The news of Traci Braxton’s death shocked fans after her family announced it. However, was Traci actress sick? Let’s find out.
On March 12, 2022, American R&B singer Toni Braxton in an emotional post on her Instagram, announced the tragic news that her sister Traci Braxton had died that morning.
Traci, who was not as famous as her sister Toni, was not just a singer with a fantastic voice during her lifetime; the beautiful star was also a talented actress and reality TV star. The late 50-year-old star lived most of her life as a force to be reckoned with.
In the Instagram post, Toni lauded her sister for being a bright light to the family and how much they would miss her. She wrote:
“It is with the utmost regret that we inform you of the passing of our sister, Traci. Needless to say, she was a bright light, a wonderful daughter, an amazing sister, a loving mother, wife, grandmother and a respected performer. We will miss her dearly.”
Traci, her four sisters, Toni, Towanda, Trina, Tamar, and brother Michael started their entertainment career singing in their church choir. In the late 80s, Traci Braxton and her four sisters began performing as “The Braxtons,” and Arista records signed them in 1989.
By 1990 the sister released their debut single, “Good Life,” which peaked at no.79 on Billboard’s Hot 100 list. However, Traci became pregnant just before her sisters signed a new record deal. So she chose to focus on parenthood instead of a music career.
In 2011, the family started the “Braxton Family Values” series on weTV, where the sisters discussed their most private moments on-air for seven seasons. But, unfortunately, that series proved to be the last fans would see her light up their screens.
Was Traci Braxton Sick?
The questions surrounding the death of Traci Braxton were satisfied when her husband, Kevin Suratt, spoke with “USA TODAY.” In his statement, Kevin revealed that his late wife was privately undergoing a series of treatments for Esophageal Cancer.
The late singer underwent treatment for a year before her eventual death. Shortly after Traci’s death, Toni Braxton reflected on some moments she shared with her late sister.
The eldest, Toni, diagnosed with lupus in 2018, also touched on her sister’s battle with Esophageal Cancer. While appearing on an episode of “Tamron Hall’ two weeks after losing her sister, Toni revealed she misses Traci every day.
The singer confessed she still thinks of Traci’s death as a dream. Toni claimed she found it extremely difficult to stop brooding over her death. However, she and the family try to relish their shared moments with Traci. She lauded her sister as someone who brought hope and smiles to their faces when she was alive.
During Traci’s illness, Toni shared that her sister never lost hope that she would get better. Finally, the family got a bit of hope after Traci lived six months past her due date. Those extra months she survived gave the family a chance to create more magical moments with her. Now that she was gone, they would value those moments forever.
Also, while filming her Lifetime movie, “Fallen Angels,” Toni said she would rehearse lines and talk about characters with Traci daily. She reiterated that the Braxton sibling’s bond is beyond DNA because they grew up bound together. Although they had times that they would disagree, like every sibling, they still got each other’s back every time.
Who Was Traci?
Traci Braxton was born in Severn, Maryland, on April 2, 1971. She was the fourth child of the family behind older siblings Micheal, Toni, and Towanda. She also looked after her younger sisters, Trina and Tamar. She married Kevin Surratt in 1996, and they welcomed ther child Kevin Surratt Jr. on January 10, 1996.
Traci, before her death, was the only grandmother among her siblings. She was also an ultimate entertainer being an actress. In addition, she was a big sister to Towanda, Trina, and Tamar. She also worked with emotionally disturbed adolescents for over 20 years.
In 2013, Braxton began her solo career after signing with independent media conglomerate “Entertainment One” under eOne Music and Soul World Entertainment to release an album.
The same year, she got her own radio show called “The Traci Braxton” show on the BLIS.F.M. radio. In addition, she had a major role in 3 movies, 2 TV-reality shows, and a radio cast. In 2014 she went on a health journey to lose 64 pounds. However, she was upset at herself for gaining that much weight and did not feel as sexy as she wanted.
So she reduced how and what she ate and started hitting the gym. Finally, after about two years, she hit her goal of losing 64 pounds. This feat was a testament to Traci’s strong will, and the world will miss the actress.