Here's R+B diva Toni Braxton, 45, at a concert in L.A. on Sunday (left) -- and the 34-year-old in her infamous Richard Tyler white non-dress at the 2001 Grammys (right).

Toni loves to bare her, er, soul.

We're just sayin'

No one can resist getting down on the dance floor when Bell Biv Devoe starts performing "Poison" -- not even Mary J. Blige and Toni Braxton!

It all went down at a birthday party last night for Toni's brother-in-law, music producer Vincent Herbert. In addition to working with Mary J and Toni, Vincent has also worked with Lady Gaga ... who we're told was also in attendance. 

Those girls are poison.

Toni Braxton was transported to an L.A. hospital this week after experiencing some painful "flare ups" stemming from her Lupus condition ... but the singer tells us she'll be "totally fine."

Braxton tells TMZ, "I wanted to say thanks to all my fans for their support, as I have been experiencing some flare ups with my Lupus which has me in the hospital for a few days."

She adds, "I wanted to clear the record before rumors started, and will totally be fine as I'm blessed to having an amazing family for support."

Braxton first opened up about her struggle with the disease last year -- and has been very active in raising awareness about the condition.

Lupus is a condition in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. It can affect many different body systems, including joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, the heart and lungs.

Toni Braxton's brother-in-law -- who also stars on "Braxton Family Values" -- has been released from the hospital after suffering a blood clot in his lungs ... TMZ has learned.

Vince Herbert was rushed to a NY hospital two weeks ago ... and the whole Braxton fam rallied around the music producer for support ... even canceling important media events.

Sources close to the family tell TMZ Toni is extremely relieved ... but she considers the situation a "wake-up call" to get her own health checked out more regularly ... especially because she suffers from lupus.

And fear not "Braxton" fans ... we're told the fam is back in full publicity mode ... gearing up for the new season to premiere next week.

Toni Braxton and her family had to put the kibosh on a major media event to promote their reality show in L.A. this week ... because the gang decided it was more important to be with a family member who's hospitalized across the county.

TMZ has learned ... more than 30 media outlets were scheduled to attend an event at Boa Steakhouse tonight to kick off the new season of "Braxton Family Values."

But plans changed when Toni's brother-in-law, Vince Herbert, was rushed to a NY hospital Sunday to be treated for a blood clot in his lungs ... and the family decided it was more important to be with him.

Sources close to Vince -- who's a regular on the show -- tell us he's in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery.

A rep for the show tells us ... the Braxtons plan to reschedule the event as soon as they feel comfortable leaving Vince's bedside.

She's broker than a joke, but Toni Braxton is now rich in knowledge ... after completing a court-ordered class on personal financial management -- and she has a certificate to prove it!!!



Toni -- who filed for bankruptcy last year claiming she was between $10 and $50 million in debt -- was ordered to complete the course as a part of her case ... and earlier this month, she got it done. 

According to the certificate, obtained by TMZ, Toni passed an "Internet instruction course concerning personal financial management."

Grad party, anyone????

Toni Braxton and her family -- Tamar, Evelyn, Traci, Towanda and Trina -- all showed up to the premiere of their new reality show "Braxton Family Values" in L.A. on Wednesday.



Question is ...
 

Financially troubled singer Toni Braxton may have found a way to scrounge up some extra cash -- Toni claims she's seriously considering a "T and A" photo shoot for Playboy Magazine.



43-year-old Braxton went to her Twitter this morning and wrote, "New Year, New opportunities. So I have been considering taking up Playboy's offer to feature me on their cover this year. What you think?"

She noted the spread would be "tastefully done" featuring "Just a lil T and A."

Braxton insists Playboy has hit her up for a photo spread 3 times before -- but now that she's somewhere between $10 and $50 million in debt, the timing may finally be right.

We took your questions today on everything -- including Chelsea Handler Tweeting that her date with 50 Cent was just business, the Miami Heat going to the gun range, and singer Toni Braxton going bankrupt ... again.


Plus: Tyler steps in for a little fantasy football talk.

A close relative of Toni Braxton tells TMZ ... the singer's financial undoing can be traced back to her show in Las Vegas.


The relative tells us Toni took out "show insurance" through Lloyd's of London for her act at the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino back in 2006. 

And when Toni's heart condition started to act up  -- in the middle of the show's run -- she had to pull the plug, but she was still on the hook to the hotel for big bucks.  Toni expected Lloyd's to cover the loss but Lloyd's didn't, arguing Toni had an undisclosed, preexisting medical condition, rendering the policy void.

In the end, Toni had to absorb a huge loss, which the relative claims sent her on a downward financial spiral.

Still, it doesn't explain the bill for the Four Seasons and Tiffany & Co., for starters ...

Toni Braxton has filed for bankruptcy again -- claiming she owes somewhere between $10 million and $50 million in unpaid debts all over the country ... including DMVs in TWO different states.



Braxton -- who sold more than 40 million albums in her career -- just filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in California ... and in the docs, the singer claims she's only worth somewhere between $1 mil and $10 mil ... but she could have up to $50 mil in debts.

In the docs, 43-year-old Braxton lists a ton of creditors to whom she thinks she may owe money... including:



Braxton also claims she may owe money to the City of L.A. Parking Violations Bureau -- and the DMV in both California and Nevada.

Braxton has a storied history of financial problems -- she filed for bankruptcy back in 1998 ... and earlier this year, the IRS filed a lien against her for $396k.