TLC's T-Boz talks new reality show, defends Rihanna and Chris Brown

theGRIO REPORT - During an interview with theGrio, TLC member T-Boz talked about her new reality show 'Totally T-Boz' and weighed in on Rihanna and Chris Brown...

Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.

Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins is back and ready to prove herself all over again with the new reality show Totally T-Boz, set to premiere on TLC January 1st. “Throughout my whole career I’ve had to reinvent myself, and here I am again, having to reinvent myself,” T-Boz says in the teaser for her show.

The 42-year-old Grammy Award winning artist is giving her fans an up-close look into her life as she focuses on being a single mom to her 12-year-old daughter Chase, and re-launching her music career after recovering from a life-threating brain tumor she was diagnosed with in 2006.

T-Boz’s brain tumor was so severe that once it was removed she had to relearn how to walk and talk, but the “Waterfalls” singer told theGrio’s Chris Witherspoon that she hopes her new show will “inspire and educate people on how to overcome sickle cell, leukemia and other blood disorders. This show will help me bring attention to things that have substance and matter.”

In addition to Totally T-Boz, the R&B songstress is focusing her attention on developing a VH1 biopic about TLC that is currently in pre-production. T-Boz revealed that there will be a soundtrack to the film, featuring some old and new music from the group, which featured T-Boz, Rozonda “Chili” Thomas  and the late rapper Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes.

“We’re remixing and re-recording some of our old hits and doing some new singles. So there will be a soundtrack and a tour to go along with the movie,” T-Boz said. “There is also a song called ‘Champion’ that I am going to release very soon at the top of next year.”

T-Boz is no stranger to being scrutinized in the media. Over the last decade there have been rumors of her having a tumultuous divorce from her rapper/actor husband Mack 10, financial woes, and some unsavory headlines about her gaining weight. However she says she does not focus on negative press, “I could give a care less about what the media prints about me,” T-Boz said. “I have spent years fighting for my life and battling a brain tumor. People can comment about what they do or don’t like but I don’t sit around and let the media’s impression of me consume my life.”

The Celebrity Apprentice contestant also weighed on Rihanna and Chris Brown, who have been heavily criticized for reportedly rekindling their romance, and most recently made their first public appearance together since their infamous 2009 domestic violence incident.

“We all have made mistakes…nobody’s perfect,” T-Boz said. “I can’t sit here and be mad at somebody that Rihanna’s not mad at. I wish Rihanna the best and I hope her and Chris make the best decisions. I think it’s fortunate that he’s been given a second chance.”

Totally T-Boz will showcase the “No Scrubs” singer as she steps back into the studio to work on her first solo album. T-Boz says she would welcome the opportunity to collaborate with Brown on her new project.

“I love Chris Brown. The one thing you can’t take away from me is my talent or my resume,” T-Boz said. “I feel the same way about Chris. You can’t take away his great dancing and his talent. He’s made mistakes, but regardless he’s a talented artist. I would love to work with him in the future.”

Totally T-Boz premieres January 1, 2013 at 8/7c on TLC.

Follow Chris Witherspoon on Twitter at @WitherspoonC

SHARE THIS ARTICLE