TLC were special guests at the iHeartRadio Music Awards 2023 last night at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, where they were there to introduce Latto to the stage to put on a phenomenal performance.
During the red carpet press before the awards ceremony, T-Boz and Chilli spoke to numerous media outlets about their excitement being at the ceremony as well as touching on details of what they are doing in their careers this year. “It’s always exciting to see your peers and the new one’s coming up”, Chilli told Billboard.
T-Boz still keeps her ears locked to the music scene for the latest talent, and she approves of the upcoming girl group FLO from the UK. “I like them, I just didn’t know that was their name”, T-Boz admits after hearing that the group recently dropped a new single, “Fly Girl” featuring Missy Elliott.
When Extra asked Chilli about how her relationship is going with her boyfriend Matthew Lawrence, she gushed with a big smile, so T-Boz stepped in to answer on her behalf. “It’s been great!”, T-Boz exclaims. Chilli adds, “Amazing!” before letting T-Boz continue explaining.
“I’m living vicariously through her. It’s been great, and I’ve never seen her like this, and I’ve been there for 31 years!”, T-Boz states. “I’ve seen it all, honey. We’ve been through life together”. Chilli co-signs with her TLC sister and says, “Yes! She’s seen it all, and we’re still going through it. But I am so happy, I don’t even know what to do with myself. But he is the best — for me, anyway!”
Earlier this month, Chilli clarified her thoughts about the headlines when Matthew stated that he wanted to start a family with her one day. Speaking about the topic on the Ryan Cameron Uncensored radio show, Chilli said, “You never know. I would never say that [I’m done] — I gotta be married for sure … and I’m not married, yet”.
Matthew later cleared up the miscommunication with E! News. “Joe [Matthew’s brother] and I were commiserating about this plan that we had to have children together … when we were growing up. And I missed the first go around and now he’s starting a new family and I was thinking, ‘Man, it’d be great if we could do it again when I didn’t have the chance to raise a family together. So that’s what I meant by that,” he continued. “I didn’t mean to put any pressure on somebody I was dating or anything.”
Chilli set the record straight with E! News this week, saying, “First of all, we’re not currently trying to have a child,” she exclusively told E! News at the Dolby Theatre in an interview. “We’re not married yet so we’re just very happy and growing in our relationship.”
But for the record, Chilli says this relationship is not your average romance.
“I’ve dated, but this cancelled out everything,” she shared before looking at her longtime friend Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins. “She knows.”
T-Boz went on to deliver her seal of approval of Chilli’s main man and even expressed hope that her close friend and “sister” will get married one day in the future.
“Matthew’s a special one,” she explained. “I know my sister so he’s special. Trust! Matthew, you better know.”
T-Boz and Chilli explain why their upcoming Lifetime/A&E documentary, ‘TLC Forever‘, was so important to them. “It means a lot [to us], we put a lot of work in to this group for almost 31 years, so it’s about time people hear a real story — coming from us”, T-Boz says. “And we are here to tell it ourselves”, Chilli adds. “And we’re not gone, so no one can take it and ruin it”, T-Boz concludes.
“A lot of people have tried to tell our story — the wrong story. All these opinions and everybody’s five seconds of fame did not mean a thing, just a whole bunch of lies”, T-Boz says. “It’s time that people hear it from us. Honestly, it’s a story of trials, tribulations, and triumph. Because that’s what we’ve done.”
On the topic of new music, TLC reminds us that they are still working on their Broadway musical, which may include some new music. “We are working on our musical, and we know that may need some new music from us, and we’re working on some television shows that may also require us to get back in the studio”, Chilli explains. “It’s a big deal, it really is”, T-Boz adds. “It’s a blessing, and once again we’re here to tell it, they way that we want to do it”.
TLC are heading back on tour this summer on the ‘Hot Summer Nights‘ tour with Shaggy, En Vogue and Sean Kingston, which kicks off in June. “That’s the time we get to showcase everything that the fans love about us, and we go far beyond the call of duty in rehearsals,” Chilli told PEOPLE. “We don’t play when it comes to that, getting routines together, everything. We love it.”
Tickets for the TLC ‘Hot Summer Nights’ tour are on sale now. Head to officialtlc.com for more info.
