American singer and actress Brandy Norwood, better known by her first name alone, received her star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles on Monday.
This honor crowns a career spanning more than 30 years for the pop and RnB star, who rose to fame in the 1990s.
"Seeing the stars on the Walk of Fame sparked something in me. It gave me faith, it pushed me to say to myself, 'I'm going to sing until I get one of those stars.' And that's what I did," she said in a speech.
Brandy owes her success to her roles on American television as much as to her music. As an actress, she is particularly known for the musical television film Cinderella (1997), in which she played the title role alongside Whitney Houston and Whoopi Goldberg. She thus became the first Black actress to portray the famous princess with the glass slipper on screen.
In music, she first found success with her self-titled debut album, released in 1994. But she truly exploded onto the scene four years later with "Never Say Never." She won a Grammy Award for the single "The Boy is Mine," a duet with singer Monica.
"This honor recognizes the greatest. It means you've achieved something that stands the test of time. Not just in terms of popularity. Not just in the present moment. But in a way that leaves a mark on culture, on art, and on history," Brandy said upon receiving her star, surrounded by several honored guests including actress and producer Issa Rae and singer Babyface.
After more than three decades in the spotlight, Brandy has now published her memoirs. Her book, Phases, was released in bookstores on Tuesday.
