Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
A Sick Life  By  cover art

A Sick Life

By: Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins
Narrated by: Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $21.49

Buy for $21.49

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

In addition to the balancing act of juggling an all-consuming music career and her family, TLC's Tionne has struggled with sickle-cell disease since she was a young girl - a debilitating and incurable disease that can render her unable to perform, walk, or even breathe.

A Sick Life chronicles Tionne's journey from a childhood spent in and out of the hospital, told she wouldn't live to see 30 or have children, to becoming the superstar musician who is still living out her life's dream of performing. For the first time, Tionne will tell her full life story - the diagnosis, the tumultuous rise to fame, the life in the spotlight, and the hard-fought advocacy work. Through Tionne's tough, funny, tell-it-like-it-is voice, you'll see how the extraordinary singer and advocate found the inner strength, grit, and determination to live her dream - despite her often unpredictable and demanding health issues.

She dives deep into never-before-told TLC stories, including accounts of her friendship with Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes and the tragedy of her death. Tionne's unvarnished discussion of her disease, unending strength, and ability to power through the odds is a story like no other.

©2017 Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins (P)2017 HighBridge, a Division of Recorded Books

Featured Article: From the Queen of Soul to the Purple One, Hear the Stories of Black Musicians and Artists Who Broke Boundaries


This Black History Month—and every day of the year—we're shining a light on artists and thinkers who demonstrate the boundless depths of Black creativity, joy, and love. We've gathered a list of memoirs by and biographies about artists who totally upended the expectations of a white-dominated field and crafted something entirely their own, making history and changing lives as a result.

What listeners say about A Sick Life

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    463
  • 4 Stars
    75
  • 3 Stars
    36
  • 2 Stars
    9
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    384
  • 4 Stars
    70
  • 3 Stars
    39
  • 2 Stars
    14
  • 1 Stars
    4
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    398
  • 4 Stars
    75
  • 3 Stars
    26
  • 2 Stars
    9
  • 1 Stars
    6

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

good read

good book refreshing to hear he struggles and accomplishments through her on eyes makes me love her and tlc even more than before

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

MEANT TO BE

This book was spectacular! You really inspired me to do and be better, and not let the pain I'm in, stop me from living my dreams. I admire your strength Tionne TBozzy Watkins. Love Shannon B.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

From a Fan

great listen, I will forever be one of their biggest fan, I wish her well

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Astonishing Recovery of Sickness

I absolutely loved this book. I have a new revelation and love for one of my favorite groups. God will put no more on you than you can handle. Please continue to take good care of yourself and beautiful family.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

My sister in the SCD journey.

My mind can't process being able to write a review after reading this book. I've learned, I've been enlightened, I've reminisced, I've laughed, I've cried and I've drawn strength from this book. I never thought that I could have much in common with you though you are just as human as I.
Thank you Ms. Watkins for being open. Especially about your sickle journey. I know I would benefit from you as a mentor and hopefully that can one day happen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

WOW

I spent most of this book alternating between laughing and then thinking "What more did and does she work through?"

A once teenage fan and now 40-something woman, I feel like Tionne's story resonates. She talked about TLC's music being timeless (it IS!) but her personal tale is totally relatable to me.

She did an amazing job of balancing out her narrative because she covered some deeply personal topics as well as more public ones that I have a memory of. We just never know people until we hear the tale from their own mouth.

Her reflection as a mother, health trauma navigator, and friend of Lisa made me feel deep respect for the output I've enjoyed for 2+ decades. That she could generate and collaborate to produce so much cultural value while managing all she did...exceptional human, though not saintly. And I appreciate her ability to talk about pushing forward through the human struggle and always growing.

Highly, HIGHLY, recommend this for anyone who's doubting their own ability to realize their dreams against odds. If you want it and it's MTB, then push through for it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

TLC-Tender Loving & Caring

I have always loved TLC! I’m a 70’s baby but when their group came out I was a huge groupie just like the rest of the TLC fans. Listening to this book allowed me to walk into the life of TLC and the life of Tionne. I greatly enjoyed it and empathized with many of the personal life struggles. I have never been one to get into the personal life of artists/celebrities or the tabloids, so some things that were mentioned was new to me. This book was well written and read very well by Tionne. I would definitely recommend this book to not only understand more about TLC but to understand a person’s life who has an illness that they did not allow to stop them! Great Jon Tionne and great job TLC I believe I will always listen to your music!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • B.
  • 12-16-22

Answered Questions

This was a very interesting book that answered a lot of questions and filled in a lot of blanks about TLC. I feel like I really got to know T-boz and Left Eye, but not Chili. It really was a sick life for T-boz.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The Victory Was Won!

What a journey but the beauty is how well T boz got through it. Very inspiring!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Its all good

This was a fantastic book. I have been living off of what I've heard in the news Hearing the whole story from the horses mouth was eye opening. I had no idea. T-Boz is a trooper may God continue to bless her. Great story!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful