Home

[Seven]

https://parade.com/1121188/jessicasager/brandy-comeback-christmas-songs-carol-for-cause/

Brandy is back and better than ever—and she's bringing some serious Christmas cheer and a new kind of harmony with her.

"The holidays are my favorite time of year, and I love getting my home ready with beautiful decorations and making it warm and cozy to get into the holiday spirit," she told Parade.com in a new interview. "I go all out for my family in terms of the decorations! We just try to create as many memories as we possibly can during the holiday season."

The singer, 41, dropped her seventh album, B7, this summer, and now that temperatures are getting colder, she's warming hearts with Carol For A Cause, joining acts like Meghan Trainor, Pentatonix, Brett Eldredge, Ally Brooke, Andy Grammer and Sofia Reyes to raise funds for Feeding America.

The fact that door-to-door caroling can't take place this year had her down, but this campaign is reviving the Christmas carol in a way that spreads more Christmas cheer than ever before. And she is so here for it.

For every Instagram Reel recorded and shared from a public Instagram account with the hashtag #CarolForACause, T.J.Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods will donate $10 to Feeding America, up to $1 million, to help feed people in need. Each carol submission will help provide the equivalent of 100 meals to America's largest hunger-relief organization.

"I knew I wanted to get involved because it's such a special way to give back," Brandy said. "I'm so happy that they asked me to be a part of it. Carol For A Cause is an opportunity to spread joy in a new way."

The chanteuse, deservedly known as "The Vocal Bible," talked with Parade about her long break from the spotlight, reuniting with her "The Boy Is Mine" duet partner Monica, her self-care routine and what she's looking forward to most this holiday season. We missed her terribly, but boy, was she worth the wait.

On the topic of carols, do you have a favorite go-to holiday song?
There is always music played during the holidays. Some of my favorites are Ray Charles, The Temptations, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston's The Preacher's Wife soundtrack!

We want a Brandy Christmas album! Have you ever considered releasing a holiday album?
I have considered doing a holiday album multiple times in my life. I am very inspired in music right now so I will definitely have a holiday album soon.

OK, but is there such a thing as too early to start getting into the Christmas spirit? When do you usually start decorating for the holidays?
I start working on my decorations a week or so before November ends.

This campaign is a great spin on caroling. What drew you to this personally?
This campaign is very important to me because it's for a great cause, and I'm looking forward to keeping the magic of the holidays alive through music. Being able to help someone have a better holiday is a feeling you can't describe. You can't go door-to-door caroling this year, so this is a positive way to be able to give back to those in need and help spread some holiday cheer.

The holidays are going to look a lot different for most of us this year because of COVID-19. How do you plan on celebrating?
The theme for this year is gratitude and being thankful for what my family and I have. It's best to be around your family during the holidays, so I'm just looking forward to spending time together! This time of year, we all come together in love and gratitude.

What's your favorite holiday memory?
[It] probably will be this holiday coming up. I'm doing something very special for my daughter because she's 18 now, and my brother's children are all about their toys. Because of everything that has transpired in our world, I feel very blessed to be able to have quality holiday time with the ones I love so very dearly.

You took a long break between Two Eleven and B7, which you worked on for years and mentioned approaching as if it were your last. When did you know it was the right time to get an album out?
The break was much needed for me. I had a chance to truly get my music rooted in a divine foundation. In that timeframe, I had to be courageous and brave enough to set myself free to do what I'm born to do. Once I got myself to a place where I started to create, I was so inspired and I just went with the flow. Once the body of work was completed, I was blessed with the feeling of knowing and certainty that I did all I could do for B7 and it was time to share it. I'm in deep gratitude that I was able to put out new music in a time where people need music the most.

What was it like reuniting with Monica for that epic Verzuz?
Verzuz was monumental! I was so happy to reconnect with Monica and share our history with so many people that have supported us for over 20 years and then also to introduce our music to those that may not be familiar with us. I'm forever grateful to everyone who gathered together to make that happen.

You've been open about mental health recently and on B7. Do you have any special ways to stay balanced amid holiday stress?
Mental wellness is the most important work of all of our lives. Counseling, therapy, journaling, healing music and keeping a positive dialogue with yourself as much as you can. Also, surrounding yourself with people that love and understand you.

[long-timeXMasPartyFor2Fan]

Nice thanks for posting

[long-timeXMasPartyFor2Fan]

I love that she said she's very inspired musically and has a Christmas Album on the way. I hope it comes out this year, but even if it's next year I'm excited about it. Would be great to get a first single from it this year though. :D

[Brandy's Unconditional Ocean]

This superstar ass Queen  lemme read up a bit