Syleena Johnson grew up with her siblings Chad, Syleecia, and Sylette, raised by their parents Sylvester Johnson and Brenda Thompson.
The singer achieved fame with Kanye West’s 2004 single “All Falls Down,” reaching the seventh spot on the Billboard Hot 100.
She is further recognized for her appearance on the TV One reality series “R&B Divas: Atlanta,” where she starred from 2012 to 2014, covering three seasons.
Syleena Johnson joined Jive Records and dropped her first album, “Chapter 1: Love, Pain & Forgiveness,” on May 15, 2001.
Following that, she expanded her discography with the release of several albums, including “Chapter 2: The Voice,” “Chapter 3: The Flesh, ” “Chapter 4: Labor Pains,” “Chapter 5: Underrated,” and “Chapter 6: Couples Therapy.”
Throughout her career, Johnson collaborated with big names like Kanye West, Musiq Soulchild, KRS-One, Twista, Crucial Conflict, and others.
Syleena received a Grammy Award nod for “Best R&B Album (R&B Divas)” in 2014 and another in 2022 for Album of the Year (Donda).
Beyond singing, she is also an author, sharing her self-help book “The Weight Is Over” in 2018.
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Syleena Johnson Siblings: Brother & Sister
Syleena Johnson, born September 2, 1976, spent her early years in Harvey, Illinois, with her siblings.
Growing up, Syleena shared her childhood with her sisters, Syleena and Sylette Debois, and had a half-brother named Chad Johnson.
Her family includes a dad known for his work in blues and soul music and a mom who made history as Harvey, Illinois’s first black female police commissioner.
Among her siblings, Syleecia Thompson is a breast cancer survivor, educator, entrepreneur, entertainment manager, and executive producer. She’s also a full-time professor, influencing thousands of students and coaching over 160 clients.
Syleena’s other sister, Sylette, is a Nurse, Consultant, Entrepreneur, Educator, Actress, and Transformational Speaker, often referred to as The Black Barbara Walters.
On May 27, 2015, Syleena Johnson celebrated her sister Sylette’s entrance into a doctorate program with a tweet:
“Congratulations to my sister @sylette who just entered into a doctorate program! We tooooooo smart!!”
Chad Johnson, Syleena’s brother and a former professional football player known for his wide receiver position, currently serves as a panelist on the weekly show Inside the NFL. He’s been in this role since the show moved to The CW in 2023.
Chad, previously known as Chad Ochocinco from 2008 to 2012, confirmed their relationship on June 28, 2013, through a tweet: “Yes, that’s my sister; everybody knows that RT@JaboEnt: @ochocinco say Chad is Syleena Johnson from R&B Divas, your sister, bruh?”
These siblings, connected by their father Syl Johnson, share a special bond as they pursue their respective careers.
Syleena Johnson Husband
Syleena Johnson has had two marriages to date, with her first marriage ending in a split, while her second marriage remains successful.
She first married former Illinois State University college basketball player Marcus Betts in August 2000. Sadly, the couple went their separate legal ways sometime after.
Following the separation, she exchanged vows with Kiwane Garris on July 1, 2007, after their engagement in 2006.
Syleena’s second husband, Kiwane Garris is a former American professional basketball player and currently holds the position of coach for the Fulton Science Academy Private School varsity basketball team.
Blessed with parenthood, they have two children, Kiwane Garris Jr. (born on August 1, 2007), and Kingston (born on February 6, 2011). While Garris is also a father to his son Kai from a previous relationship.
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