RECOVERING T-BOZ DETERMINED TO TOUR WITH NEW ALBUM.

TIONNE 'T-BOZ' WATKINS is determined to record a new album and go on tour, despite still suffering health problems as a result of her brain tumour. The TLC star, who also has sickle-cell disease, was diagnosed with the non-cancerous growth in 2006 after experiencing painful headaches. The tumour was removed in a seven-hour long operation but she has struggled to regain her speech, sight and balance after experiencing complications from the surgery related to the blood disorder. Her speech has since improved, with the help of rehab, but she's still not completely confident on her feet.

Despite this, Watkins is planning to return to the stage for the first time in over a year to perform at a charity concert held by Justin Timberlake in Las Vegas later this month (17Oct09).
She tells People magazine, "If you say 'sick kids', you always get me. People like Justin have shown me love. He's excited. So am I." Watkins last hit the stage for the 2008 BET Awards, but she admits she was unprepared for the big comeback with her TLC bandmate Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas and regrets the performance.

She says, "I knew I wasn't ready. I couldn't talk straight or keep my balance, and my lungs were weak. Fans asked if I had a stroke. It was not a good night." But Watkins, a mother of one, insists her health is improving on a daily basis and she wants to follow up the fundraising show by releasing a new solo project and taking it on the road soon. She adds, "To this day, the headaches are unbelievable... But if that's all? No problemo... I'm doing a solo album, and I want to tour. I have to see if I can do it. I'm still here. It will take way more to stop me."