Brandy is ready to share her story in her own words.
The R&B icon and actress has announced her first memoir, Phases, will release March 31, 2026, via Hanover Square Press. (It was initially set to publish Oct. 7, 2025. However, according to the publishing company’s official website, a new release date has been set.)
Brandy’s memoir will chronicle her early days growing up in McComb, Mississippi, to landing her first record deal at just 14. It will further explore her rise to stardom as a teen sensation and beyond, making impressive strides in music and television/film, including starring in the hit sitcom Moesha and making history as the first Black actress to play Cinderella on screen.
Professional accolades aside, Brandy’s upcoming book will shed light on her life in the spotlight and behind the scenes — from the pressures of maintaining a flawless image as a young superstar to “the stratospheric highs and the unimaginable lows” — and her journey to becoming the woman, mother, and artist she is today.
“Writing my memoir was one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of my life,” Brandy wrote in a social media post. “I allowed myself the space to be fearless and vulnerable to reveal some of my most intimate moments. For the first time, I am sharing my story–honest, unfiltered and not through the lens of media or critics.”
She added, “This memoir is more than a book; it’s a reflection of resilience, hope, and rediscovering myself beyond the fame, the music and the spotlight. This memoir is a lifetime in the making, and I hope my words bring inspiration as you navigate your own journey.”
Brandy’s memoir is available for preorder.
Brandy is nominated at the 67th Grammy Awards, which takes place Sunday, Feb. 2, in Los Angeles. She, as well as Monica, are up for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their appearance on Ariana Grande’s “the boy is mine (remix).”
It marks Brandy and Monica’s third nomination together, following their 1998 smash “The Boy Is Mine,” which won Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal Grammy in 1999 and was also in the running for Record of the Year. It’s worth noting “The Boy Is Mine” was also nominated for Best R&B Song, a songwriter’s award, though only Brandy is credited as a co-writer.
At the 2025 NAACP Image Awards, Brandy is nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie) for her reprised role as Cinderella in Disney+’s Descendants: The Rise of Red. The ceremony airs live Saturday, Feb. 22, at 8 p.m. ET on BET and CBS.
In other news, Brandy is set to embark on her co-headlining The Boy Is Mine Tour with Monica. The joint tour kicks off Oct. 16 in Cincinnati and will conclude Dec. 14 in Jacksonville. They will be joined by special guests Kelly Rowland, Muni Long, Coco Jones and Jamal Roberts.
Editor’s Note (Sept. 24, 2025): This story has been updated to include the official book title and cover.
Editor’s Note (June 24, 2025): Brandy’s memoir was originally slated to release in fall 2025. However, it was moved to March 6, 2026.
