the brink
of Traci's stuff,
I don't want to get
them riled up.
"Ooh, is Toni okay?"
So I don't even want
to tell them.
Maybe I shouldn't.
I don't know.
You look really good,
by the way.I do?
I can tell you've been
over there in that
California lifestyle.
I'm over here in
this Georgia lifestyle.
It's a little different.
I hate living
in Lemon Pepper Island.
-You know what?
-Where's that?
-What's Lemon Pepper Island?
-That's where I live at.
Everything is lemon pepper.
They probably got
lemon pepper pedicures.
It's lemon pepper everything.
Lemon pepper and hookah.
Hookah, lemon, hookah, lemon,
hookah.
But we have guacamole.
We eat avocado toast.
-I'll eat that.
-What?
What about you?
Is you single? What's the tea?
Oh, that's a big tea.
Ah, I feel like
I'm single.
I feel like
I'm pretty much single.
What's that mean?
"Pretty much"?
I was engaged.
I'm not married.
I'm not engaged anymore.
And I'm not married.
And that's all I'm gonna say.
So you got a boyfriend?
I'm focused on my two boys
and my work.
It's been a strange time
since Traci's passed,
but I am happy in my life
overall.
Just not in a place
for a relationshipright now.
-Yeah. What are you checking?
-Under my eye.
What are you doing,
First Wives Club?
-Under my eye.
-Oh, yeah.
-Ahhhhh!
-Wow.
-[Laughs]
-Oh, wow. Twins!
-Y'all did this on purpose.
-We did not.
Oh, my God!
Why are you copying
off of me?
Nothing wrong with it.
They did it on purpose.
I did not, I was
I didn't see Trina all day.
All I want to know is,
what's new, pussycat?
Y'all used to dress like this
when y'all were younger.
-I'm flabbergasted.
-Oh, my God!
Traci is, like, 100% looking
down, cracking up.
I mean, I've been missing this.
Whenever we get together,
there's always this crazy
and silly moments.
And with Traci,
it was even crazier.
She made everything fun.
Traci: I have to pee right now.
I can't wait.
Woman: Don't pee, Traci,
just 'cause it's ocean!
Don't pee. Traci!I have to pee!
Wait for a bathroom,
Traci!
[Whistling and singing]
Where do you get
that big Bob Marley one?
[Laughter]
It just don't seem right.
It's like a seat's missing.
-Yeah, it is missing.
-Traci's holding our purses.
-Yeah.
-Not exactly.
"I'm not holding
everybody purse."
"Everybody take their own.
Here you, here you,
and here you."
I hear all the time
from our fans
how they miss watching
our antics
♪♪
[All screaming]
laughing with us.
[Laughter]
No, no!
[Indistinct conversation]
Clink, clink, clink, clink,
clink, clink, clink.
-Yes!
-That's that old Whitney clap.
Whitney gonna get you.
Have a seat.
Mm!
Toni:
and crying with us
I don't want to
talk about that.
But it's the truth.
and singing with us.
The trumpet
Sound
[Singing indistinctly]
Because
[Singing indistinctly]
♪♪
She got four kids,
and that's enough ♪
She don't want no more kids,
and that's just ♪
Dear dog
Dear dog
We don't like all y'all
Dear dog
Happy birthday to you
-Thank you, guys!
-Yes!
When we were filming
for your birthday in L.A.,
she was telling me and Trina,
she was like,
"I can't even swallow.
It hurts. It burns.
Oh, my God. It burns.
Burns when I swallow.
Ooh, it burns.
Ooh, it burns.
Can I get a Ketel One?"
[Laughter]
-Yeah.
-She was sick.
When she finally went
to the doctor
When she went is
when she get homeI was in LA.
-Yeah.
-And she called me.
She said, "Mommy,
I have cancer."
That was
She said,
"But I'm gonna beat this."
I said,
"I know you will."
When Traci got diagnosed,
it didn't seem real at all.
It still doesn't.
For me, family is the most
important thing in my life.
I spent my whole life caring for
and protecting my sisters.
But this was different 'cause
there's nothing I could do.
I felt so helpless,
like I couldn't do anything
to save her.
That's really hard
for me to digest
because I was the sick one,
not Traci.
Anyway, I'm sorry, guys.
I just need a moment.
[Clears throat]
[Exhales]
Okay, here we go.
[Clears throat]
I can't mess up my makeup.
You know, I feel like we need to
have some type of support.
-Like grief management?
-Grief management or
because that's a lot to
-It's a lot.
-You know what I'm saying?
-Yes.
Miss E: Everybody is dealing
with it in their own way.
But I think Trina really
and truly
need extensive counseling
because she was there
when Traci took her last breath.
Has anybody gone to
grief counseling?
I probably should have
after Traci.Yeah.
I have before,
but not after Traci,
and I probably should have.Yeah.
Every time I see
your necklace
-Oh, yeah.
-I don't have mine on today.
-I think of Tray.
-Traci wanted us to wear this.
And she just
She's like, "I want my sisters
to all wear"
No, she said she want us
to take her wherever
All: We go.
Traci loved hummingbirds.
There was a just this whole
mural on her back.
It was five hummingbirds,
so it represented every sister.
Before she passed,
she told us that she always
wants us to take her with us
so she can continue her journey.
So wherever I go, whatever
I'm doing, I take her with me.
She's still here.
She's still here.
Now, the only time
I ever take Traci off
is when I'm in a moment
with my husband.
I'm sure she doesn't
want to be there.
Sorry, Traci, but I'm sure you
didn't want to be there.
[Laughs]
How's Little Kevin doing?
He's going through
some things,
you know, he's going through
a divorce, so
Wait, what happ
what what happened?
He told everybody what happen?
What happened?
I am taken aback
that Little Kevin is going
through a divorce
because I see Little Kevin
all the time.
We have dinner and catch up
and things like that.
But he's never told me about
his situations with my niece.
Traci would be sad about that,
very sad.
Toni: Has Little Kevin done
grief management?
-No.
-No, no, no.
'Cause loss of his mom
that's a lot.
His best friend.
[Sighs] I heard that
Kevin was getting a divorce,
and I know
I think of Traci.
That would break her heart.
And 'cause it's breaking mine,
for God's sakes.
Towanda: She about to cry.
What's wrong?
-I'm not.
-Yes, she is.
It's time.
Tamar: You can't touch Trina
when she's crying.
Mnh-mnh.
As time go by
Don't! Don't handle my plate
like that!
[Laughter]
-Let's change the subject.
-I'd like to hear Toni's news.
I went to the doctor.
♪♪
-Here's to Traci.
-I'm not above you.
-Clink, clink, clink.
-I'm not below you.
Together:
I'm right here with you.
How are you guys feeling
about being here tonight?
What's going on?
Y'all got so many secrets.
-I don't have any secrets.
-It's so irritating.
Trina's going tapping,
and it's like
But this is not the forum.
This is not the forum.
Trina: I would like to hear
Toni's news.
I went to the doctor.
My heart was aching.
It was like I had had
every test done.
I had the echo done.
I had the EKG.
I had bloodwork done.
And I went to get the angio
and the doctor was like,
"No, that's your pre-op.
I said, "What you mean,
my pre-op?"
"No, you having surgery.
Gotta look inside your heart."
What's wrong
with your heart?
If the heart attack
had happened,
they caught it
just before it happened.
If I had had a heart attack,
I wouldn't have survived.
I wouldn't be here
right now.
But it was something
called the Widowmaker.
They told me, "Your sister
was watching over you
'cause you, by rights,
should be dead today.
You should not
be alive today."
I've always known
Toni's health was serious.
I didn't take it lightly.
As a mother, I worry.
And I think she feels
that if Traci can leave now,
so soon, well, maybe me too.
The thing that's
really messed up
doctor I was told that
It's okay, Tonieven though
I got the stent in,
you will eventually need
bypass surgery.
Because if I have
a heart attack, I won't survive.
I had to have
a stent put in my heart,
which was extremely scary.
It's very scary procedure
itself.
But when my doctor told me
I might not ever be
able to do a tour again,
okay, I heard it before,
but this was different.
They say you may never be able
to do another tour
because you could have a heart
attack and it could kill you.
It's, like, crazy anxiety.
It's like
[crying] I just think about it
all the time.
What's gonna happen
to Denim and Diezel?
Who would take care of them?
This is really bad stuff, so I'm
scared, like, every day.
If I have a heart attack,
I won't survive,
and I can't even handle
that feeling.
Just because they say it
doesn't make it true.
-Oh, absolutely.
-Can I offer you something?
All I could think about
were the boys.
And I hate saying it
out loud even now,
'cause it's real.
It's real life.
So I have to be scared
every day.
Every day!
You can't even understand.
Like, oh, is that heartburn
or am I having a heart attack?
The Bible says, "Speak things,
although they are" what?
"so. And so it is."
-That's it.
-That's how that works.
It's a personal thing.
As soon as you feel that
the fear is comingAmen.
in here, you demand it
to leave and it will.
That's just it.Did you point
to my vagina?
Yes. You made you made it
to leave, and it will.
Well, if you don't
use it
-You don't use it
-You lose it.
Now, that's a fact.
Trina: Seeing my family
rally around Toni
with so much love and support
reminded me of
how many times
we've hugged each other
and loved on each other
in the past,
and it gives me hope that we can
be as close as we used to be.
And it might take time, but
we always have Traci with us,
making us stronger.
Toni: I needed this more than
I wanted to admit to myself,
and I honestly think we all did.
-Aw, you'll be fine, girl.
-Yep.
-You're already okay.
-You're already good.
Trina:
You're already okay.
For me, the main reason
for wanting to do "The Braxtons"
again is because of Traci.
She wanted us to do the show.
She wanted us to talk
about her cancer, her illness,
in hopes that it would help
someone else maybe battling it.
Whenever there's a loss,
a death in the family,
it can go either way
it can bring you closer
or further apart.
And I think this was her way
of making sure we stay together.
♪♪
-And it is so.
-Let me tell you something.
You already living.
You can't be afraid to live.
[Crying] I thought I was
strong enough,
but I wasn't strong enough
to see it.
And if somebody said,
"Trina drink too much,"
well, I'm sorry!
That's what Trina needs
right now!
You act like
you guys are enemies.
I can't take it!
It's too much!
Turn it up
You look adorable.
-So do you.
-Thank you.
I got you a drink,
and I got me a drink.
All right, but after today,
I'm on a hiatus.
So, why?
'Cause I need my stomach
to be flat.
[Laughs]
Umba and I
have always been super close.
You know, Towanda
and I live in Georgia.
Toni and Tamara
lived in California.
My brother Mikey and Traci
lived together in Maryland.
So it just made more sense
for Towanda and I
to gravitate towards each other.
But especially after
Traci's passing,
we've gotten even closer
because you just never know.
-Thank you.
-Thank you so much.
So, you know, Trina,
a lot of people
were sending me messages saying,
"Oh, my God.
Is Towanda sick?
Is Towanda sick?
Oh, my God.
Is she sick, too?"
First of all,
you remember that we all said
that we were gonna cut
our hair, right?
Butyou didn't
cut your hair.
I have a face that's round
like Mommy's.
[Laughs]
Y'all have slender faces.
Mine is round.
That was my inheritance.
I hadn't exactly told
the world that I have alopecia.
A lot of people assume
a lot of different things.
I took pride in how I looked,
and I have to be honest
I didn't think about my body.
It was what was going on
in the inside.
And that was, "Oh, my gosh.
People are gonna know
that I have alopecia.
Oh, my God.
Maybe people aren't gonna
like me anymore."
How do you feel
about it now?
I am who I am. You accept me
or you just don't accept me.
It's just a part
of who I am.
I have alopecia,
and that's just it.
-I like it.
-Well, thank you.
There's this video of Traci.
And she got her long,
little, skinny fingers.
And she's just rubbing
on Towanda's head.
And Towanda has all these
patches, you know,
of, like, missing hair.
Traci used to always do my hair,
didn't you, Trace?
Mm-hmm.
Remember that?
Only Trace would just always
just rub it, just
just rub Towanda's hair.
And
Towanda
cut off her hair,
and Traci said
that she should do it.
And
[Exhales] I need a second,
'cause you're not gonna get me.
You're not gonna get me today.
Mm. I don't know why,
but Little Kevin's on my mind.
-Is he really?
-Yeah, yeah.
-Want me to call him? Okay.
-Yeah.
Towanda:
Since Traci passed,
we have really been trying
to be there
for Little Kevin as much
as possible.
I know we can never fill
that void of losing his mom
and his best friend,
but we are definitely doing
the best that we can
to be there for him.
-Aunties.
-Hi!
-Hey!
-How y'all?
We're just calling
to check in on you,
see how you feeling,
see how you doing.
Towanda: Well, I love you.
You look amazing.
Who did your hair?Yeah, your twists are cute.
Thank you.
Wait, wait. What?
What?! Your wife
braided your hair?
When did she do that?
-But she did your hair.
-Right.
Little Kevin is Traci's
only son,
and I think
that the death of Traci
has really affected
his marriage.
-Gotta keep it moving.
-I'm sorry.
Especially in the middle of
-Yeah.
-Yeah.
He's lost a mom
and a best friend,
and he's losing his wife,
so I can only imagine what
he's going through emotionally.
We were all together
last night,
and what we understand is
that we need to go ahead
and go in grief counseling.
Okay.
After last night, we all agreed
to have family grief therapy,
and we're deciding that we're
gonna go to Toni's house.
Mommy and Trina are cooking
Traci's favorite meals,
like oxtail and turkey wings,
to celebrate her.
And we're also gonna meet
with the grief therapist.
This is a different journey
for us,
and I'm very hopeful
that maybe whatever's going on
with everybody in the family,
maybe they can get it out,
because I think
that's important.
Would you want to be
a part of that, too?
-Yeah.
-Mm-hmm.
Of course.
Of course.
-Yeah.
-I know you do.
I don't want him
to go into a downward spiral,
you know,
especially during holidays,
especially during
those commemorative moments.
That's when a lot of people
get so downtrodden,
you know, they just don't want
to have to deal with the stress.
They don't want to have
to deal with the hurt.
They don't want to have
to deal with their feelings.
He's gotta get it out
of his body.
But you know, we're gonna
get through this together.
Yes.
I love you!
Kisses.
Bye.
-Here's to Traci.
-I'm not above you.
Clink, clink, clink,
clink, clink.
-I'm not below you.
-I'm right here with you.
Yes.
Ahh.
Tell me, what do you feel
like you need help with?
Towanda: When we go through
therapy sessions,
a lot of things are revealed.
I have to call y'all back.
-Are you okay?
-No.
-Okay.
-Go check on him, Towanda.
-He has a warrant.
-Wait a minute. What?
♪♪
♪♪
Onions?
No, ma'am. I need you
to slice the, um
the onions
and the garlic.
Oh, no!
I can't get that stuff
in my clothes.
Well, I hadn't
changed yet, so
-I'll have Michelle to do it.
-Oh, my God!
-Yeah, girl!
-Prima donna.
Everybody knows that.
That's my middle name.
This week is the two-year
anniversary of Traci's passing,
and we're getting ready
for our family grief therapy
at Toni's house.
I invited a therapist,
and her name is Spirit,
and she helped me so much
in the past,
and I'm hoping she can do
the same for everyone else.
Mommy and I came early
to start cooking
some of Traci's favorite dishes,
but Tonihas to get camera-ready
and Towanda and Tamar
are on their way now.
[Line ringing]
-Umba!
-Hey, Tone.
Toni:
Are you on your way here?
Towanda: Yeah.
I'll be there in a few minutes.Okay.
Like, I'm just doing
the temperature check.
You good?
You ready for today?
Um, I'm getting ready
emotionally, yeah.
I'm getting made up for it,
but emotionally, uh, we'll see.
Good.
I'm in a good space.
You know,
I'm eager to listen.
I'm eager to learn.
I'm eager to grow.
Yeah. Yeah, I haven't I
haven't talked to anyone at all
about Traci stuff.
I've been dealing with it
on my own, so
I'm optimistic
that this will help me.
Yes. Yes!
Toni: I'm optimistic that
this grief management thing
will work, but
I just miss her.
[Crying]
I just miss her every day.
I try to make myself think
of something positive,
like the butterfly doesn't know
it used to be a caterpillar,
and a caterpillar doesn't know
it's gonna be a butterfly.
So Traci's a butterfly.
You just try
to live with a broken heart,
and it's really difficult
trying to make yourself live
with a broken heart.
Toni: Well, you know what?
This is gonna sound real corny.
It's hard to try
to live with a broken heart.
So maybe she can help
unbreak our hearts.
I know that sounds
real corny.
Toni Braxton!
You had to put your song
in there, "Unbreak My Heart"?
I wasn't even
thinking about
I'm talking about
Johnny Mathis version.
I'm singing Johnny Mathis
version.
Oh, no. Unh-unh.
No. No, no.
That is amazing.
Well, at least we can smile
and laugh, you know?
Well, I'll see you in a minute.
-All right. See you.
-Bye.
♪♪
♪♪
Hey!
Tamar: I think grief counseling
is very important.
Whether you lose someone
to death
or lose someone
in a relationship, you know,
I just feel like it's something
that you have to do.
Why you Why you got on
surgical gloves?
-Hey, there, Mother.
-'Cause I had to clean oxtail.
Tamar: Oh.
Miss E:
Traci loved buttermilk biscuits,
so I'm making her in her honor.
-Let's have some cham-pag-ne.
-I got a quick question.
So, what's the objective
of today?
I think it depends
on the individual.
What do you want
to accomplish?
Oh, I'm here
for moral support.
I've been to I've been to,
uh, counseling.
I've been to every kind
of counselor.
I've been to a psychiatrist.
I've been
to a spiritual counselor.
I've been to EFAs. I've been
I've been to everybody.
Different things call for
different kind of people
to explain it to you properly.
The way my help is set up,
I don't care where it come from
as long as I get it.
Grief counseling is
a lot different than
regular counseling.
'Cause I've been to regular
counseling before.
Let me ask you a question.
This is not
I'm not trying
to be derogatory.
No, ask the questions
that you want to ask.
Where Spirit come from?
Why is you calling her
Spirit?
-That's her name.
-That's her name.
Oh.
Obviously,
she didn't come from you.
Well, I've actually known her
for a lot of years.
Towanda: Okay, what was the
first experience with her?
HonestlyPlease.
the first time that
I had a conversation with her,
and this was
almost five years ago,
and that's when
Gabe passed away.
Oh.
It was very helpful.
But I just wasn't ready.
-No, I feel you.
-I wasn't ready.
I'm asking you
to marry me.
Before I was married to Von,
I was married to Gabe
for 14 1/2 years,
and we were on and off
for the last few years.
[Laughs] What the [bleep]
did you do to your hair?
-You don't like it?
-No!
Trina: He loved me.
He loved my family.
They loved him in their own way.
Put on some pants.
-Mm, mm, mm.
-What?
Nobody want to see Dick Van Dyke
all over the place.
-Wait!
[Laughter]
Trina:
After Gabe and I divorced,
we stayed really good friends.
And when he passed away
from cancer,
he was only 43 years old.
And even though I was
very happy with Von
at the time, and still am,
the pain was unexpected,
'cause I lose someone who was
a really big part of my family
and in the lives of my children,
and that wasn't something
I was ready for.
So when you asked her to come,
"Can you help my family?",
what did you ask her
to help?
I just knew, even from
a short period of time,
how she helped me.
She asked questions
that I didn't want to face
at the time,
but I knew
that I had to.Okay.
Well, can we get this show
on the road, because
I'm ready.We gonna get
this road on the show.
I gotta go upstairs and change.
I brought my stuff.
Why do you
have to change?
'Cause I brought an outfit
that Traci gave to me.Oh, okay.
Oh, that's what
you doing today?Very Traci-esque.
That's what
I'm doing today.
-Okay,
-I'm gonna tell you what I need.
Tamar: Let's make some tea.
Let Trina go get dressed.
When you come back down,
we're gonna set up over here
and get all comfortable
so whatever's happening,
we'll be ready.That part.
Be also ready.
Okay.
Where's your fancy stuff?
Where's
the Toni Braxton stuff?
[Laughter]
Go get the Toni Braxton stuff.
Go get the Toni Braxton stuff.
Okay, I do have a little bit
of fancy Toni Braxton tea stuff.
I'm a tea girl.
I love tea parties.
I like collecting tea sets.
And Tamar she loves it.
What are your
Toni Braxton trays?
I haven't been here
in Atlanta in a second.
I've been in L.A. working on,
you know, that show stuff.
You cannot find, like,
paper cups and bowls and spoons
in her house
unless I bring it there.
It's Toni Braxton. She got
expensive [bleep] house.
[Laughs]
Like, what you think she got?
Tamar:
You got a tea towel?
I have everything,
I just don't know where it is.
-Oh thank you, Mommy.
-Oh, you look beautiful.
-Thank you.
-You go, girl.
[Doorbell rings]You hear the doorbell?
Trina, can you answer?
'Cause I don't know her.
I'm gonna take off my robe.
That'd be nice.
Come on, let's go sit down.
Hurry up.
Hurry up. Let's sit down.
-I'm coming.
-Come on.
-Why are we running?
Because we want to be seated
when she gets here.
We're not late
for class.
Knocking, knocking.
It's me and Spirit.
Tamar: Hurry up. Let's sit down.
Come on.
-I don't get a lot of space.
-You got space right there.
Nuh-uh. That's mine
over here. Go ahead.
Trina: Yes, sir.
♪♪
Trina: Yes, sir.
Okay.
-Okay.
-He's still up?
My daddy's up?
He took a nap.
-Everybody got slate?
-Cameras all speeding.
♪♪
-Hey, everybody.
-Hey!
-This is Spirit.
-Hi.
-That's Mom. Tamar.
-Hi, Spirit.
-Towanda. Toni.
-Hello.
Miss E:
After the passing of Traci,
everybody's trying
to deal with their pain.
-Okay. Is this my chair?
-Yes. That's your chair.
I want them
to have grief counseling
because they need it,
for God's sakes.
I need extensive
grief counseling also.
-Hey, Daddy.
-Hello.
-Hi, Dad.
-Y'all good?
[Laughs] Daddy got
his name tag on.
Trina:
That's hilarious.
Hey, Mom-Mom.
Hi, handsome.
Mwah!
Hey, Kev.
Spirit: One of the things that
I like to start off by saying is
grief looks different
for everybody.
And sometimes we think
that we're grieving one thing
and we start
to pull on that,
and then we realize that
there's a whole lot of things
that are connected
to that,
because grief is really
just a feeling.
But I'm wondering, since
you're the person that called,
tell me, what do you feel
like you need help with?
Can I not go first?
Why don't you want
to go first?
'Cause I don't think
I'm ready to say how I feel yet.
Hmm. Okay.
Toni:
We're clearly nervous about
this family grief counseling
session.
And the truth is, we're
not great communicators, okay?
We don't know how
to communicate with each other.
We don't.
We just shut down
and the next time
we see each other, "Hey!"
But we never talked about it.
We just brushed it
under the rug.
I miss you all terribly.
Toni: I'm worried
that holding our feelings in
will be the worst thing for us
in the long run.
So I think this is really
just really needed.
Okay.
Who else?
What are you all
feeling?
We've always dabbled
in a little bit
of family group therapy,
and I think in a lot
of cases it has worked.
I love you girls.
When we, as a family,
go through therapy sessions,
a lot of things are revealed,
like, things
that have been suppressed,
conversations
that have been suppressed
that we didn't deal with.
So I don't think that today
is gonna be any different.
Sometimes
everybody is ready
and sometimes nobody
really wants to.
How are you guys feeling
about being here tonight?
[Clears throat]
Um
I have no idea
how to feel yet.
So are we just kind of
disconnected from our feelings?
No, not disconnected.
Maybe a little.
But I haven't done
grief management before,
so I have no idea
what to expect.
Okay.
How do I help you?
I wish I could give you
some answers.
I want this to be what I like
to call a no-judgment zone.
I do not believe in pitting
individuals against each other.
I do not believe
in creating conflict.
And I do not believe that any
individual is ever a problem
in a situation.
I believe that the problems
are the problem,
and it is up to you
as a family
to be able to work through
those problems.
It's shifted.
It's gone past how we feel
in this whole bereavement
situation.
I can't help you
if you guys aren't clear on
what you actually want
to talk about as real problems.
♪♪
Miss E: You act like you guys
are enemies.
Woman: Her death, instead of
bringing all of you together,
has created
a bit of division.
Man: Why the decision
to return to the show?Oh
Being a Braxton is my legacy.
It's my birthright, right?
Look at God.
Oh, bitch!
[Laughs]
[Laughs]
This is fast!
It's too fast!
Toni:
I'm telling some jokes.
They didn't tell you
to stick to singing?
I'ma tell you what
your joke sounds like.
Ask me if I'm a tree.
-Are you a tree?
-No. [Laughs]
Hit it!
Family is very important
for all of us.
How was school?
If I hit the bull's-eye,
get a grandbaby.
You told my children
to get vasectomies?
If they don't want kids,
yeah.
Aren't you setting
something up for me?
I'm gonna do it.
Get you a date.
-You ready.
-Ready, friend.
Last time we talked,
y'all were gonna
take it another step.
I just have one question
for you.Okay.
[Screams]
I haven't performed
in over four years.
Toni: Just a few months ago,
I had a major scare
involving my heart.
Every day I'm like, I just hope
I don't get sick.
I hope I don't get sick.
I just lost a child!
Trina: There are parts of my
story that has to be told.
[Crying]
I wasn't strong enough.
I wasn't strong enough
to see it.
I'll stop the entire show.
[Cheers and applause]
♪♪