A Sick Life: TLC 'n Me: Stories from On and Off the Stage

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About A Sick Life: TLC 'n Me: Stories From On And Off The

Product Description A candid memoir of fame, strength, family, and friendship from the lead singer of TLC As the lead singer of Grammy-winning supergroup TLC, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins has seen phenomenal fame, success, and critical acclaim. But backstage, she has lived a dual life. In addition to the balancing act of juggling an all-consuming music career and her family, Tionne has struggled her whole life with sickle-cell disease—a debilitating and incurable condition that can render her unable to perform, walk, or even breathe. A Sick Life chronicles Tionne’s journey from a sickly young girl in Des Moines who was told she wouldn’t live to see 30 through her teen years in Atlanta to how she broke into the music scene and became the superstar musician and sickle-cell disease advocate she is today. Through Tionne’s tough, funny, tell-it-like-it-is voice, she shares how she found the inner strength, grit, and determination to live her dream, despite her often unpredictable and debilitating health issues. She dives deep into never-before-told TLC stories, including accounts of her friendship with Lisa “Left-Eye” Lopes and her tragic death. Tionne’s unvarnished discussion of her remarkable life, disease, unending strength, and ability to power through the odds offers a story like no other. About the Author Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins is the lead singer of the bestselling female group TLC, known for their singles, “Waterfalls,” “No Scrubs,” “Creep,” and “Unpretty,” which all charted #1 on Billboard. Tionne is a national spokesperson for sickle-cell disease. She lives in Los Angeles with her daughter, Chase, and son, Chance. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. IntroductIon I believe everything in life happens for a reason. You are meant to be wherever you end up and whoever you become. I was meant to be Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, a singer, dancer, philanthropist, creator, writer, daughter, mother, sister, and friend. I’ve spent much of my life in TLC, the world’s biggestselling American girl group of all time. I hear our songs, like “Waterfalls” and “Creep,” playing all the time. They’re songs that people refer to as timeless and iconic, which is an amazing feeling. Together with Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas and Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, I created a legacy with TLC. We broke new ground and took down old barriers. We sold millions of albums and inspired millions of fans. TLC has been an essential aspect of my life, but it’s only one part of it. Behind the scenes I’ve experienced so much. I’ve dealt with a lifelong illness, sickle cell disease, and I’ve had dozens of health scares over the years. I gave birth to my daughter, Chase, against medical odds, and recently adopted my son named Chance. Both of them came into my life at very different times and they both felt like miracles—which you’ll hear all about later. I’m raising them as a single mother, just like my own mom. I’ve suffered tragedies and encountered the death of loved ones. I’ve become a strong, independent woman who refuses to back down. Over the years, I’ve learned that there’s an upside to everything. You might think your story is the worst and that no one can relate, but there’s always someone who’s going through the same thing as you—if not worse. My story belongs to me, but I hope it can help those who read it. I hope that my ups and downs and my struggles will make you feel like you’re not alone. If I can survive, I know others can, too. I feel like all my hardships and all my pain have happened for a reason, whatever that reason is. Living with a scary disease has made me a fighter. It’s taught me to push forward and look for the positive things in life. Maybe I’ve gone through all of this and learned these lessons so I could share them and make a difference. Maybe, as you read this, my story can help you. Chapter 1 Two Stories, One Life When you perform, there’s something that happens right before you go onstage. It’s almost magical, like be