"Over the last three years I've been broke, dumped, and pimped," writes Toni Braxton in the sleeve notes to her third album, "The Heat." Candid words, indeed, especially coming from a woman best known for crooning tasteful, soulful ballads suggesting either satin sheets and candlelight or bemoaning a broken heart.

Propelled by the unstoppable hits "You're Makin' Me High" and "Un-Break My Heart," Braxton's second album, "Secrets," went seven-times platinum. It's no wonder we were shocked when Braxton wound up filing for bankruptcy and embroiled in a label squabble. A slow road to a comeback followed, with Braxton filling the role of Belle in Disney's "Beauty And The Beast" on Broadway while the business end got sorted.

Suddenly this year, Braxton sneaked back into view, unleashing the already-platinum "The Heat" in May and dishing out a new edge on her singles "He Wasn't Man Enough" and "Just Be A Man About It." Money, power, and respect followed.

Consider her score settled.

MTV News' Elon Johnson recently sat down with Toni Braxton, who talked about how she took control of her life and career and steered herself back on track both personally and professionally. Here's her story...