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Previously

Previously on

Previously on "Braxton

Previously on "Braxton Family

Previously on "Braxton Family Values"...

I'm looking around and it looks like a lot of stuff needs to be done still.

I'm still trying to get Bar Chix open.

I am so overwhelmed,

I can't take one more thing going wrong.

We should do a Christmas album.

I'm about to go to Africa, so we got to do this album fast, guys.

I've always wanted to do an album with my sisters.

It was them that not letting fetch happen.

But I have to open Bar Chix before we leave.

And I have to finish my "alblum."

How did he ask you to go to dinner?

"Can we go to dinner? There's something I'd like to give you."

Jacent better not be thinking about proposing to Trina.

Just for you.

♪ We are the Braxtons and you'll see ♪

♪ That we are not like an ordinary family ♪

♪ Toni, Traci, Towanda, Trina ♪

♪ Tamar and Miss E will ♪

♪ Teach you a thing or two ♪

♪ On "Braxton Family Values." ♪

It's been a while since we met.

I came in your life to do the bar.

Mm-hmm.

And found something a lot more important

that I didn't know that I actually needed.

Just for you.

It's a gift.

Am I sure I'm ready?

Are you sure you're ready?

Well, what's in it?

Open and see.

Jacent asked me to dinner to discuss our last tiff

and the status of our relationship.

So right now he's handing me this box,

and, truthfully, I'm freaking out a little

because I don't know if I'll ever want to get married again.

I'm just enjoying my life where it is right now.

What is this?

- What--? - It's the key to Bar Chix.

What?

Thank you.

That was very clever, by the way.

- You're welcome. - I got a little scared for a second.

I have to be honest. I mean, just a little box.

I'm like, "Wait, what's in it?

I am relieved on so many different levels.

Even though I wish there was some jewelry in the box,

you know, there's certain jewelry you want more than others.

But first and foremost, I'm relieved

that the construction for Bar Chix is finally finished

so we can start the process of opening our doors.

So I can get my liquor license and stuff now?

And we can go ahead and start the process of being open?

Well, one thing about that key-- it's a dual purpose key.

It's a key to Bar Chix and a key to my heart.

No.

I know the key to your heart better not be pink.

Jacent says it's the key to his heart,

but what he doesn't know-- that it's opening Bar Chix,

so that's the key to my heart.

I like Jacent.

Maybe things will work out, maybe things won't.

But for right now, I'm having a good time

and that's all I care about.

- Okay, I know you don't drink. -Mm-hmm.

But you have to have a glass of champagne with me.

- Okay. - Just one.

Just a sip. I'll drink the rest.

Knock-knock.

- Hey. - Hello. Hey, hey.

- Oh, how you been? - I been great.

I am so excited to finally be working on an album with my sisters.

This album will be a Toni Braxton Christmas album

featuring her sisters.

I know the girls' schedules are really busy

and really tight right now.

It's hard to get us all together,

but it's important to jump on it right away.

I can bust out five or six songs

and add the girls on parts that they need to be on.

- Towanda's on her way. - Okay, where's Tamar?

- Tamar will be here in a few days. - Oh, okay.

She's working on her album.

It's not that I don't realize that Tamar's busy

because I know she's busy.

However, I think we should make this happen,

if not for ourselves, at least for Mommy because she really wants it.

The problem is that I'm about to go on tour, me and the girls,

and so I leave in two and a half, three weeks,

so we have to have it done-- finished. Like, done.

Hey, Towanda's here. Come in, Umba.

We're singing a little bit of "Silent Night."

Oh, we're doing "Silent Night."

Just so we know what key to sing it in

or how we're gonna try to do the arrangement of it.

Why can't we just do it in the key of Braxton?

- But we gotta find-- - 'Cause B is too high for me, that's why.

We have a really tight deadline on this project

and there's still more preparing to do

for the opening of the bar.

Doing this Christmas album and going on tour

and opening Bar Chix?

But I'm gonna try to make it work.

Well, go ahead, Trina.

♪ All is calm ♪

♪ All is bright ♪

♪ Sleep in heavenly peace. ♪

- Boom. -Whoo!

Even though we're not recording this

and it's just to make sure what key we should be in,

I hate going first because that means I'm going before Toni.

Anybody would be intimidated

to be followed by the great Toni Braxton.

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Silent night ♪

♪ It's a holy, so holy night ♪

♪ Sleeping in heavenly peace... ♪

I don't know.

I think it's gonna be great.

All right, so that's G flat, F sharp?

-Mm-hmm. - Okay.

All right, who's next? Come on, Traci!

- Are we doing in-- in-- - We're not really singing.

We're just getting the idea if this key works for everybody.

- Okay, okay, okay. - You don't have to really sing.

Well, I'm just-- I'ma sing.

I can "sink."

Every time I sing, I have the jitters.

I don't understand it.

I already have enough pressure

on trying to prove myself as a solo artist,

so the stress of my sister's project?

I gotta get that out my mind.

♪ All is calm ♪

♪ And all is bright ♪

♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪

♪ Peace... ♪

- Tray, why are you nervous? - I am. I'm always like that.

- Why are you so nervous? - I can hear it. You don't even sing like that.

- I know. - You sing better than that.

- Why you actin' nervous? - I don't know.

I think that Traci is nervous

because this is her first time being in the studio

with all of the sisters in a long, long time.

You could tell in her voice. Her voice was shaking.

I think that's the key that works for everybody.

- It's comfortable. - I think it goes-- it's good for everybody.

All right, cool.

This album has to get done so quickly

that our next group recording session

is tomorrow night.

And I have no idea if Tamar's gonna join us or not,

but we gotta keep it moving.

Otherwise, we will never finish, ever.

How was your little dinner with Jacent?

- Girl. So... -Oh, I don't know this.

- Can they hear us out there? - No, they can't hear us.

- They don't have the button pushed, see? - Oh.

We had a slight debate in regard to Bar Chix.

And y'all know me when I get into business mode,

it's like-- I'm like, "What's going on?"

I see a lot of "stuffs" that's not done.

- Mm. -Jacent wanted to take Trina to dinner

because he wanted to give her something.

And I told her she should go because you never know.

He could be giving her an apology or something.

So Trina went and...?

We sat at the table and we were just talking--

and jabber, jabber, jabber, jabber, jabber.

He pulled out a box.

What kind of box was it?

Just a-- just a cute little box.

Was it a ring box? Was it a-- like, a ring or something?

A ring?

That's what I'm asking. Like, what size box?

If Jacent proposed to Trina, that is too soon.

Really?

I mean, y'all just started dating.

An- ew.

Now y'all know better than that. I just got divorced.

Trina, you know you love love.

Okay, love is fantastic. Love is great.

But, guess what. I'm not gonna jump in love that--

I just got divorced.

Can the ink dry? Amen!

- He gave me something better. -What'd he give you?

Y'all moving in together?

- No. - A key to your heart.

It's the key to Bar Chix!

Oh!

It's done!

That's cool. And it's pink!

Yes!

Bar Chix, it's kind of like a unicorn.

Like, it's a mystery.

She keeps saying it's gonna come out, and it hasn't opened yet.

So that's Bar Chix right there.

It's, like, been opening for, like, two years, right?

So now we have to have a real cocktail.

It is fantastic that I can get my permits for the Bar Chix opening,

but I'm still really stressed

about everything else that's on my plate right now.

But I understand this sister album is important,

so I might have to wait to open the bar

until after I get back, which is very stressful for me.

Wait, did you pull that out your boob?

Why did you have the key in your boob?

There's no safer place. Who else is gonna go there?

People put a lot of things in their boobs.

So I'm back in the studio today

finishing some songs for my new album

and my sisters are working on the Christmas album,

and I really, really hope to join them real soon.

I mean, look, I'm totally left in the dark

in terms of the schedule of, you know, the Braxton Christmas album.

I found out my sisters already started without me.

But my album has to be my number one priority right now.

LaShawn:

So as a songwriter, I'm always looking over lyrics

to make sure, you know, I'm giving the right message,

I'm saying the right thing that I want to say.

And so LaShawn, TC, and I are working on some lyrics

to one of my new songs, "Must Be Good to You."

And it's kind of sexual, a little sassy,

but I don't want to be too raunchy with it.

Okay, go ahead.

Ow!

Bitch.

You like that, Herb?

You gotta put the explicit thing if you say "bitch"?

I am not putting an explicit song on my album.

Trick-- you wouldn't have to do explicit for trick.

That's not in pure Tamar form. No, we're not doing that.

- LaShawn: You wouldn't say "trick"? - No, I'm not saying that.

And I'm definitely not putting that sticker on my album.

That is embarrassing for the singer.

You wouldn't have to for trick is what I'm saying.

If you a male, you can kind of get away with it, but not a female, mm-kay?

So my new album, "Calling All Lovers,"

comes out in a few weeks and I don't have any time

to sit here and debate over lyrics

with LaShawn all damn day long, now.

I highly respect his opinion,

but these are my songs and I have to make them my own.

What are we going to say?

Just-- I'll do...

LaShawn: I'm not. I'm not, man.

I'ma do that.

- No. No. - And I'ma harmonize it.

LaShawn: I urge you not to do that.

Telling you, we about to get our entire existence of a Grammy.

♪ Hell, no... ♪

You can go ahead and throw it in people's faces.

You been throwin' 'em up all day.

♪ Hell to the no... ♪

Say it ain't jammin'. Oh, okay.

What's my note?

Okay.

- Okay. -You ready?

Let's do it.

Watch that tail end of it.

Whoo! You better get your life!

You better get your ♪ liiiiife. ♪

No!

Outta here, man.

I mean, really, LaShawn and I always bicker when we're in the studio

because we want every detail to be perfect.

Now, clearly LaShawn is not onboard with this new section I'm recording,

but at the end of the day, it's her album,

Honey Bunches of Oats, and we're gonna at least see how it sounds.

Let me say something. I am drunk...

on "angerness."

No, don't you be drunk with angerness.

I'm definitely drunk with angerness.

'Cause I have an angerness hangover.

Coming up on "Braxton Family Values"...

Trina, I have something to tell you.

It has to do with Toni, though.

- What happened? - I don't know how she gonna take it.

I'm just glad we did this very sinful song before we went to MegaFest.

That way, we can all, you know, just go back and get saved again.

I mean, I really haven't talked to my sisters recently about MegaFest,

but I do think it's important that we keep our commitment.

- Yeah. - Oh!

I

I am

I am drunk

I am drunk on

I am drunk on angerness.

Can I hear her hook without the backgrounds on it?

Yeah, give me one second.

But-- okay, but I want you to be cool with it.

No, I want you to be happy,

'cause your happiness is all that matters.

- Hi! - Here's your damn child.

Hi-- I said where's my child?

Hi, baby!

Hi. Hi. Hold this.

Can I get a hug from my favorite, favorite baby?

Give me kisses. Kisses.

Kisses. Mm.

Honestly, nothing reenergizes me

like a visit from my baby.

I mean, Logan stays with my mom today,

and that's cool, but it's also important

for me to spend at least a little time with him

before he goes to bed every night.

So I asked Vince to bring him to the studio

for a quick playdate with his mommy.

I'm just glad we did this very sinful song before we went to MegaFest.

That way, we can all, you know, just go back and get saved again.

So on top of trying to finish my album,

planning for a major music video shoot in the Dominican Republic,

and fitting in this Christmas album,

my sisters and I have to get ready

for T.D. Jakes' festival, MegaFest,

which happens in two weeks.

God gave you a voice, sing.

You owe Him better than this.

Maybe y'all can come to MegaFest and sing. I don't care.

- We'd love that. - Definitely do that.

I mean, I really haven't talked to my sisters recently about MegaFest,

but I do think it's important

that we keep our commitment to Bishop Jakes,

especially after all he's done for our family.

Now if I can get to Atlanta to work on Toni's Christmas album,

I think I'm gonna bring it up then.

Let me tell you something.

Logan is gonna have a good time at MegaFest

because Logan knows how to pray.

Right, Logan?

Say, "I'll be prayin' for you."

That's right. Reach your hand out to Him.

- Reach your hand out to Him. - LaShawn: My God.

Say, "Amen."

That's right. Oh, Mama.

Logan.

You're right.

- Yeah. - Oh, glory!

Glory. He gotta stand up to preach.

- You gotta get him a little handkerchief. - How do you pray?

How do you pray?

-Amen. - That's right.

Give me kisses.

- Mwah! - Bye, Mommy.

Bye, baby. Have sweet dreams, okay?

Take care of Mom-Mom.

Aw!

-Bye-bye! - LaShawn: Bye-bye, hello!

What's the next one?

Um, all right, let's-- can you pull up "You're Not"?

I have a surprise for you at the gym

and it's a wonderful surprise.

It's delicious.

In preparation for Toni's international tour,

Towanda and I are going to be working out,

and Towanda said she has a surprise for me.

Okay, I would tell you to close your eyes,

but I don't want you to bump into nothing.

Not in this machinery.

- E.J.! - Hi!

Hey, love bug.

Sorry, I'm a little sweaty. I've been working out.

- Surprise! - It's all right.

I have decided to surprise Trina

with E.J. today because he's eye candy.

He's delicious to look at.

How y'all doin'? I've missed y'all. It's been forever.

- You have? - You got taller or something.

You lookin' slim right here.

I'm trying to train.

Lookin' slim. All right, well, look.

E.J. is not only an amazing trainer,

but he turned out to be an impressive bartender for Bar Chix.

He started out with a little bit of experience,

but he really improved himself.

So I'm really excited to work with him

whenever Bar Chix finally opens.

We're gonna get started here.

I'm gonna give y'all both one of these.

You're gonna get hot with that jacket on.

He's trying to get us ready before we get on the road with Toni.

- Oh, yeah. - Where y'all goin'?

Africa.

- Africa? - And Australia.

-South Africa. - And New Zealand.

Y'all need, like, an extra security guard or something?

Just somebody to work out with while you on vacation?

- I wanna go. -Vacation?

I tell you what. We'll do a special trip for Bar Chix. How's that?

-That'd be fun. - Okay, we can do that.

All right, we squatting, okay?

Bend down, come straight up.

Let's do it.

- Trina... - Hmm?

while we're doing this, I have something to tell you.

It has to do with Toni.

What happened?

- You know we're going to Africa. - Mm-hmm.

- And we're gonna be gone for at least a month. - Four weeks, yeah.

Okay?

It's taken a toll on me

knowing that I'm gonna be away for a month,

'cause that's the longest that I've ever been away from my children.

- Oh, yeah. - Ever.

I have to retire, and I don't know how she gonna take it.

I'm just kind of glad you said it first.

Oh, you were thinking about it, too?

Towanda, there's no way on the God's green Earth

that I can do Toni Braxton plus Bar Chix.

- You know what I mean? - Oh, I-- you on the same page?

Well, right now is time for me to move on

because I have so much on my plate.

First of all, being a mom,

then I have my acting,

and not to mention I have to go to Trina's bar all the time every day

and get a free cocktail and a plate.

It's like, I don't know how I'm gonna tell her.

So we have to tell her together.

And I don't know how she gonna take it.

I've been a doo-wop-pop-pop girl for Toni

on and off for about 15, 20 years,

so I'm actually really relieved

that Towanda brought up retiring

because I don't know if I would've had the strength

to do it by myself.

The question is, when do we tell her--

before or after her international tour?

Timing is crucial because we don't know how she's gonna react.

-Okay, y'all ready? - What's that?

- Medicine balls. - It's a little bit different.

I like to release some stress with this, all right?

I want you to come up, I want you to slam it down as hard as you can.

It's just like a little stress reliever.

- Just get it out. - I'm distressed right now about...

-Exactly. - ...telling Toni Braxton--

Use that.

- Love it. - Toni...

Trina and I are thinking about retiring.

- You're gonna leave me? - Oh!

How about that one?

Trina, let me tell you what I would hate the most.

When she says, "Okay, so that's it."

- "Understand." - God.

I don't know what Toni's gonna say.

She may say, "Oh, okay.

That's fine, whatever. Okay, fine.

Fine." That's the scariest.

Or she may say, "Well, I'm glad you guys came to me and told me

because I was thinking the same thing.

I think it's time for you guys to move on."

That wouldn't be good, either.

Let's go get on the treadmill.

- Let's get on a cocktail. -There you go.

- That wins. Let's go. - That's even better. Clink!

Thanks, E.J.

- Um... -Soon.

As long as you pay for that ticket, you good.

Aw.

- Thanks, E.J. - E.J., thank you.

- Appreciate you. - Appreciate you, E.

See y'all later. Don't piss Toni off too much.

- Ha! Thank you for making us feel better. - Thanks for the encouragement.

You'll be all right. I'm sure y'all will figure it out.

-Thank you. - Good, positive words.

Whew, it's hot.

Maybe 'cause I have this big ol' jacket on.

We planned to record today,

but I just got a text from Toni

saying she and Towanda had to do stuff for the tour.

And I'm not sure if Tamar plans to finally show up,

so it might be just me and Traci.

I'm still committed regardless of what anybody else has to do,

but I can't do this by myself.

I have an original Christmas song.

I do, it's on my Christmas "alblum."

Okay.

If we all got on it,

that could be amazing, and it's original.

- So you want me to remake it? - Yeah.

What? Remake what?

-Hey. - Hey.

Wow, Tamar showed up.

If we can pull off this album, kudos to us.

What'd I walk in on?

Well, I did a Christmas album two years ago--

- I was on it. - You was on it.

And I did an original song.

And I thought that if we remixed

one of those, boom pow.

Because I originally wanted everybody on that one Christmas song anyway.

Well, I thought everybody was coming today.

Coming up on "Braxton Family Values"...

We need to do "Oh, Emmanuel." We trippin'.

We can't come up with new songs

when Towanda and Toni aren't even here.

"Oh, Emmanuel." That's a Christmas Grammy.

You don't want to do this?

If you don't want to be here, Tray, don't be here

if you don't want to do it for real.

How are we ever going to finish this album

if everyone keeps throwing tantrums?

Tray? Tray? Traci!

Hold on, let me check.

-Yeah, so... - I don't know. They're not in my pocket.

And they're sure not in my cleavage.

Well, I thought everybody was coming today. I don't know.

They might be taking care of tour stuff.

Is this Toni's project?

What are we doing?

If the rest of my sisters are not gonna show up--

like, really?

I cleared my schedule to come out

because I'm very committed to doing this record with my sisters.

So what some of the songs y'all talking about?

- "Mary, Did You Know?" - Uh-huh.

-Ooh, I love that. - "Last Christmas."

And "This Christmas."

We need to do "Oh, Emmanuel." We trippin'.

I am so surprised that Tamar showed up,

but we can't come up with new songs

when Towanda and Toni aren't even here.

Oh, and we don't have time.

Jeez.

Is it on the list?

- There was a list? - Somebody wrote a list.

"Oh, Emmanuel," that's a Christmas Grammy.

They don't have Christmas Grammys,

but that's a Christmas Grammy.

Now, Tamar, you know you better talk to Toni.

You know you wanna do your song,

you better talk to Toni.

You have your own album to do.

Just come and just fill in. Do your fill-in.

I missed a lot, y'all.

Well, don't worry.

No one claimed any information that was on the list.

- Okay. - Nobody knows where the list came from.

Oh.

You know, I'm just offering suggestions

because, honestly, I really don't know nothing,

you know, in terms of the plans of the Braxton Christmas album.

I just feel like if we're gonna do a Christmas album,

we should have just, like, a little gentle, small 45-minute meeting

about the Christmas album and what songs we should sing and stuff.

That's all.

At least we're here and at least it's happening now.

- Yeah, yeah. - And it sounds great.

Yeah, we got a lot or work done yesterday.

You know how long I've been waiting

on this album from the Braxtons?

- How long? - All their lives.

It's important for us to get this album done

'cause it shows that we are together

and that, you know, we willing to put things aside

and put family first.

Something I have been wanting for years.

You feel where I'm coming from?

Yeah.

No pressure.

Listen, I'm gonna do whatever it takes for my participation in--

if it's the Braxtons or Toni Braxton Christmas album--

I don't care who it is.

I'm gonna do everything I can do to make sure I'm a part of it.

And I know I ain't got a lot of time

'cause I have to work on my album here in Atlanta.

So I'm ready, Tricky. Let's do this, I guess.

- I'm ready, too. - All right.

All righty, then.

Do what you do, little girl.

-Whoo! - Bye, Mommy!

- Where's Traci? - Where's Traci? Traci!

- Traci! - Where's Traci? Can somebody get Traci?

We're laying down tracks for the song "Last Christmas,"

and Tamar is not here.

She's recoding her album.

But everybody seems okay today except Traci.

For some reason, she is definitely in a funk.

- Traci in the bathroom? - I don't know.

Where is she? Hey, Tray.

- Traci don't know this one. - You don't know the Wham song?

I only knew the verses. Then I learned just now.

- It's right here. - So you gotta listen to Trina.

Then we gotta do harmonies in between it.

- No? - Oh, no.

You don't want to do it? You don't want to do this?

If you don't want to be here, Tray, don't be here

if you don't want to do it, for real.

Okay. Okay.

Here we go. What's next?

- Do it again? - Yes.

I-- I'll be honest, I don't know what triggered it.

I don't think anybody does but Traci.

I don't care to talk about it.

It was just like, boom! She was just upset.

I-- I don't know. I don't know.

- Where's Traci? - She left.

Why did she get mad? Why did she leave?

She had an attitude when she walked in.

Why would Traci have an attitude?

She had-- we don't know, but I promise to God, Toni,

right now we really don't care

because right now we're just trying to concentrate.

It is so annoying when one of us gets into our feelings--

them, excuse me.

It's so annoying when one of my sisters

get in their feelings

and it seems to derail any sister project

that we're trying to do together.

We don't know what happened?

She ignored us and she got on the phone

and said, "I'm at the studio.

I don't know why the eff I'm here."

Don't nobody feel like everybody's grown?

I just want to know what happened.

You either want it or you don't.

You either want to do it or you don't.

Period. That's it.

Here come-- here come Tray. Tray, Traci.

I can't-- I can't even do a damn album

without fightin'? For real?

This is crazy.

How are we ever going to finish this album

if everyone keeps throwing tantrums?

We are not five, people.

We're kissing 40 and up.

- Why is she mad? - I don't know.

'Cause it's sunny?

Where's Tray? Tray, what are you upset about?

Guys, no camera.

You don't want to talk about it?

- I'm going. - You don't want to talk about it?

What?

I'm annoyed. I'm really annoyed.

We have a limited amount of time in the studio

to get this album done before we leave to go to South Africa

and now Traci is mysteriously storming out of the studio.

I mean, what the hell is happening?

Traci.

What happened? I don't even know what happened.

All right, fine. You're not speakin' to me?

Coming up on "Braxton Family Values"...

She just had a tantrum and left.

I don't know how she's gonna act tomorrow.

If she wants to act immature, I'm done with her today.

I can't deal with Traci.

That's-- I'm so upset right now.

I don't want to put an album out one month after I put out my album.

Well, don't be on it.

That's real smart-behind.

So

So Traci

So Traci has

So Traci has left

So Traci has left the

So Traci has left the building.

Mm.

What did that "mm" mean?

That's-- that's not surprising.

- Why do you say that? - I've never been in a session

that Traci hasn't walked out of.

See what I'm sayin'?

We've worked with Tricky a lot in the past.

He's worked on the Braxtons' first album,

he worked on Tamar's last album.

We've known him for 20 years, but I don't wanna tell my age.

She's been walking out on my sessions since I was little.

Since I was a little boy.

We were in our early 20s. I was 21 years old.

You mean the first Braxtons album you worked on?

The demos, she was walkin' out.

She was walking out on just the concept.

Why you so stupid?

The good thing about the Braxtons, there's like...

a bunch of y'all.

So I'll just be like, "Oh, okay, well, you come on."

Traci.

What happened? I don't even know what happened.

All right, fine.

You're not speaking to me?

I'm just-- you know--

All right, then. Fine.

- Why'd she just leave? - I don't-- I don't know how she's gonna act tomorrow.

She just had a tantrum and left. I don't know.

-What was the tantrum about this time? -It was a tantrum.

-What was it about this time? -I don't know.

She's not speaking to nobody.

I-- she went-- I can't deal with Traci.

That's-- I'm so upset right now.

I'm trying to find out what's wrong with Traci

and she's totally ignoring me.

If she wants to act immature, I'm done with her today.

I gotta tell Tricky we have to sing the vocals now without Traci.

We have to finish up our part and maybe get Traci later.

This is-- this is so embarrassing.

She said nothing to nobody.

- She just was upset. - No.

She was fine, and when she sat down--

and then she suddenly said something about

that Tricky said that my range is higher than hers.

And I said, "Well, Traci, over time, people's ranges change."

And she was like, "Well, I know I'm a first soprano."

- I was like-- - What does it matter?

I don't know. I said, "Well, you can keep that first soprano.

I like to stay in my little alto box."

That's all right. That don't matter.

- We're gonna have super fun. - Have fun.

I'm not gonna go through this again.

I think T.D. Jakes needs to come back.

The irony in all of this is

after we had our big session with T.D. Jakes a couple of months ago,

everyone agreed to be better communicators when it came to our feelings.

We all need to take something and commit

of what we're going to do to make things better.

Well, I commit of-- if I have any issues,

address them right then and there.

-Yeah. - In a polite way.

Not in a hostile, frustration tone.

It would make me sad

if we fell back into our old patterns.

Maybe she's upset about something that we don't really know about.

Like what?

I mean, it was so arbitrary.

I don't know. I feel like it's a little deeper.

Something's really going on. Like, for real.

Maybe this is triggering...

old emotions.

I mean, like, the first time we tried to get together

in a studio for a family album, Traci did the very same thing.

Tamar's not gonna do the album, Toni's not gonna do the album.

- I'm outta here. - This is my last dance.

No, it's not.

- Oh, my God. - Why are you leaving?

Everybody else is leavin', everybody else ain't doin' what they wanna do.

Why are you always running away, Traci?

It's not a secret that Traci feels some sort of way.

And me, Trina, and Tamar move forward

in our music careers.

She just felt left out because she decided to start a family

and time has passed, and now, Traci, you have a career of your own,

a fabulous, wonderful career of your own.

It's time to let it go.

20 plus years ago?

If you want the opportunity,

then you have to sometimes do what you have to do.

I don't care how pissed off you get, how mad--

you gotta leave that crap at the door.

Now, do I get mad at my sisters?

Absolutely.

- Do they get on my nerves? - Yes.

- Yes, indeed. - Yes, you do.

Does Trina get on my nerves? Yes.

Does Toni Braxton get on my nerves?

-Yes. - But when I say--

What? I heard my name.

That's so much shade, shade, shade, shade, shade.

If you're gonna talk about me, you talk about me

in front of me, not behind closed doors.

Toni, you cannot get a tan when all this shade is being thrown.

Truth!

All right.

Doing a Christmas album with your sisters

is not supposed to be this aggravating.

I just hope it doesn't get any worse before it gets better.

Where's Toni Braxton at?

Girl, she comin'. We first, I bet you. How much you wanna bet?

How much you wanna bet? We always first.

- Oh, yeah. - I bet you buy me a margarita.

Okay, I'll buy it.

I'm joining my sisters for dinner

and I cannot wait to talk more about this Christmas album,

because I don't know nothing about it.

But there's still a lot more we have to discuss,

including MegaFest.

- We are the first. - I knew it.

- So I'm gonna get you a margarita. - Thank you.

Hey--

- Have a seat, Towanda. - I am.

Get your butt off me.

Stop!

Tamar missed everything that happened in the studio.

We still can't get Traci to talk to us,

but the rest of us are meeting up to talk more about the album.

We've been in the studio almost every day

- till 3:30 in the morning. - Almost every day, yes.

Especially y'all two.

Everyone is here except Traci

because she has to work and I understand that.

So no one wants to bring up

Traci's storming out of the studio at dinner tonight.

I know I don't, and we all agree it's not fair

to talk about her when she's not here.

But I really hope Traci will just calm down

and join us in finishing the recording of this album.

Well, let me ask you a question.

Is everybody still doing MegaFest?

I'm definitely going to MegaFest.

MegaFest last year was turned up, wasn't it?

I know you-- you performed.

Uh-huh, and Babyface was shoutin'.

- He was shoutin'. - Everybody was shoutin'.

Tyler Perry was shoutin'. Bishop was shoutin'.

His wife was shoutin'.

Everybody was-- I was shoutin'.

Are we gonna perform? And if so, what are we gonna sing?

That's the next project.

I want to do MegaFest. I love Bishop Jakes.

Mommy did it a couple years ago and Tamar performed for it.

But I don't know if we can work out the scheduling.

- You guys did promise Bishop Jakes. -I know.

He said August 15th, Mama.

Y'all are going to Africa.

Yes, they did change.

The date I was supposed to do it changed.

MegaFest don't start till the 19th.

But we go to Africa.

Well, you can't very well be at the MegaFest and Africa at the same time.

No, you can't.

But I'll make it up to him.

My word is my bond, and if I tell somebody

I'm going to participate in MegaFest

and, on top of that, I really want to go because I love going to MegaFest,

I mean, I'm going.

Even if it's by myself. She's there.

Well, as soon as we finish with the album, we can really celebrate.

When you putting it out?

End of October.

Oh, you can't put out the Braxton Christmas album...

- Uh-huh. - ...in October,

'cause my album comes out September 11th.

- How that's gonna work? - Well, don't be on it.

Not unless we--

Coming up on "Braxton Family Values"...

It just seems like everybody has to understand your schedule,

but you don't want to understand nobody else's schedule.

- And all I was saying was-- -You know what, guys?

I can't-- I can't take it.

I don't trust y'all. How about that?

My

My album

My album comes

My album comes out

My album comes out September

My album comes out September 11th.

- How that's gonna work? - Well, don't be on it.

Not unless we're--

- What you mean? - If you feel like there's a conflict, don't do it.

I mean, what you mean?

That's real smart-behind.

It's not. Either you can do it or you can't.

- If you can't do it-- - I never said I couldn't do it.

When did I say I couldn't do it?

I said-- I didn't say you said that.

I said, "If you can't do it, don't do it."

You said I keep having issues with it. Like, what do you mean?

If you have issues and you can't do it because of your schedule conflict,

you can't do it.

I will be disappointed if all of us

couldn't sing on this project.

But, you know, the show must go on.

No matter who can participate and be a part of it, it's gonna happen.

It's gonna come out the end of October

and I'm excited about it.

It just seems like everybody has to understand your schedule,

but no-- you don't want to understand nobody else's schedule.

And all I was saying was--

is that I don't want to put an album out one month after--

not even a month after I put out my album.

That's all I was saying.

Usually when you do a Christmas album,

you know, with a group...

...you know details.

And, you know, you talk about what songs

you gonna do on a Christmas album.

And you talk about when you thinking about putting it out

and everybody come to an agreement,

and then you put it out and, you know,

everybody go into the studio at the same time

and, you know, life's good.

But that ain't what happening here.

It's not you putting out-- it's all of us together.

- Exactly. -Well--

It's not a good business decision.

Your single came out the same time--

the same day as Traci's album.

My single did not come out the same day as Traci's album.

- In October? - My single did not come out

the same day as Traci's album.

That is a farce.

It didn't? That one with Future.

Let me go prove that right now.

Why you gotta prove? I just asked.

'Cause I'm not a liar.

I can't ask a question?

Didn't it come out around the same time as Traci's album?

- Yes. - That's what I thought.

It did.

All I know is that we started this project

with all of our hearts in the right place.

And I want to believe our sisterhood can get through this.

But I'm just not sure. I have to pray again.

It was actually released on your birthday, October 7th.

So was Traci's. Traci's album was--

that's what I was sayin', it was on the same day.

Did I release my song or did--?

No, listen to what I'm saying.

Listen-- hear what I'm saying. It doesn't matter--

I didn't even have any artwork.

- But you're being defensive? - You know what, guys?

I thought this is supposed to be a joyous day.

- We are joyous. - What are you saying?

I can't take it.

- We're communicating. - Yeah.

I don't trust y'all. How about that?

You know I can't trust y'all, 'cause y'all build up, boy, just like a volcano.

I don't trust it.

Go ahead and talk.

Trina and I was kinda sorta thinking about talking to Toni

about retiring as her doo-wop-pop-pop chicks.

But since Mommy just let hers have it,

clearly tonight is not the right time.

But we have to do it at some point

and I'm not looking forward to it.

I'm feeling a little funny

because there has been a breakdown in the sisterhood.

And, at the end of the day, honestly,

everything is not resolved yet.

How 'bout those Dolphins?

You know.

Trying to do this project was supposed to be a bonding experience.

I really thought that we were in a good place,

you know, and moving past our issues.

But this is a complete and utter disaster.

Hey, it's Tamar.

How are you?

I can't wait to see you and Dallas in a few days.

First of all, for me, I'm not fixin' to miss the MegaFest.

However, I'm uber-disappointed my sisters are not going.

It shouldn't be missed.

Yeah, I know.

Hopefully, you know, in the future

the family can get together with you.

I mean, I would really like that.

I know, and I'm just so excited

about continuing the work that we've already started.

Like...

Okay, great. All right, talk to you soon.

Okay, bye-bye.