Traci Braxton, ‘Braxton Family Values’ Star and Singer, Dies at 50

variety.com:

Sasha Urban editorTraci Braxton, the singer, actress and television and radio personality who appeared on all seven seasons of “Braxton Family Values,” died Saturday after a battle with esophageal cancer, Variety has confirmed.

She was 50 years old.“It is with the utmost regret that we inform you of the passing of our sister, Traci,” a statement from her family read. “Needless to say, she was a bright light, a wonderful daughter, an amazing sister, a loving mother, wife, grandmother and a respected performer.

We will miss her dearly.”“We have come to a time where we must inform the public that, after a year of privately undergoing a series of treatment for esophageal cancer, our beloved Traci Braxton has gone on to glory,” Kevin Surratt, Braxton’s husband, shared in a statement.

Braxton was born in 1971 in Severn, Md. After growing up as a singer in her church’s choir, she began her performing career alongside her four sisters — Toni, Tamar, Towanda and Trina — in 1989 as the R&B quintet “The Braxtons.” After Toni was signed as a solo artist in 1991, Traci and her three sisters accompanied her as backup singers on her first tour.