Announcement, Appearance, Interview, News, Television, Tribute

TLC are Planning a Reality Show and a Fictional Musical Television Series

TLC are almost ready to launch their upcoming “Hot Summer Nights” tour next month along with Shaggy, En Vogue and Sean Kingston, which coincides with the premiere of their new documentary, “TLC Forever“, which airs simultaneously on both Lifetime and A&E on June 3 at 8/7c.

T-Boz and Chilli have been doing the promotional rounds this week to promote their show and tour. Whilst speaking to Entertainment Weekly, they announced that they have something brewing on Broadway, as well as a fictional series centered around their music and a pilot for an upcoming reality show in the works. 

This will be the first time TLC have featured in a reality show together since 2005, when they starred in UPN’s “R U The Girl“, a reality contest show which followed T-Boz and Chilli on a nationwide road trip to find one special girl to perform and record a new song with them, called “I Bet“. The show also gave us lots of hilarious moments of the duo and the iconic chemistry that they have together.

Chilli went on to feature in her own reality show, VH1’s “What Chilli Wants“, in 2010 which ran for two seasons. She also starred in “Girls Cruise” in 2018 with Lil’ Kim and Mya. T-Boz starred in her own reality show, “Totally T-Boz” on the channel TLC in 2013.

According to EW, “TLC Forever” will document the group’s rise to stardom, the friction that they encountered and how T-Boz and Chilli were able to pick up the pieces after tragically losing the beloved Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes in 2002. The show will also reveal the group in rehearsals as they prepared to perform at the 2022 Glastonbury Festival.

“You get to see our raw reaction,” says T-Boz, who captured several of the clips on a camcorder she carried around while TLC travelled the world throughout their 20s. “When I did that, I didn’t realize it would be worth so much to us later on. I’m real thankful we got that footage, all of the great times we had together. To be able to watch it so many years later is such a blessing.”

TLC believe that if they were new artists today in the age of streaming, their music would still be as relevant as it is now. “I don’t know about sales, but I know our music would stand the test of time,” says T-Boz. “I do believe if ‘No Scrubs’ or ‘Unpretty’ or ‘Creep’ came out tomorrow, they would be bumping on the radio just the same.”

The ladies are also very proud of the fact that despite their highs and lows, they never disbanded or replaced members. “No matter what happened, we never broke up,” says Chilli. “I mean, we’re gonna be in this group until we’re not here anymore. And the greatest thing of all is that we still want to do this together. I would not want to do this with any other person.”

TLC also had a fun interview with Xfinity, where amongst discussions about fashion trends and their growth, they reveal which Left Eye verse was their favorite and show the world they also have bars like their TLC sister.

“It was fun going back down memory lane, reminiscing about all the times that we’ve shared together, especially with Lisa”, says T-Boz. “And times that we haven’t forgotten, but they’re just not on your mind at that moment. So yeah, a lot of great memories”, adds Chilli.

T-Boz and Chilli unamously agree that the rap that they would sing if they switched roles for a day would be one of Left Eye’s raps in “Hat 2 Da Back“. After singing the verse together in perfect harmony, T-Boz exclaims, “yeah, we can rap too!” Despite the iconic status of their records, TLC insist that they do not listen to their own music when they’re not at work.

“We don’t even bump it in the car at home”, reveals T-Boz. “We practice [for concerts] 6 to 8 hours a day, 5 days a week — that’s a lot”. Chilli agrees, adding, “In rehearsals, we practice 8 hours a day, it’s a real job, listening to her voice, my voice — play something else, please!”

Tickets to TLC’s “Hot Summer Nights” tour are on sale now!

Tune in to watch “TLC Forever” on Lifetime/A&E on June 3 at 7/8c

Appearance, Interview, News, Television

T-Boz Reveals Her Thoughts on COVID-19 Vaccines, Good As Burgers, Trolls and Why She Has Been Single For 8 Years!

The beautiful Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins was the latest guest on the Cameron Newton YouTube podcast ‘Funky Friday‘ on May 5.

T-Boz reminisced about her time starting out and forming TLC with Left Eye and Chilli, and was surprised at the lack of girl group’s out today. “You don’t see a lot of girl groups anymore. There’s not a lot of new groups out, and the one’s that were out have broken up”, T-Boz admits. She reveals that being in a girl group can be hard, and a lot of the reasons that girl groups don’t survive is down to egos and cattiness. “Women are usually so envious of one another. Catty, jealous and ego’s like that can break up a group.”

T-Boz mentioned the big age gap between her 22 year old daughter, Chase Rolison, and her 7 year old son, Chance. “Its a big gap like a crazy person. Yes, I started over, but it keeps me young, so I love it. I wanted a boy, so I was like, I don’t care how old I am, I’m about to have this baby boy”, T-Boz admits. “Chase and Chance, those are my world. And my two nieces are my babies, too”.

T-Boz touches on the vegan fast food venture, Good As Burgers, or GAB’s, that she partly owns with her brother Carnoy ‘Kayo’ Watkins who founded the business. “It’s Good As Burgers, but it sounds like, ‘ohh that’s a Good Ass Burger’, because they are good”, she said. T-Boz reveals that she plans on expanding the business when they open more food trucks with 4 locations to date.

Cam asked T-Boz about her Irish heritage, along with her Native American and African American heritage. “I was in my house one day, and I’ve got this really pretty frame. You can tell that they made it, decorated it, it was beautiful”, T-Boz says. “There was this old white lady in the picture, so I asked, who is this old white lady and they said that it was my great grandmother, and that she was Irish. So, yeah, I’m a little mixed up, but I claim El Negro”.

When the topic of Rihanna‘s Super Bowl halftime performance came up, T-Boz was reluctant to comment and reminded Cam about the drama the press created between TLC and Rihanna back in 2014, after being misquoted which led to angry trolls attacking her on social media.

T-Boz reveals that she continues to use her own CBD brand, ‘TLCBD‘, to help with her symptoms of arthritis and sickle cell Thalassemia (Sickle Thal). However, ever since she received the Pfizer jab to vaccinate herself against the COVID-19 virus, her sickle cell symptoms seemed to have worsened. “I honestly think that the [COVID-19] vaccinations — after my last three crisis’ that I had, I haven’t had anything like that — but after that shot — I honestly think it messed me up, I really do.”

T-Boz has mixed emotions over how she feels about the COVID-19 vaccines and admits that she most likely would not have had it if it wasn’t for her job that required her to be vaccinated. “I felt bullied into it, because without it you can’t get paid, you can’t go to work, yeah, that’s how it was for me”, T-Boz admits. “And then I still got COVID anyway, twice — on the massage table, my massage therapist gave it to me, and then recently overseas on tour in Sydney, Australia. I have no earthly idea how I could have gotten it besides the quick change on stage that we share with other artists because they don’t wipe that down. But I have a very low immune system because of my sickle cell”.

On the topic of self beauty, T-Boz recalls why she wrote the 1999 number one TLC single, “Unpretty“. “I thought it was cool to have individuality and be your own woman. It shows you how many insecure women there are in the world. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with fixing something you don’t like, but if you do it, make sure it’s for you”, T-Boz admits. “But I also think there is a stopping point where you can take it too far. You’re starting to look like lions and characters, and you look crazy. Men come and go, getting your asses and titties done, that’s not keeping your man at home”.

Cam discussed the socially acceptable differences between men and women when it comes to enhancing physical features. T-Boz admits that she’d be honest with a man that tried to hide baldness with a wig and tell him to shave it all off. But she wouldn’t accept a man actively seeking a penile enlargement, “hell no, if I saw that in the beginning, I ain’t got no time to be waiting for him to get a fake penis. I don’t want a man into all that crap”.

So, what kind of man will win the heart of Ms Tionne Tenese Watkins? “Dirty nails on men and dirty shoes, I don’t like that. I’m not talking to a man with dirty ass hands. It’s a pet peeve, I don’t like it”, T-Boz states. “These days men are just not men, so we women sometimes have to do stuff that we didn’t always want to do. I am single on purpose, because I don’t want to deal with another grown ass baby. I haven’t talked to nobody in about 8 years! I haven’t even dated in those years”.

“When I’ve tried to talk to someone regular, they are very insecure. Even men that are supposed to be secure with money are insecure in my business, because I’m around a lot of guys”, T-Boz continues. “I’ve been celibate in those 8 years, I’m not a ho, I don’t do booty calls and all that. I’m more of a relationship person. I had a lot of life stuff happening honestly, with my mom’s health and my daughter almost passed away with Lupus, and then the pandemic happened — it’s cool if God brings somebody who is really a man. Because I’m a real alpha, so it takes somebody special to deal with me. If he’s not coming to me as a man, then why am I playing my role if you’re not playing yours?”

So, how can a man add value to the life of T-Boz, a woman who has everything that she needs? “Come home at night, don’t lie, be a good, honest person. It’s not about money all the time. Been there, done that, got that. I’ve had all the cars, the houses, I’ve done all that”, T-Boz admits. “I’m really simplistic. It’s the attention to detail, like the small things, the things that I like. I’m a real logical open minded person, I’m a very fair person and I’ll do my part, but if you’re not doing your part then I don’t see the reason for you to be here. I pay manly bills, I do manly things, so if you’re not going to be a man, move out the way, I’ve got kids to take care of and things to do. That’s just how I am”.

Watch the full episode below:

Announcement, Appearance, News, Television, Tribute

Chilli Accepts TLC Legacy Award at 2023 Variety Power of Women Ceremony with Full Speech

The beautiful Chilli was honored to accept the Variety 2023 Power of Women Legacy Award on behalf of TLC on April 4, 2023 in New York.

Her TLC sister, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins was unable to attend the event due to sinus infection she was still recovering from. Chilli joked that they do not like to share one award, so hopes the event provides them each with the prestigious award.

Chilli started off her acceptance speech for TLC’s Legacy Award by giving thanks to God for her talents. “When I say that he has been there for us — and still is — I’m just so thankful to him”, Chilli said. “You always want to be sure you’re doing what’s right — and we always should — but I just want to make sure that I’m being a good daughter to my Lord and Savior, that’s very important to me”.

Chilli then got emotional as she recalled some of the group’s hardest moments and their biggest triumphs as women of color in the music industry.

“When you are a woman of color, it’s real hard — it’s a huge struggle,” she told the audience. “I’ll always remember when ‘No Scrubs’ came out and it was actually our first number one entering in. I always wanted to be on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine…we didn’t get the cover. I won’t say who got it, it’s okay because he deserved it too but we also did. The message was ‘the last time we had someone Black on the cover, it didn’t really sell well.’” To clarify, the Rolling Stones cover went to Eminem that month.

She continued, “I have to say that just because you hear many ‘no’s’ does not mean that you don’t have the talent because you do — we never stopped believing in ourselves and each other.”

Chilli took a moment to give TLC’s long-term manager, Bill Diggins, his flowers for sticking around with the ladies through their highs and lows, since the loss of Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes in 2002. “Bill Diggins believed in us when we were on top of the world. And when everything happened — losing our sister — and no one believing in us anymore, thinking that it was over…he never felt like that, ever”, Chilli reveals.

Chilli vowed to “forever keep our sister Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes’ memory alive through everything that we do.” Whilst addressing the rumors that the group had been on the lookout for a replacement after their reality talent show, UPN’s ‘R U The Girl‘ in 2005, Chilli joked, “We never ever even thought about replacing her — even after she burned the house down…by the way it was an accident!”

Announcement, Appearance, News, Television

Chilli’s Son Tron Austin to Star in Docuseries ‘Family Legacy’ on Paramount+

Paramount+ announced via press release on April 4, 2023 that the new music docuseries ‘Family Legacy‘ will premiere Tuesday, April 25 exclusively on the service in the U.S. and Canada.

The series will also premiere internationally on Wednesday, April 26 in the U.K., Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, LATAM and Brazil, and on Saturday, April 29 in Australia. An official trailer and key art for the series were also released.

Narrated by actor and music artist Quincy Brown, each half hour of the five-episode series will feature the children of legendary music artists and bands including Linkin Park, Van Halen, Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, Boyz II Men, TLC, Biggie Smalls, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Brandy and Melissa Etheridge reliving some of entertainment’s most iconic moments and giving viewers an intimate look at their favorite artists.

Featured in the series are:

  • Tron Austin (son of TLC’s Chilli)
  • Bailey Cypheridge (daughter of Melissa Etheridge)
  • Baylee Littrell (son of Backstreet Boys’ Brian Littrell)
  • Briahna Fatone (daughter of *NSYNC’s Joey Fatone)
  • Christian “King” Combs (son of Sean “Diddy” Combs)
  • C.J. Wallace (son of Notorious B.I.G.)
  • Draven Bennington (son of Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington)
  • Justin Combs (son of Sean “Diddy” Combs)
  • Nathan Morris II (son of Boyz II Men’s Nathan Morris)
  • Quincy Brown (son of Sean “Diddy” Combs)
  • Sy’Rai Smith (daughter of Brandy)
  • Andrew Hagar (son of Van Halen’s Sammy Hagar)

Through thousands of hours of exclusive MTV footage and brand-new interviews with the children of our favorite stars, ‘Family Legacy’ takes fans on a tour of iconic musicians’ most celebrated moments, with perspectives and untold stories only their kids could provide!

‘Family Legacy’ is produced by MTV Entertainment Studios, with Bruce Gillmer and Jeremy Davies as executive producers. Nancy Glass, Eric Neuhaus and Lauren Flowers serve as executive producers for Glass Entertainment Group.

Watch the trailer below: