"I don't settle for a lot of things anymore," says Toni Braxton. "I'm willing to try new things and I'm not afraid to speak my mind."
Brian Zak/GAMMA
Was it fun to get back in the studio?
The studio is my least favorite part. I prefer performing on stage live. I'm looking forward to getting back onstage. It's a great adrenaline rush.
You've gone through a lot of changes in your life. How have you translated them to your new album?
I think now I'm very comfortable with my age, first of all. Sometimes musicians hit their thirties and people go, "Oh, she's older." But I'm not dead. It's really strange, especially for women – especially when you're married and you have kids. You have to remind people that you're still sexy in a different kind of way.
What is sexy about you at this age?
I'm comfortable with my sexuality, I'm comfortable as a woman. I spent my twenties dating and learning about myself. I made some boo-boos. But in my thirties I can look back on those things as stages to get myself to where I am today. I'm not as green any more.
You were diagnosed with pericarditis when you were doing Aida in 2003. Tell me about that.
During Aida, I had severe chest pains, I was feeling a little fatigued, a little more worn out than usual, but I had just had my second kid. Then the day before I found out, I felt really lightheaded. And then the day it happened, I just passed out during intermission. And I was like, "I gotta get back out there." And everyone was like, "What are you thinking? No. You're going to the hospital. Go to the emergency room immediately." And that's when I found out I had pericarditis. They said I had a virus of the heart.
Did you go back to the play?
They didn't want me to. To do a play like that is a lot of work. I shouldn't have done the play – I should have just stopped. But I'm a fighter.
