Braxton, Phil Collins lead cast of halftime show

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By ERNEST HOOPER

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 28, 2000

ATLANTA -- For Toni Braxton, it will be a new beginning. For Phil Collins, it will be a grand finale.

And for 130-million viewers in the United States, it will be the Super Bowl halftime show.

Braxton and Collins, along with singer Enrique Iglesias and actor Edward James Olmos, met with the media Thursday to discuss the 12-minute, Disney-produced show, Tapestry of Nations, and their careers.

Braxton, on hiatus since her 1996 album Secrets won two Grammy Awards, views the show as a chance to re-introduce herself to fans. Her recording career was put on hold after a legal dispute with LaFace Records led to her January 1998 bankruptcy filing.

"It's been really difficult," said Braxton, who worked out her differences with LaFace and signed a new deal in March 1999. "It's more embarrassing for me, personally, because I have dreams for myself and I feel like I have regrets."

She continued: "Sometimes you may not look at things as blessings, but when you look back on them and see how you've grown, you say, "Wow.' I'm so glad it happened because it taught me so much about myself. It's like a coming-of-age thing."

Braxton, who is the first African-American to have the starring role in Disney's Beauty and the Beast on Broadway, now is focusing on the upcoming release of her new album The Heat. Braxton was the executive producer and co-wrote many of the songs. She got help from an impressive list of stars including Babyface, R. Kelly, Diane Warren, David Foster and Mint Condition keyboard player Keri Lewis.

The first single is due out in February and the album should hit the stores in March.

While Braxton is embarking on a new project, Collins said his performance in the halftime show will culminate his five-year involvement with Disney's Tarzan. Collins produced the soundtrack and recorded several songs for the animated movie.

"I'm going to take the year off," Collins said. "Tarzan has been the last five years of my life. I'll start another movie when I get home, but I shan't be going on tour this year. I'll be sitting at home and writing some songs for a new film and writing some songs for me.

"If I get enough songs, I'll put an album out. If people buy it, I'll go on tour. But I'll be taking it easy."

Collins will perform Two Worlds from the Tarzan soundtrack during the halftime show, which coincidentally occurs on his birthday.

Iglesias and fellow teen favorite Christina Aguilera, who did not make an appearance Thursday, also will perform. Olmos, best known for his Oscar-nominated performance in the 1988 movie Stand and Deliver, will narrate.

Producers said the show, called Tapestry of Nations for its theme of world unity, will include larger-than-life puppets and an 80-piece orchestra -- a Super Bowl first.

"I think this is the biggest contribution we could make, using this 12-15 minutes that we have to really unite," Olmos said. "That's why I'm sitting here . . . because I really believe this is the single most important aspect of what this whole thing is about. We want to really embrace the unity of all the nations of the world."

Times researcher Kitty Bennett contributed to this report.

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