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THE FACE OF 'BEAUTY' After a successful run as Broadway's Belle, Braxton will release a new album
Mitch Gerber/Corbis Images
By Tom Sinclair
Tom Sinclair
Tom Sinclair
Tom Sinclair is a senior writer for EW and has been called "the handsomest man in rock criticism'' (by his wife)
Back in '98, when Toni Braxton filed for bankruptcy, there was speculation that the rancor between her and her label, LaFace, might prove debilitating, indefinitely derailing her career. Two years later, LaFace chief Antonio ''L.A.'' Reid says it's all good: ''We had a couple of months of turmoil, but those problems have been settled forever.''

Braxton's third album, tentatively titled ''The Heat,'' is near completion. ''It's very strong, and very personal to her,'' says Reid. ''Toni cowrote most of the material on the album. She worked with several different people, including Babyface, and I'm working hard at trying to get her and [producer] Rodney Jerkins together right now. It will be out very, very soon.'' In the meantime, Braxton is slated to perform at the Superbowl halftime show on Sunday. Says Reid of that unparalleled bit of TV exposure: ''We'll be starting our album-release campaign around that time.'' Talk about a winning kickoff.


Posted Jan 24, 2000 | Order Article Reprints