Understanding the Braxton family history requires separating the patriarch's pastoral roots from the entertainment careers of his children. The following table tracks the central milestones across five decades of the family's public and private journey.
| Era | Key Event | Family Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 1967, 1977 | Severn Church Foundations | Michael Sr. enforces strict religious discipline, training his six children in sacred four-part harmonies. |
| 1989, 1993 | The Secular Breakout | The sisters sign to Arista; Toni launches her solo debut with LaFace Records, selling over 10 million copies. |
| 2000 | Parental Divorce | Michael Sr. and Evelyn Braxton divorce after roughly 35 years of marriage, splintering relationships with his daughters. |
| 2011, 2020 | Braxton Family Values Era | The WE tv series documents long-standing family rifts, including attempts by the siblings to reconcile with Michael Sr. |
| 2022 | Traci Braxton's Passing | Traci passes away from esophageal cancer at age 50, bringing the entire family together in grief. |
