Out recently sat down with Brandy, who will be making her dancing debut on Monday's Dancing With the Stars to spill the tea on Whitney Houston, her eating disorder, why she hated her last album "Human," her past with an abusive boyfriend, and that infamous car accident that still haunts her to this day. Get into some of the highlights below:
On why she decided to do a reality show:
I will be honest -- at first I was a little hesitant. When you’re on a reality show you have to be completely yourself, no phoniness. That’s what I was concerned about. If you’re feeling bad, you have to show that. As a celebrity you’ve been trained not to let them see you sweat. You always have to keep a smile on your face.
Then what finally made you do it?
I loved the concept with it being my brother, Ray J., my mom, and my dad. Our family is very unique.
How so?
We are a family that is trying to build a business. Every family in the world is not doing that. However, for normalcy we are just like everyone else. Also, I think my brother and I are insanely close.
Were you always like that?
It’s always been like that, but when we were kids we fought a lot more. I’m his biggest fan. I love being his sister. I wanted people to see that.
On the infamous car accident that killed a 38-year-old woman:
My mom kind of brought it up. I didn’t know she was going to. When she felt that I should address it in detail and make a whole interview surrounding it, it freaked me out. I want to do what’s best, but at the same time that was such a tragic experience for me. It’s almost like you don’t want to say anything to disrespect anybody else that was involved. You don’t want people to think that it’s a publicity stunt. It feels better to get it off your chest, but it’s a situation I don’t think I can ever really explain. It’s one of those experiences you wish had never happened. It was something management and publicists thought I should address for some reason. (Brandy later notes that she did not watch the episode).
On her feelings towards her last album Human:
To hell with that album! I believe a lot of the songs on that album have inspired some of the fans. In that respect it’s a blessing. But, where I felt creatively it could’ve gone and the space I was in creatively, I needed everybody around me to be in that same space.
What would you have liked out of that album?
First of all, it would’ve been a different album, but with the same inspiration and same blessing for other people. It would’ve been hotter music and a hotter look. Number 1 on the charts! Platinum! It feels terrible. I say this in the most humble way, but I’m a winner. So, when a winner feels failure, it doesn’t feel right or good. It’s a like a champion who gets knocked out. That’s why I’m so hungry on making this next project about what feels good to my gut. When I follow my intuition or my creative guidance, there’s success.
On her much-publicized eating disorder:
Oh hell no! I want to be so fit, but I can’t get fit! I want my butt back! I want my thighs back! When I was younger I just had all of that. It was a very tough time, and it was around the time when skinny was the thing. I ended up in the hospital. Not just from wanting to be thin, but also from being overworked and not taking care of myself in a lot of ways.
Her advice to men and women who are in an abusive relationship:
Get out of the situation and understand the worth of who you are. The reason people end up in situations like that is because somewhere in their mind they believe they need this person to validate who they are. That’s not the truth. The only person you need to validate yourself to is yourself. You need to tell yourself every day, all day, who you are and say it until you believe it.
On her love for her gay fans:
Gay men love you.
I love gay men!
Why do you think they gravitate toward you?
One of my best friends is gay. I met him on the Internet about two years ago. He got on the phone with me and said, “Listen, I’m worried about what’s going on with you. I don’t see enough press. I don’t see enough of this and enough of that.” I asked him why he was a fan, and said, “I just love the sound of your voice.” I don’t know if that’s for everybody because I’m not a diva type.
You’re not?
I’m not that at all. I don’t know what my other gay fans think, but I do value his thoughts.
On her love for Diana Ross (they both worked together on the movie Double Platinum):
I love her! She was just so interesting to me. She was so fabulous. I remember having a conversation with her because you know the whole rumor about her having to be called Miss Ross. I think that’s so amazing! I love that! So, I go to her and said, “I just want you to know that I’m going to be calling you Miss Ross.” She was like, “No, honey. You don’t have to call me Miss Ross. You can call me Diana.” I was like, “No, you know you want me to call you Miss Ross!” But she was open to me calling her Diana. I called her Miss Ross the whole time, and I think she loved that I respected her enough to call her Miss Ross.
What was she like on the set?
I loved how she did her lines. She wouldn’t read the script. She would have her lines playing in her walkman. She would go over the lines in her ear. Then we’d get on set, and she would know all of her lines, and I was just so amazed. What I liked was whatever she wanted she said in a way that was so kind, but she still got what she wanted.
Her thoughts on Whitney Houston:
Her voice is the best voice in the whole world. You know what? Nobody really knows. Nobody has walked in her shoes. We don’t know what she’s been through. For her to be as brave as she’s been to come back time after time and really try, we should applaud her for that. There will never be another Whitney Houston in life.
Her favorite Brandy track:
Honestly, I identify with all my songs that I’ve written. There’s this one song that I really love. It’s called “Freedom.” It’s not on any of my albums. It’s like an unreleased track, but I love that song. Fans can find it on the Internet.
The October issue of Out Magazine, with Nicki Minaj channeling a bootleg version of Grace Jones on the cover is in stores now. Season 2 of Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business, will premiere on September 18 on VH1.
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