CELEBRITIES

Brandy Norwood

Credit: Kevork Djansezian/AMA2012/Getty Images for AMA

BIO

Born in McComb, Mississippi on February 11, 1979, singer and actress Brandy Norwood became a huge star as a teenager. Norwood's parents moved to L.A. to jump-start her career, and in 1993, she she won a recording contract after performing at an Atlantic Records party.

At age 15, Norwood released her first album, which sold 4 million copies. In 1996 she landed a starring role on the UPN sitcom Moesha, which ran for six years until 2001. Norwood's sophomore album, Never Say Never, was released in 1998; it sold more than five million copies.

While recording her third album, Full Moon, Norwood became involved with producer Robert Smith. The two (who claimed to be married, but later admitted that they never were) had a daughter, Sy'rai, born in 2002. The relationship did not last, and in 2004 she began dating NBA player Quentin Richardson. The two became engaged in 2004, but called off the engagement in 2005.

Norwood competed during 11 of ABC's Dancing With the Stars.