I'd rather have happiness than money. People ask for it. Sometimes when I don't have it. I make other people's problems my problem because they want me to; they ask me to.

She sang for the soundtrack for Yizo Yizo (2004). She was named after the American singer Brenda Lee. Fassie first joined the group Joy and later became the lead singer for a township music group called Brenda and the Big Dudes.

Her bold stage antics earned a reputation for "outrageousness". Affectionately called Mabrr by her fans Brenda Fassie was sometimes described as the "Queen of African Pop".