Phases: A Memoir

The iconic, multiplatinum, Grammy Award(R)-winning performer Brandy brings us a raw, intimate portrait of her life, charting her journey from Mississippi churches to Hollywood spotlights

From the moment she first sang at church in McComb, Mississippi, Brandy knew her voice was special. At fourteen she landed her first record deal. At fifteen her first album went platinum. At sixteen she was starring in the hit sitcom Moesha and became the first Black actress to play Cinderella on screen alongside fairy godmother, Whitney Houston.

Yet as the accolades piled up, so too did the pressure to maintain a flawless image. To onlookers, she had crafted the blueprint for the teenage "it" girl. But behind closed doors "The Vocal Bible" as she was known, was struggling.

In this piercing, revelatory memoir, Brandy shares:

• the inside stories behind her most iconic songs and albums;
• her star-studded connections with Whitney Houston and Diana Ross;
• the affirmation of friends and family, including her brother Ray J, that helped her through challenging times;
• and so much more.

Delving into the humble roots of her decades-spanning career, her early struggles with bullies and insecurities as a high schooler, and finally her inspirational journey to reclaim her sense of self and her autonomy as a woman in Hollywood and in music, this memoir is an insightful meditation on Brandy's life and how she rose to become the woman she is today. Told through a series of breathtaking vignettes and never-before-seen family photographs in a full-color insert, Phases is a fearless and remarkable story of hope, resilience and the strength it takes to make peace with the past.

Author: Brandy
Publisher: Hanover Square Press
Published: 03/31/2026
Pages: 384
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.15lbs
Size: 9.06h x 6.38w x 1.42d
ISBN: 9781335013279


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 01/26/2026
Booklist 03/01/2026
Kirkus Reviews 04/01/2026
Library Journal 02/01/2026 pg. 8

About the Author
Brandy: - Brandy is a GRAMMY-winning singer, songwriter, producer, actress, the ultimate triple threat. She rose to fame as the star of the long-running sitcom Moesha and broke new ground as the first Black actress to portray a Disney princess (Cinderella) on screen. She starred as a Cover Girl, and captivated audiences on Broadway. Brandy is adoringly known as "the Vocal Bible," and her decades-long career has more than proven that she deserves the title. With a singular voice that swells from subdued and reserved to powerful and emotive, she has enraptured audiences since her 1994 self-titled debut. The quadruple Platinum album was steeped in relatable R&B, and served as an introduction to her signature sound. The projects that followed--from 1998's Never Say Never, which spawned the Grammy-winning hit "The Boy Is Mine" to 2020's B7--further cemented her status as a genre-defining icon. Brandy's ability to bring love and loss to light can be traced to a voice that she controls like an instrumentalist. A generational talent who is revered by her peers and fans alike, Brandy brought her wisdom and experience to her most recent Holiday album, Christmas with Brandy. The album which was released in 2023 is sure to become a Holiday staple for generations to come. When she's not dazzling listeners by diving deep into the R&B bag that made us fall in love with her from the very beginning, she is working on projects like Descendants: The Rise of Red, now streaming on Disney+ and her upcoming memoir Phases to be released in 2025.