Editing Brandy Norwood (section)

==Early life==
Brandy Rayana Norwood was born on February 11, 1979, in [[McComb, Mississippi]], the daughter of [[Willie Norwood]], a [[gospel music|gospel]] singer and choir director, and Sonja Norwood ([[née]] Bates), a district manager for [[H&R Block]].<ref name="bringin up">{{cite news |last=Roberts |first=Tara |date=May 1997 |title=Bringing Up Brandy |url=https://issuu.com/tararob/docs/bringing_up_brandy |work=[[Essence (magazine)|Essence]] |pages=116–119}}</ref> Norwood is the older sister of entertainer [[Ray J]]. Through her mother, she is related to guitarist and singer [[Bo Diddley]], her third cousin.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hildebrand|first=Lee|url=https://www.sfgate.com/music/article/brandy-gets-back-in-game-after-sad-loss-4280735.php|date=February 17, 2013 |title=Brandy gets back in game after sad loss |access-date=July 15, 2024 |website=[[SFGate]]}}</ref> Rapper [[Snoop Dogg]] has claimed that he and Norwood are cousins, though Norwood has stated she is unsure if they are actually related.<ref>{{cite web|title=Brandy Says She Wouldn't Date Ray J's Homie Joe Budden + Shares Impact Kobe Bryant Had On Her Life | date=September 14, 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn4rC4RFEgU |work=[[KPWR|Power 106 Los Angeles]]|via=[[YouTube]]|access-date=February 11, 2024 |language=en}}. Event occurs at 19:26.</ref><ref>{{Cite instagram|user=dazdillinger|postid=BD0zA1wtIUJ|title= CUZZNZ @4everbrandy @rayj @sashabankswwe @snoopdogg ITS SUPERSTARS IN OUR FAMILY 💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰|first=Daz|last=Dillinger|date=April 5, 2016|access-date=November 11, 2019}}</ref> She is also reported to be a cousin of wrestler [[Mercedes Moné]] and rapper [[Daz Dillinger]].<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=529848274069757952 |user=SashaBanksWWE |title=@Stankology yes |first=$asha |last=Banks |date=November 4, 2014 |access-date=July 18, 2017}}</ref><ref name="snoop">{{cite web |last=Moss |first=Corey |date=September 26, 2006|title=Snoop Reunites With Dre |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1541667/snoop-reunites-with-dre-blue-carpet.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110404041015/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1541667/snoop-reunites-with-dre-blue-carpet.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 4, 2011 |access-date=October 10, 2006 |work=[[MTV News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Price|first=Joe |date=June 5, 2024|title=Ray J Reflects on His Affiliation With Piru Bloods, Discusses Family Ties With Snoop Dogg |url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/backwoodsaltar/ray-j-talks-piru-bloods-and-snoop-dogg|access-date=July 15, 2024 |website=[[Complex Networks|Complex]]}}</ref> 

Raised in a Christian household, Norwood started singing through her father's work as part of the choir at Southside Church of Christ, performing her first gospel solo at the age of two.<ref name="vibe7">{{cite magazine|first=Cheo|last=Hoadri Coker|date=July 1, 2004|title=Not That Innocent|magazine=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|page=93|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wCYEAAAAMBAJ&q=brandy+church+NORWOOD&pg=PA93|access-date=June 28, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313160150/https://books.google.com/books?id=wCYEAAAAMBAJ&q=brandy+church+NORWOOD&pg=PA93#v=snippet&q=brandy%20church%20NORWOOD&f=false|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 13, 2021}}</ref> In 1983, her parents relocated to [[Carson, California]], where she was schooled at Bancroft Junior High School and later attended the [[Hollywood High School|Hollywood High]] Performing Arts Center.<ref name="ppl1"/> Norwood's interest in music and performing increased after becoming a fan of singer [[Whitney Houston]] at the age of seven,<ref>{{cite web|date=July 31, 1995|first=Jennifer|last=Weiner|title=Brandy Striving To Be 'As Large As Whitney'|work=[[Rome News-Tribune]]|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lyk1AAAAIBAJ&pg=6521,859979&dq=brandy+album&hl=en|access-date=June 29, 2010}}</ref><ref name="nyt10"/> but at school, she experienced trouble with persuading teachers to send her on auditions as she found no support among the staff.<ref name="ppl1">{{cite web|title=Starry-Eyed|first=Jeremy|last=Helligar|website=[[People (magazine)|People.com]]|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20125467,00.html|date=June 8, 1998|access-date=February 18, 2010|archive-date=June 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604044512/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20125467,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> 

Norwood began entering talent shows by the time she was eleven, and, as part of a youth singing group, performed at several public functions.<ref name="nyt10">{{cite news|first=Anita M.|last=Samuels|date=April 2, 1995|title=Brandy; At 16, Her Debut Is a Sweet Success|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/04/02/arts/up-and-coming-brandy-at-16-her-debut-is-a-sweet-success.html|access-date=June 29, 2010}}</ref> In 1990, she signed with Teaspoon Productions, headed by [[Chris Stokes (record producer)|Chris Stokes]] and Earl Harris, who gave her work as a backing vocalist for their R&B boy band [[IMx|Immature]] and arranged the production of a demo tape.<ref name="nyt10"/><ref name="jet10">{{cite magazine|date=May 15, 1995|title=Brandy And Her Parents Sued For Breaking Management Agreement|magazine=[[Jet (magazine)|Jet]]|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nz0DAAAAMBAJ&q=brandy+Teaspoon+atlantic&pg=PA64|access-date=June 28, 2010}}</ref> In 1993, amid ongoing negotiations with [[East West Records]], Norwood's parents organized a recording contract with the [[Atlantic Recording Corporation]] after auditioning for Darryl Williams, the company's director of A&R.<ref name="ppl1"/> To manage her daughter, Norwood's mother resigned from her job,<ref name="jet10"/> while Norwood herself dropped out of Hollywood High School, and was tutored privately from tenth grade onward.<ref name="ppl1"/>