GloRilla had social media buzzing when she made her appearance on the red carpet at New York City’s UBS Arena on September 12 for the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards.
GloRilla decided to pay tribute to the late TLC star, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, rocking a similar hairstyle to Lisa from her appearance at the 2000 Soul Train Awards, where she served as the host that year.
“I sat with my stylist EJ [King] and we came up with a few ideas,” GloRilla tells Vogue. “This vibe just felt right.”
Left Eye at the 2000 Soul Train Awards
GloRilla and EJ enlisted designer Bent Kahina for the custom red carpet ensemble. Sadai Banks was tapped for makeup, and Coca Michelle for nails. Hairstylist and wig maker Tokyo Stylez was tasked with recreating Lopes’s famous hairstyle—marked by multiple three-plait braids morphing into rings, and heavy bangs.
“I’m a fan of a lot of great female artists that came before me, so I wanted to pay a tribute to them,” Glorilla says, adding that the opportunity to perform at the VMAs “meant everything,” to her. “I’m truly blessed!”
GloRilla at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards
Marie Brown(formerly Davis), was TLC’s original and long-term hairstylist. She was also responsible for many of Left Eye’s most iconic hairdos, including the afro-futuristic braids she wore at the 2000 Soul Train Awards.
“The circles are the little round pieces of styrofoam”, Marie tells Essence. “Styrofoam from Michael’s. You wrap them around, and they’re just braided on and connected onto her hair. I was just always trying to do something different. I was trying to always reach a different level with her and she was just free to do it.”
GloRilla didn’t win any of the awards in her nominated categories, but she stole the show as she rapped her hit singles “Yeah Glo!” and “TGIF”.
GloRilla, real name Gloria Woods, is very much a fan of TLC and is honored to share her appreciation for the ladies at every opportunity she can.
This isn’t the first time GloRilla has paid homage to Left Eye. She also paid tribute to Left Eye with her fashion choices at the 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards.
GloRilla struck up a close relationship with the surviving members of TLC earlier this year at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards, where she was honored with introducing T-Boz and Chilli to the stage for a special performance.
TLC surprised the audience with a performance of their hit single, “Waterfalls,” featuring a guest appearance by Latto.
What were your thoughts on GloRilla paying homage to Left Eye. Did she pull off the look?
Following the revelation of her health scare last week that led to a couple of postponed TLC concert dates, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins decided to speak out this week via multiple media outlets, including her own social media, television talk show Portia, and the award winning radio show The Breakfast Club.
It was on the latter show where T-Boz opened up about her feelings about her situation, which she wished was not made as public as it has been. During her appearance on the show on August 29, T-Boz said that what happened to her “could’ve happened to anyone.”
T-Boz on The Breakfast Club (Aug 29, 2024)
She recalled feeling fine right before TLC’s scheduled performance in Syracuse for the New York State Fair. T-Boz initially thought she had food poisoning due to something she ate. She hilariously compared the feeling in her stomach to a classic move from the Incredible Hulk. “My stomach felt like if the Incredible Hulk took it and just said ‘Hulk Smash!'”
“It was like I couldn’t stand up. I couldn’t talk. I couldn’t walk,” she continued. “When the doctor came to see me to prove that I was sick, he immediately was like,’She has to go in and admit her.'”
T-Boz wanted to be very clear that what happened to her had nothing to do with her sickle cell disease. Her ailment was caused by scar tissue that hit her small intestine and caused a blockage. The scar tissue formed from a C-section she had 24 years ago for the birth of her eldest daughter, Chase Rolison. She also shot down rumors of her being on Ozempic and addressed those who tried to misdiagnose her online.
T-Boz was in the hospital for three days before being released to continue her recovery at home.
DJ Envy addressed T-Boz’s actions online, hitting back at the negative comments, which included people suggesting she should quit the group. “Who are you to tell me to quit my damn job?”, T-Boz said. “Life is life. Life comes with some stuff, life ain’t easy. But, you’ll never catch me complaining. If you work hard for something and you like what you do, who are you to tell me to stop?”
“My stomach issue didn’t have anything to do with me stopping my career”, T-Boz continued. “I’m not stopping Chilli from doing anything that she wants to do solo or anybody else. It’s not stopping anything for anybody but me. And, if I am okay, I’m not stupid. I’m not gonna go out there and kill myself for nothing and nobody. That’s why the show was cancelled, because I knew better. I can’t do it.”
T-Boz also hit fans with a bombshell statement regarding her remaining time dedicated to touring with TLC. She revealed that she is likely to retire from the tour life sometime next year, making more time for her family and other solo endeavors.
“I know what my body can do and what it can’t do”, T-Boz explains. “I love performing. It’s in my heart, it’s in my soul. I’m gonna do it. But, when it’s time to stop, then I’ll stop. I was born this way, I was dealt these cards, so I don’t know any different. I knew that I had to go the extra mile to do what I wanna do. I do more than your average artist to get up there, but this is what I chose to do. But trust me, when it’s time for me to sit my black behind down, I do.”
Charlemagne The God asked T-Boz how touring feels 30 years into her career. “You see Usher? Child, it’s hard for everybody!Even for the average person, touring is hard!” T-Boz admits. “You don’t have to have a disease to take a break or have an injury. Things are hard, that’s why I’m gearing up to retire, probably next year. So, if you want to see TLC [in concert], I suggest you do it now, because I don’t think I’m going to be doing this for much longer. I am 54, but I am blessed. I was told that wasn’t going to live past 30 — I’m 54, still on stage, still selling out arenas and stadiums. When God and my body tell me to stop, then I’ll stop — I’m not crazy! I’m not going to kill myself doing this.”
The mention of potential retirement completely had fans feeling a certain way, but T-Boz made it clear that she will still be out there handling business. She is merely retiring from the touring aspect of her career.
“I’m not going nowhere, I’m still going to be doing other things, but I’m just retiring from touring”, T-Boz explains. “Because, it is hard on your body. And, because I have sickle cell. I don’t want to be ‘broke down Benny’, tore up from the floor up, when it’s time to spend time with my family. No, so I’m going to stop, so I can do other things and spend more time with my children. I’m gonna do the right thing, but I have learned how to pace myself on stage.”
T-Boz said that she agrees with her daughter Chase, who reminded her that she has given 32 years of her life to her craft, so she has nothing left to prove — she is a legend. She has undoubtedly earned the right to slow down and enjoy the fruits of her labour.
TLC absolutely deserve to be given a residency at some point, something they have wanted to do for years and have more than proved themselves that they are more than capable of putting on a sensational show.
T-Boz promoting Good As Burgers on Portia
T-Boz will be more focused on her other projects that she has in the works. She is currently writing movie scripts, and she may release some more music in the future. She also plans to take on more endorsement deals, such as her GLAD endorsement that she featured in recently, choreographed by Sean Bankhead.
She also has her successful businesses that continue to flourish, including the natural remedy company TLCBD and her joint vegan family business Good As Burgers (GABS).
We’re GLAD that T-Boz is doing well, and using her platform to help educate more about abdominal obstruction.
We’ll support her with every project that she takes part in. Be sure to catch TLC at their next show. Details of upcoming dates can be found at officialtlc.com
Our thoughts are prayers go out to our beloved queen and fighter, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins of TLC. The legendary icon has recently been diagnosed with an abdominal blockage, which required a short stay in the hospital.
Whilst Ms Watkins recovers from the condition, it was necessary for two of the TLC concert dates at the New York State Fair on August 23, and the Foxwoods Resort Casino on August 24, to be postponed for the time being.
TLC simultaneously released a statement on social media along with the concert promoters addressing T-Boz’s sudden health crisis.
“After delivering an electrifying performance in Toledo, Ohio, on Thursday, TLC was eagerly anticipating their next stop at the New York State Fair in Syracuse. However, shortly after arriving in Syracuse, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins experienced sudden and severe nausea, vomiting, and intense abdominal cramps. She was immediately seen by a doctor and subsequently taken to the hospital for further evaluation”, the statement said.
“Last evening, Tionne was diagnosed with a severe abdominal blockage, necessitating the cancellation of both the Syracuse and Foxwoods performances. She remains in the hospital under medical supervision but is expected to be released tomorrow. The doctor verified that this was not food poisoning, but an abdominal blockage”.
TLC live at the Wolf Trap, July 2024
The statement continued, “Tionne deeply regrets having to cancel these shows and apologises to all of her fans and the event promoters. The decision to cancel was made under the advisement of her physician, who required her to stay in the hospital overnight to undergo a CT scan to assess the severity of her condition.”
The statement concludes by revealing that TLC is committed to rescheduling the postponed shows and apologize to fans who have to travel from a long distance to attend the show.
Flo Rida went on to perform in place of TLC at the New York State Fair, whilst Shaggy continued the concert as a solo act at the Foxwoods Casino.
T-Boz assured fans in a message posted to Instagram that she’s “on the mend” and expressed deep regret over the cancellations. “This was just one of those unexpected things that I had no control over,” she shared. “I look forward to making it up to you all.”
T-Boz also set the record straight with a naysayer, implying that TLC was no longer capable of touring without T-Boz getting sick. “WTF are you even talking about? Please go somewhere else with that bullshit! My health has been just fine! What happened to me has happened to MANY and has nothing to do with sickle cell… it can happen to anyone. “
T-Boz continued with specific reasoning for her abdominal symptoms, “It had to do with scar tissue from a 24 year old surgery while having my daughter! So, you’re NOT my doctor, and you have no idea what you’re talking about! You sound crazy as f… if I can’t do it, I won’t. You see, the show was cancelled. It’ll be rebooked, and I’ll do it healthy and move on like you should move on… and we’re not on tour. It was a spot date.”
Sean Farnsworth, a spokesperson for the New York State Fair, said that the fair hasn’t received word from TLC about a rescheduled performance, but with Suburban Park booked for the rest of the fair, it’s unlikely they would get an opportunity for one. “It’s an unfortunate situation,” Farnsworth said. “We wish T-Boz a quick recovery.”
TLC previously performed at the New York State Fair in 2022, and drew one of the 25 largest crowds in NYS Fair history with 30,000 people at what was then called Chevy Park.
Prior to the concert cancellation, TLC were able to put on a sensational performance in Toldeo, Ohio on August 22!
If it feels like 1995 to some of you all over again, that may be due to the fact that our former favorite R&B power couple – Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins of TLC, and Dalvin “Mr. Dalvin” DeGrates of Jodeci – are still as close as ever, three decades since they parted ways in the 90’s.
The self-proclaimed “dynamic duo” are still good friends, and have remained close friends for many years. The two music legends reignited some excitement amongst fans when they simultaneously posted a video on their social media to announce that they were ‘coming back’.
On June 14, T-Boz and Mr. Dalvin showed the world how much chemistry they still have, as they playfully decided that they were like ‘Batman and Robin’.
“We’ve got something coming — Dalvin — T-Boz — you already know what it is”, Mr. Dalvin said in the video. T-Boz co-signed the statement and said, “Frick and Frack, Frack and Frick! We’re back, y’all!”
Mr. Dalvin & T-Boz (1995)
The duo did not confirm what the reunion would be about, whether it was music related, a tour, or something else.
T-Boz and Mr. Dalvin’s last public outing together was back in 2022, when T-Boz stopped by at the Culture Tour, when the show touched down in Savannah, GA to show some love and support to her performing friends, including Jodeci.
Mr. Dalvin & T-Boz (2022)
T-Boz said she was doing good, to which Mr Dalvin hilariously replied, “you’ve been without me, that’s why you’ve been good!”, leaving T-Boz laughing hysterically.
T-Boz and Mr. Dalvin were in a relationship during the 90’s and were considered the ultimate couple during their time together. T-Boz even made a cameo in the Jodeci video, 1995’s “Love U 4 Life“, posing as Mr. Dalvin’s wife during the marriage ceremony.
Rev. Run, T-Boz & Mr. Dalvin (1995)T-Boz in ‘Love U 4 Life’ (1995)
What do you think the upcoming announcement will be about?
Leon@TLCArmy
TLC-Army.com 