Biography
Early life
Watkins was born in Des Moines, Iowa. She is of both African American and Native American descent. As a child, she was diagnosed with sickle-cell anemia; her parents both have the homozygous recessive trait which one in 12 people of African American descent have.
Since the age of seven, Watkins has been in and out of hospitals due to her condition. Watkins' family moved from Des Moines to Atlanta, Georgia, when she was nine years old. She was not expected to live past her 20s, but has done so.
Personal life
Initially hiding details of her ailment from others, she went public with the disease in 1996 and is today one of the spokespeople for Sickle Cell Disease Association of America. In 2002, Watkins was in the hospital for four months due to a flare-up of sickle-cell anemia.
T-Boz - Touch Myself
T-Boz & Takeo - For The Love Or The Game
She has stated that her faith in God and her optimism has helped her stay free from the more serious effects of sickle cell disease.
In August 2000, she married rapper Mack 10. In June 2004, Watkins filed for divorce and requested a restraining order against Mack 10. Tionne has been dating Takeo Spikes of the 49ers for three years according to Essence magazine.
Career history
After a career as a hair stylist, Watkins auditioned for Atlanta teenager Crystal Jones' music group 2nd Nature.
Jones, Watkins, and Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes eventually attracted the attention of Perri "Pebbles" Reid and her husband, LaFace Records chief Antonio "L.A." Reid. Reid replaced Jones with Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, and the group was signed in 1991 as TLC, which would go on to become one of the most successful girl groups in history and sell over 45 million records worldwide.
Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins Gets Fired On Celebrity Apprentice
T-Boz Feat. DJ Deckstream - Someday
She also made a couple of appearances in TV's Living Single (in one episode, TLC appeared as themselves in Overton's dream sequences). More recently, Watkins also served as one of the executive producers for the 2006 movie ATL featuring the rapper, T.I..
She recently did a video for "It's Good" with YoungBloodZ, which appears at the end of their Chop Chop video.
As an author, Watkins released the book Thoughts in November 3, 1999. The boutique is located in the exclusive River Oaks area. She opened it with girlfriend celebrity stylist Tara Brivic Rowntree.
R U The Girl With T-Boz And Chilli Teaser
T-boz On Parenting
Chase's Closet has won best kids store 4 years in a row and T-Boz will be putting out her own line named after her store.
She was named one of the "50 Most Beautiful People of the World" by People Magazine twice in 1994 and 2000.
On August 14, 2007, she spoke with fan website CyberTLC World about upcoming plans which included her solo album, which she had started recording three weeks previously. She currently has 17 tracks completed and is planning on recording at least 30 songs before she selects the final track listing. She also followed up by signing a deal with a music marketing firm, FYI Public Relations
On September 17, 2008, T-Boz again gave a candid interview to Chris Wilson at CyberTLC World.
T-Boz also spoke about two upcoming singles in Japan (one solo single, and one with Chilli and Lil' Kim), a new book she's writing, and the TLC movie that's still in the works.
T-Boz is featured on "Someday" by DJ Deckstream, a Japanese producer. T-Boz & Chilli will appear Springroove 2009, Japanese music fes, as TLC.
T-Boz was a contestant in The Celebrity Apprentice.
Monica Interviewing T-Boz On V103
T-Boz Say It Was Always About Beyonce, Ciara Calls Out Beyonce Stans & More
After referencing a previous contestant who was fired from the show for the same action, Donald Trump uttered the words "Never Volunteer For an Execution!".
She appeared on The Real Housewives of Atlanta as a friend of Kandi Burruss.
Publication
Watkins, Tionne (1999).