Everything about the brother-sister bond of famous siblings

Brandy and Ray J have maintained a close family bond over the years.

Sonja and Willie Norwood welcomed their first child, daughter Brandy Rayana Norwood, on February 11, 1979. On January 17, 1981, the couple welcomed their second child, son William Ray Norwood Jr. (aka Ray J). The siblings were born in McComb, Mississippi, but grew up in Carson, California. Both followed in their father’s footsteps by pursuing careers as musicians and achieving commercial success as singers.

Although they have maintained a close relationship as siblings throughout their lives and careers, fans of both artists are often unaware that the siblings are related. For example, Jack Harlow only learned in May 2022 that Ray J is Brandy’s brother.

Although Brandy and Ray J had separate music careers in the 1990s and 2000s, the siblings encouraged each other and even appeared together on a reality TV show. Brandy & Ray J: A family business, from 2010 to 2011. During their fame, they had their own struggles in their personal lives, but their love for each other remains undiminished.

In an interview in October 2020 at the Tamron Hall ShowBrandy said of her younger brother: “He is my best friend and I love him more than anything and just support him in everything he does.”

Here you can find out everything you need to know about the sibling relationship between Brandy and Ray J.

They are successful singers

In 1993, Brandy released her eponymous debut album before gaining fame through her appearance in the sitcom Moesha, which ran for six seasons between 1996 and 2001, as well as her role in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella.

She won a Grammy for her song “The Boy Is Mine” with Monica from her 1998 album Never say Never, and took home the award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Brandy released several more albums, including 2002 full moon, 2004s Aphrodisiac and their seventh studio album in 2023, Christmas with brandy.

Ray J made a name for himself in the 2000s with several major singles, including 2005’s “One Wish,” which became a Top 20 Billboard Hot 100 hit. Three years later he released his Billboard Top 10 Album Everything I feelwith the popular single “Sexy Can I”.

Despite his success as an artist, Brandy found a moment to keep her younger brother humble when he passed away in June 2022 at a Verzuz Battle between Omarion and Mario. During the battle, Ray J underperformed and his sister let him know it.

“Brother, daddy told me you didn’t drink any of the tea I made for you,” Brandy wrote in the comments of an Instagram video her brother reposted of the fight. “He also told me you talked all day even though I specifically said NOT TO TALK and only drink water and the special tea I made for you at 4am.”

“We’re going to have a serious conversation,” she joked.

They starred together in a reality TV show

Brandy swapped scripted television for reality TV in 2010 with the premiere of Brandy & Ray J: A family business. The VH1 series, which ran for two seasons, followed the lives of the siblings as they navigated the intricacies of the family business of music and lived their daily lives in Hollywood.

In an interview with Rap-Up TV in April 2010, Ray J revealed that he first proposed the idea for the reality TV show to his family, noting that it took some time “to get them to participate and be interested.”

Before their joint project, Brandy appeared in the 2002 series Brandy: Special deliverywhich documented her preparations for motherhood while working on an album. Ray J also starred in two seasons of the reality dating show For the love of Ray J. from 2009 to 2010.

Although they may have had some experience with reality TV before their show together, Brandy said the project was “unlike anything we’ve ever done,” adding that it gave fans the opportunity to see the brother-sister duo together.

“You get a chance to experience the dynamic between business and personal,” she explained. “It’s relatable, inspiring, dramatic. It’s all in one, and we’ve never done anything like this before.”

She even said that her family has “become much closer because of this show.” Brandy explained, “We have our ups and downs, but between me and Ray there are hardly ever any downs, almost never. I’m crazy about him.”

They are both parents

Brandy and Ray J have started their own families.

On June 16, 2002, Brandy had her first and only child, daughter Sy’rai Smith, with her ex, music producer Robert Smith.

The singer kept her daughter largely out of the spotlight during her youth and told parade In June 2010, the decision was made “solely because her father and I felt that it was best for her to lead as normal a life as possible.”

Ray J has two children with his estranged wife, Princess Love: daughter Melody and son Epik.

As an aunt, Brandy has shown her love for her brother’s children, including with a sweet post on her nephew’s second birthday. At the time, she wished Epik a happy birthday on social media, writing that he “brought so much indescribable joy to our family.”

Ray J has a tattoo of Brandy

Ray J cemented his close bond with his sister in July 2022 when he got a “gothic” tattoo of Brandy’s face on his leg. At the time, he said he had big plans for his full-leg tattoo but “had to start with my best friend.”

A few weeks later, Brandy reacted to her brother’s grand gesture in an interview with TMZ, saying she “didn’t understand it at first” before adding, “But then he explained it to me and showed me the whole side of the tattoo artist and it was amazing.”

Almost two years after getting his tattoo, Ray J addressed the criticism he received for the design he got depicting his sister, explaining in an episode of Club Shay Shay Podcast that it “went viral in the wrong way.”

“I don’t think it was the tattoo… for anything in the world,” he added.

Brandy is “overprotective” of her brother

While Brandy prefers to keep her private life largely out of the spotlight, she told PEOPLE Now in May 2020 that she wished her brother would follow her example.

She said at the time that she was “very overprotective” of Ray J and “didn’t necessarily agree” with some aspects of his life that he revealed publicly.

“I would prefer him to keep a lot of his life private, but he’s in the public eye and on reality TV, so it can get tough sometimes,” she added. “I just let him know that I’m here for him in any way I can. Being in the public eye myself, I can relate to some of the things he’s going through, so I just try to offer him as much support as I can.”

Brandy’s “overprotectiveness” towards her brother was also expressed in the encouragement she gave him over the years. In an issue of Ebony She told the magazine that she was “pissed off about some of the things” she had heard about her brother and that he was “misunderstood.” Mood reported.

In January 2022, she posted a heartwarming tribute to her brother on his birthday, calling him a “genius who can do it all” in the caption of her Instagram post. She shared more compliments about her brother, writing, among other things, “I love you so much and am so proud to be your sister. You are growing, healing, and focusing every day on creating a safe place for all of us.”

Brandy and Ray J try to stay in touch

Over the years, Brandy and Ray J have often been spotted side by side at red carpet events and collaborating on projects.

However, in June 2024, Ray J stated at the Club Shay Shay Podcast that they are not as close as they once were. When asked what happened between the siblings, Ray J did not give any details, but explained that his sister’s “goals were completely different from the beginning” than his.

Even though they’ve gone their separate ways, Brandy still expresses her appreciation for her siblings. “Happy birthday brother! I’m so grateful for your life. You mean so much to me. I love you @rayj,” she captioned a throwback photo in September 2023.