short biography whitney houston

Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston was an American singer and actress whose first four albums, released between 1985 and 1992, amassed global sales in excess of 86 million copies.

Early Years

Albums and songs, daughter bobbi kristina, documentary, posthumous music, projects, and honors, who was whitney houston.

Whitney Houston released her debut album at age 22 and scored three No. 1 singles. Whitney (1987) delivered four more No. 1s and earned Houston a Grammy, with later albums including I'm Your Baby Tonigh t (1990) and My Love Is Your Love (1998) as well as soundtracks to The Bodyguard (1992) and Waiting to Exhale (1995). With her marriage to singer Bobby Brown in 1992 and ensuing drug use, Houston's career got off track. She eventually made a comeback with 2009's I Look to You and also co-starred in the musical film Sparkle . Houston died from accidental drowning in a hotel on February 11, 2012.

Born on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey, Houston almost seemed destined from birth to become a singer. Her mother and cousin were both legendary figures in American gospel, soul and pop music. Cissy Houston was the choir minister at New Hope Baptist Church, and it was there that a young Houston got her start. Even as a child, Houston was able to wow audiences; she later told Diane Sawyer that a rapturous response from the congregation at New Hope had a powerful effect upon her: "I think I knew then that [my singing ability] was an infectious thing that God had given me."

By the time she turned 15, Houston was performing often with her mother and trying to get a record deal of her own. Around the same time, she was discovered by a photographer who was awed by her natural beauty. She soon became an extremely sought-after teen model, one of the first African American women to appear on the cover of Seventeen magazine. But music remained her true love.

When she was 19, Houston was discovered in a nightclub by Arista Records' Clive Davis, who signed her immediately and took the helm of her career as she navigated from gospel to pop stardom. In 1983, Houston made her debut on national television, appearing on The Merv Griffin Show to sing "Home" from the musical The Wiz . She and Davis spent the next two years working on her debut album, finding the best producers and songwriters available to showcase her amazing vocal talent.

Whitney Houston Album: “Saving All My Love for You” and “How Will I Know”

In 1985, the artist released her debut album, Whitney Houston , and almost immediately became a smash pop sensation. Over the next year, her hit singles "Saving All My Love for You" and "How Will I Know" helped the album reach the top of the charts, where it stayed for 14 non-consecutive weeks. Houston won a Grammy in 1986 for "Saving All My Love for You"; the award was presented to the singer by her cousin Dionne Warwick .

Whitney Album: “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”

Houston followed the monumental success of her first album with a second release, Whitney , in 1987. That record, too, went platinum many times over and won a Grammy for the single "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)," with a successful world tour following. During this time, the singer also appeared at a concert for Nelson Mandela's birthday and founded the Whitney Houston Foundation for Children, a nonprofit organization that funds projects to help needy children over the world.

By 1992, Houston was on top of the world, but her life was about to get very complicated very quickly. That year she married the R&B singer Bobby Brown , formerly of New Edition, after a three-year engagement. At first, the marriage was passionate and loving, but things turned sour as the decade progressed. Both Brown and Houston battled substance abuse and increasingly erratic behavior, with Houston later alluding to emotional abuse from Brown and domestic violence.

The Bodyguard Album: “I Will Always Love You”

In spite of these growing personal troubles, Houston continued to progress in her career, crossing over successfully into acting in 1992 by starring opposite Kevin Costner in the wildly popular movie The Bodyguard . With this project, she set a trend for her films to follow: For each movie she also released hit singles, creating sensational record sales for the soundtracks. Her smash single from The Bodyguard , a cover of Dolly Parton 's "I Will Always Love You" from 1974, proved to be Houston's biggest hit ever, spending a record-breaking 14 weeks atop the U.S. charts. The soundtrack album went on to win Houston three Grammys, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year. Later in the 1990s, Houston also starred in Wait ing to Exhale and The Preacher's Wife , both accompanied by hit soundtracks as well.

My Love Is Your Love Album: “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay”

In 1998, Houston released My Love Is Your Love , her first non-soundtrack studio album in many years, and it earned her another Grammy for the single "It's Not Right But It's Okay," The album was not as successful as her previous full-length releases, though her collaboration with Mariah Carey in the animated film The Prince of Egypt produced a hit single, "When You Believe," which won an Academy Award.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Houston's increasingly rocky marriage, struggles with drugs and health problems threatened to derail her career. Several concert cancellations and a notorious TV interview with Sawyer in 2002, in which Houston appeared far too thin and in poor health, led many to speculate that she was on the verge of a breakdown.

Just Whitney Album

In 2004, when production began on the TV reality series Being Bobby Brown , Houston received substantial airtime. The show aired during the worst years of the couple's crumbling marriage; drug use, lifestyle excess and bad behavior were all caught on tape and Houston's reputation sunk to new lows. Houston tried to ignore the controversy, charging ahead with her music by releasing Just Whitney… to combat her detractors, but it did not match the success of her earlier works. In spite of her troubled relationship, Houston was still celebrated as a singer, being named the most-awarded female artist of all time by Guinness World Records in 2006.

Over the next few years, Houston attempted to repair her marriage and to break her drug habit, but after several relapses, Cissy had to step in. As Houston explained to Oprah Winfrey in 2009: "[My mother] walks in with the sheriff and she says: 'I have a court injunction here. You do it my way or we're not going to do this at all. You're going to go on TV, and you're going to retire. And say you're going to give this up because it's not worth it.'" Houston took a break from her career, divorced Brown in 2007 and won sole custody of Bobbi Kristina.

I Look to You Album

After almost a decade of struggling with her personal life, Houston seemed to be pulling herself together. She released a new album, I Look To You , in 2009. "The songs themselves will speak to you and you'll understand where I am and some of the changes I've gone through for the better," Houston told Entertainment Tonight . The recording received a warm welcome from music fans, making it to the top of album charts. Her live shows, however, garnered mixed reviews, with some complaining about the quality of her voice.

In early 2012, Houston was rumored to be experiencing financial trouble, but she denied this claim. Indeed, the artist seemed poised for a career upswing: Houston worked on the musical film Sparkle with Jordin Sparks, a remake of the 1976 movie about an all-girl musical group similar to The Supremes, and also reportedly had been approached to join the singing competition series The X Factor as a judge. Unfortunately, Houston did not live long enough to see the latest comeback reach fruition.

Houston died at the age of 48 on February 11, 2012, in Los Angeles at a Beverly Hilton hotel where a Grammy party was being held by Davis. Houston had been seen out in the days before her death, including at one of the pre-Grammy parties. According to a report released by the Los Angeles County coroner's office on March 22, 2012, the official cause of her death was an accidental drowning. The effects of heart disease and cocaine found in her system were contributing factors as well.

With her passing, the music world lost one of its most legendary stars. Davis once said that Houston "is in the great tradition of great, great singers, whether it's Lena Horne or Ella Fitzgerald or Sarah Vaughan or Gladys Knight ."

Daughter Bobbi Kristina dealt with much tumult after the death of her mother. She was hospitalized immediately after the passing of Houston due to emotional trauma but later spoke with Winfrey about returning to her mother's home and feeling her mother's presence. Houston left everything to her daughter, but eventually the singer's sister-in-law Pat Houston became the executor of the estate.

Bobbi Kristina had public conflicts with her grandmother, Cissy, over the publishing of the Houston biography Remembering Whitney . In early 2014, she was reported to have been married to Nick Gordon, who had been taken in by Houston during his childhood and raised with Bobbi Kristina, yet later reports stated that they weren't legally wed. In another confrontation, she made disparaging comments via Twitter about Angela Bassett after the actress/director opted to cast a trained actress in the lead role of a Houston biopic instead of Bobbi Kristina.

On January 31, 2015, nearly three years to the date of her mother's death, Bobbi Kristina was discovered face down in a bathtub in her Roswell, Georgia, home by associate Max Lomas. After being admitted to North Fulton Hospital, she was eventually taken to Emory University Hospital, having been placed into a medically-induced coma.

Her father and grandmother visited her bedside amid calls for public support and prayer, with a candlelight vigil held on February 10 in suburban Atlanta. Bobbi Kristina Brown died on July 26, 2015, at Peachtree Christian Hospice in Duluth, Georgia. She was 22 years old.

Backed by the Houston estate, the documentary Whitney was released in July 2018, with Houston's sister-in-law, Pat, serving as executive producer.

“Everyone that has a life has a story. It’s her story and it’s played out in the documentary," Pat Houston told Good Morning America a few weeks before the film's release. "She narrated a lot of it herself. It’s just her life and her story as the family would see it, and the friends, who dealt with it every single day.”

The documentary premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. In the doc, it is revealed that her cousin, Dee Dee Warwick, sister of Dionne Warwick, allegedly sexually abused the singer. Houston’s brother told filmmakers he was abused by Dee Dee and believed his sister was too. The documentary also provided insight into Houston's relationship with drugs — her brother Michael admitted that he gave her marijuana and cocaine as a gift for her 16th birthday — as well as her kinship with fellow pop superstar Michael Jackson .

The following year brought more revelations about the singer's private life with the publication of A Song for You: My Life with Whitney Houston , by Robyn Crawford . A longtime friend and assistant, Crawford confirmed that the two also had a romantic relationship before Houston became a global superstar.

Memories and Higher Love

In 2016, fans were treated to the release of a new Houston single, "Memories," with Malaysian singer Siti Nurhaliza sharing credit on the track. Houston's vocals had been recorded nearly 35 years earlier. In 2019, another new Houston single surfaced, this one a cover of Steve Winwood's 1986 hit "Higher Love." Houston had recorded a version that was originally meant for her 1990 album I'm Your Baby Tonight , before it was remixed for a posthumous release by Norwegian DJ and producer Kygo.

Hologram Tour

In 2019, it was announced that Houston's hologram would be going on tour the following year. The production was being developed by BASE Holograms, which had already debuted shows featuring the likenesses of Greek opera diva Maria Callas and American rock 'n' roll great Roy Orbison .

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

On January 15, 2020, it was announced that Houston had been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Watch Whitney on Lifetime Movie Club

QUICK FACTS

• Name: Whitney Houston
• Birth date: August 9, 1963
• Birth State: New Jersey
• Birth City: Newark
• Astrological Sign: Leo
• Death date: February 11, 2012
• Death State: California
• Death City: Beverly Hills

Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn’t look right, contact us !

• From the beginning, the camera and I were great friends. I know the eye of the camera is on me—eye to eye. It loves me, and I love it.
• Well, I've gone from singing too white to R&B diva, and now I'm hip-hop. I guess it's flattering to know that I can sing it all.
• I know what my color is. I was raised in a Black community with Black people, so that has never been a thing with me. Yet I've gotten flack about being a pop success but that doesn't mean I'm white ... pop music has never been all white.
• Nobody makes me do anything I don't want to do. It's my decision. So the biggest devil is me. I'm either my best friend or my worst enemy. And that's how I have to deal with it.
• Cracking gum or sitting with your legs open were considered unacceptable ... and I'd better not come back from the yard with scratched knees."[On mother Cissy Houston's parenting.]
• I wanted to be a teacher. I love children, so I wanted to deal with children. Then I wanted to be a veterinarian. But by the age of 10 or 11, when I opened my mouth and said, 'Oh God, what's this?' I kind of knew teaching and being a veterinarian were going to have to wait. What's in your soul is in your soul.
• They're devils to me ... and they're out to eat my flesh."[On the media.]
• Crack is cheap. I make too much money to ever smoke crack. Let's get that straight. OK? We don't do crack. We don't do that. Crack is whack.
• I can tell you that I am not self-destructive. I'm not a person who wants to die. I'm a person who has life, who wants to live. And I always have. And I wouldn't mistake it for anything else other than that.

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Who was Whitney Houston?

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Whitney Houston

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Whitney Houston was a Grammy Award-winning singer and actress who was one of the best-selling musical performers of the 1980s and 1990s. Her debut album, Whitney Houston , was released in 1985 and yielded three number-one singles in the United States: “Greatest Love of All,” which became her signature; “Saving All My Love for You”; and “How Will I Know.”

Whitney Houston made her motion-picture debut in 1992 in The Bodyguard . The film featured her rendition of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You,” which stayed at number one for 14 weeks. The film’s soundtrack dominated the Grammys, winning awards for album of the year, record of the year, and best female pop vocal performance.

How did Whitney Houston die?

Whitney Houston was found dead in a bathtub at a Beverly Hills hotel on February 11, 2012. A coroner’s report stated that the cause of death was accidental drowning, with heart disease and cocaine use as contributing factors.

When was Whitney Houston inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

Whitney Houston was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020.

For which song did Whitney Houston win her first Grammy?

Whitney Houston won her first Grammy Award for the single "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" from Whitney (1987).

Whitney Houston (born August 9, 1963, Newark , New Jersey , U.S.—died February 11, 2012, Beverly Hills , California) was an American singer and actress who was one of the best-selling musical performers of the 1980s and ’90s.

The daughter of Emily (“Cissy”) Houston—whose vocal group, the Sweet Inspirations, sang backup for Aretha Franklin —and the cousin of singer Dionne Warwick , Whitney Houston began singing in church as a child. While still in high school , she sang backup for Chaka Khan and Lou Rawls and modeled for fashion magazines. At age 19 she signed with Arista Records, whose president, Clive Davis , groomed the gospel -based singer for crossover pop success. Her debut album, Whitney Houston (1985), yielded three number one singles in the United States: “Greatest Love of All,” which became her signature; “Saving All My Love for You”; and “How Will I Know.” Whitney (1987) delivered four more number ones and earned Houston a Grammy Award (for the single “I Wanna Dance with Somebody”).

In 1992 Houston married singer Bobby Brown and made her motion-picture debut in The Bodyguard ; the film featured her rendition of Dolly Parton’s “ I Will Always Love You ,” which stayed at number one for 14 weeks. The film’s soundtrack dominated the Grammys the following year, with Houston winning the awards for album of the year, record of the year, and best female pop vocal performance. In the mid-1990s she continued acting , in films such as Waiting to Exhale (1995) and The Preacher’s Wife (1996), and the soundtrack of each film generated hit singles for her.

In 1998 Houston released My Love Is Your Love , which did not sell as well as previous efforts but was praised by the critics and earned her another Grammy Award. In 2001 she signed a new multialbum contract with Arista for $100 million, but personal difficulties soon overshadowed her recording career. Houston’s tumultuous relationship with Brown (the couple divorced in 2007) provided fodder for the tabloids, as did her acknowledged drug use and financial issues. Her 2002 album, Just Whitney , was a personal response to her detractors, but its sales were disappointing compared with earlier efforts. Other than a lacklustre holiday album, One Wish (2003), Houston spent subsequent years in a state of virtual retirement.

In February 2009 she began a comeback effort with a four-song set at Clive Davis’s annual pre-Grammy Awards gala. The performance was greeted warmly, and in June Houston announced that an album of new material would be available later that year. I Look to You was released in August to positive reviews, and standout songs included the up-tempo “Million Dollar Bill” (penned by Alicia Keys ) and the title track, a slow-building ballad written by R. Kelly . In February 2012 Houston died in a bathtub at a Beverly Hills hotel shortly before Davis’s pre-Grammy party. A coroner’s report released in March stated that the cause of death was accidental drowning , with heart disease and cocaine use listed as contributing factors. Houston posthumously appeared in the musical film Sparkle (2012), which she had coproduced. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020.

In January 2015 Houston’s only child, Bobbi Kristina Brown, was found unconscious in a bathtub at her home near Atlanta. She died in July.

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With over 200 million combined album, singles and videos sold worldwide during her career with Arista Records, Whitney Houston has established a benchmark for superstardom that will quite simply never be eclipsed in the modern era. She is a singer’s singer who has influenced countless other vocalists female and male.

Music historians cite Whitney’s record-setting achievements: the only artist to chart seven consecutive #1 Billboard Hot 100 hits (“Saving All My Love For You,” “How Will I Know,” “Greatest Love Of All,” “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” “Didn’t We Almost Have It All,” “So Emotional,” and “Where Do Broken Hearts Go”); the first female artist to enter the Billboard 200 album chart at #1 (her second album, Whitney , 1987); and one of a select number of solo artists with eight consecutive multi-platinum albums ( Whitney Houston, Whitney, I’m Your Baby Tonight, The Bodyguard, Waiting To Exhale , and The Preacher’s Wife soundtracks; My Love Is Your Love and Whitney: The Greatest Hits ).

In fact, The Bodyguard soundtrack is one of the top 5 biggest-selling albums of all-time (at 18x-platinum in the U.S. alone), and Whitney’s career-defining version of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” is the biggest-selling single of all time by a female artist (at 10x-platinum, Diamond, for physical and digital in the U.S. alone).

Born into a musical family on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey, Whitney’s success might’ve been foretold. Her legendary heritage is as familiar as America’s greatest icons: the daughter of famed singer Cissy Houston (who made her name in the Drinkards gospel quartet, and later the Sweet Inspirations vocal group of Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley renown); and the cousin of singers Dee Dee Warwick (who introduced the original ’60s versions of “You’re No Good” and “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me”) and her sister, superstar Dionne Warwick. Whitney’s mother and cousins nurtured her passion for gospel music since birth. As a teenager, Whitney was already singing on the scene in New York, and records with her first young performances in the ’70s and early ’80s album credits with such eclectic acts as Michael Zager, Chaka Khan, Herbie Mann, the Neville Brothers, Bill Laswell’s Material, and others are much sought-after collector’s items.

In 1983, near the end of Arista’s first mega-successful decade of operation, Clive Davis was taken to a New York nightclub where Whitney was performing and signed her on the spot. Two years went into the making of her debut album, but the results were worth it. The self-titled Whitney Houston (February 1985) launched Arista’s second decade, and yielded a string of hits including “You Give Good Love” and three consecutive #1 singles, the GRAMMY-winning “Saving All My Love For You,” “How Will I Know,” and “Greatest Love of All,” which has become a veritable anthem. Not only did the album establish her as an important new recording artist, but it went on to sell over 13 million copies in the U.S., plus many millions more abroad. This LP set the record as the biggest selling debut album by a solo artist.

With the highly anticipated release of her second album Whitney (June 1987), she made history as the first female artist to enter the Billboard album charts at #1. The new album soared past 10x-platinum on the strength of four #1 chart-toppers, the GRAMMY-winning “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” “Didn’t We Almost Have It All,” “So Emotional,” and “Where Do Broken Hearts Go.” This established Whitney as the only artist ever to have seven consecutive #1 hits, surpassing a record previously set by The Beatles and the Bee Gees.

Whitney’s third best-selling album, I’m Your Baby Tonight (November 1990), displayed her versatility on a new batch of tough rhythmic grooves, soulful ballads and up-tempo dance tracks. With back-to-back #1 hits for the title tune and “All The Man That I Need,” followed by “Miracle” and “My Name Is Not Susan,” sales records were set once again, as the album became an international multi-platinum best-seller, to the tune of 10 million copies worldwide.

After establishing her screen appeal in her well-received music videos where she dominated MTV’s rotations during its first decade on the air, Whitney finally made her movie debut in The Bodyguard (November 1992), in which she co-starred with Oscar-winning actor/director Kevin Costner. The film not only broke box office records worldwide but was ultimately responsible for the biggest selling motion picture soundtrack album of all time, voted the GRAMMY-winning Album Of the Year.

“I Will Always Love You,” the first single release, became the biggest selling single by a female artist in history, and reaped GRAMMYs for Record Of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Three other singles from the album, “I’m Every Woman,” “I Have Nothing,” and “Run To You,” also were major international hits for Whitney. The Bodyguard soundtrack album, featuring six Whitney Houston songs in all, has sold more than 45 million copies worldwide. At 18-times platinum in the U.S., it is the biggest selling motion picture soundtrack album in history, ahead of Saturday Night Fever, Forrest Gump, Titanic , and so on.

Film work continued with Waiting To Exhale (which opened December 1995, preceded by the soundtrack album in November). The critically acclaimed film, starring Whitney with Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine and Lela Rochon, and directed by Forrest Whitaker, went on to gross over $80 million (in ’90s dollars). The soundtrack for Waiting To Exhale featured three new tracks from Whitney: the #1 Pop/#1 R&B “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)”; the top 10 Pop and R&B follow-up “Count On Me” (a duet with CeCe Winans), co-written by Whitney and Babyface; and “Why Does It Hurt So Bad.” The album spent five weeks at #1, was certified 7x-platinum in the U.S., and has sold nearly twice that worldwide to date.

Whitney’s third motion picture, The Preacher’s Wife (Buena Vista, December 1996), also starring Denzel Washington and Courtney B. Vance, and directed by Penny Marshall, was based on the 1947 classic, The Bishop’s Wife (with Cary Grant and Loretta Young). The gospel-soaked Arista soundtrack, Whitney’s lifelong dream, became the biggest-selling gospel album in Billboard chart history, 3x-platinum in the U.S. alone. Collaborations with an extraordinary roster of artists and producers (among them GRAMMY and Dove Award winner Mervyn Warren of Sister Act and Sister Act II fame) resulted in a unique album. Whitney sang lead vocals on 14 of the album’s 15 tracks, including the beautiful first single “I Believe In You And Me,” “Step By Step” (written by Annie Lennox), and two songs produced by GRAMMY award winner Babyface. Cissy turned the familiar 23rd Psalm into a spiritually touching song, “The Lord Is My Shepherd,” while other luminaries on the album included Shirley Caesar and the Georgia Mass Choir.

Whitney added the medium of made-for-television movies to her list of accomplishments when The Wonderful World of Disney aired the musical Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella in November 1997. The special starred Whitney as the Fairy Godmother, Brandy as Cinderella, Bernadette Peters as the wicked stepmother, Whoopi Goldberg as the queen, and an all-star multicultural cast. The program drew a U.S. audience of more than 60 million viewers, and gave the ABC network its highest Sunday night rating in over a decade. Whitney and her company, BrownHouse Productions, served as executive producers on the project, which garnered seven Emmy nominations including Outstanding Variety, Musical or Comedy Special and won for Outstanding Art Direction. The home video version shattered previous records to become the best-selling video ever of a made-for-television movie.

The next year, fans ecstatically received Whitney’s first non-soundtrack related studio album in eight years, My Love Is Your Love (November 1998), which she produced with Clive Davis. Whitney proved her ability to stay absolutely contemporary with the first single, the #1 R&B/ #2 Pop “Heartbreak Hotel” featuring Faith Evans and Kelly Price. It was the beginning of a string of gold and platinum chart hit singles from the album spanning nearly a year and a half (into the spring 2000): the GRAMMY-winning “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay”; “When You Believe” (a duet with Mariah Carey, from The Prince Of Egypt ); the title tune “My Love Is Your Love”; and “I Learned From the Best” (written by Diane Warren, produced and arranged by David Foster).

The success of My Love Is Your Love kicked off a phenomenal year for Whitney. She stole the show at VH1’s second annual “Divas Live/99,” with a performance characterized as “invincible” by Jon Pareles in The New York Times . Sharing the stage with a lineup that included Cher, Tina Turner, Mary J. Blige and others, Whitney emerged as the star. VH1 announced that the show was the highest-rated telecast in its history.

At the same time, gold, platinum and multi-platinum album sales were certified in every corner of the globe: Austria, Belgium, Canada, England, France, Germany, Spain, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore and more. In July 1999, as “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay” became the 17th Top 5 pop hit of her career, Whitney commenced a successful world tour playing 14 cities in North America. The tour concluded in Europe in November.

At the 42nd annual GRAMMY Awards in February 2000, 15 months after the album release, Whitney received her sixth career GRAMMY, as “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay” was voted Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Winning her first R&B GRAMMY award in a category that included Mary J. Blige, Brandy, Faith Evans, and Macy Gray was extremely gratifying for Whitney, especially after three previous GRAMMY awards for Best Female Pop Vocal: in 1985 (“Saving All My Love For You”), 1987 (“I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)”), and 1993 (“I Will Always Love You”).

A month later in March 2000, Whitney was named Female Artist Of the Decade at the Soul Train Music Awards annual ceremonies virtually 15 years to the day since her debut single, “You Give Good Love,” entered the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart on March 9, 1985.

In the midst of her 15th anniversary year as an Arista recording artist, the double-album Whitney: The Greatest Hits (May 2000) celebrated the past, present and future. In addition to newly-recorded tracks with Enrique Iglesias, Deborah Cox, George Michael, and Q-Tip, there were rare vintage tracks unavailable for a decade, impossible-to-find club mixes, and bonus tracks. The collection encompassed Whitney’s success as a mainstay on the pop and R&B singles front (on the double-CD/cassette), as a screen presence since her career began at the label (on DVD and VHS home-video), and in the clubs as a remixer’s delight (on a limited edition four-record vinyl box-set).

Individually, the double-CD/cassette comprised one volume of single hits (Cool Down) and another volume of memorable club mixes (Throw Down), each spanning Whitney’s entire career to date, 1985 to 2000. She recorded new duets for the occasion with Enrique Iglesias (the Diane Warren composition, “Could I Have This Kiss Forever”), and then-Arista label-mate Deborah Cox (“Same Script, Different Cast”), plus a new version of “If I Told You That” (from My Love Is Your Love ), remade as a duet with George Michael.

Hard-to-find rarities included “One Moment In Time,” the 1988 Summer Olympics theme; 1991’s Super Bowl XXV version of “The Star Spangled Banner”; and a 1986 duet with Jermaine Jackson (“If You Say My Eyes Are Beautiful”) released only on his second Arista album, Precious Moments , never as a single.

The two U.S. CDs (and cassettes) were programmed so that each volume displayed the full range of Whitney’s career. Disc 1 (Cool Down), for example, built from her first hits of 1985, “You Give Good Love,” “Saving All My Love For You,” and “Greatest Love Of All,” all the way through 2000. Disc 2 (Throw Down) recapped the hits from My Love Is Your Love with club remixes of “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay,” “My Love Is Your Love,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” and “I Learned From The Best” followed by 10 more hits remixed by Junior Vasquez, David Morales, Jellybean, Hex Hector, C+C Music Factory’s Clivilles & Cole, and others.

Those remixers were showcased on Whitney: The Unreleased Mixes , a special limited-edition four-record vinyl box-set acknowledging her importance in clubs around the world. There were seven songs, eight mixes, one track on each side of four 12-inch vinyl discs: “How Will I Know,” “Greatest Love Of All,” “I’m Every Woman,” “Love Will Save the Day,” “I Will Always Love You,” “So Emotional,” and “I’m Your Baby Tonight.”

Whitney: The Greatest Hits also was the title of Whitney’s first DVD and VHS home-video collection. The lion’s share of her hits were included in its 23 titles, a combination of video clips (with such noted directors as Wayne Isham, Peter Israelson, Julien Temple, Randee St. Nicholas, Brian Grant, and Kevin Bray), and live performance. Links were provided to such rarities as her television premiere (on “The Merv Griffin Show” in 1983), appearances on several awards shows, a tune from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella , interview segments featuring Whitney and her co-producer, Arista president Clive Davis, and much more.

The week after the release of Whitney: The Greatest Hits , she appeared on the NBC television network special benefit concert “25 Years of #1 Hits: Arista Records’ Anniversary Celebration,” a tribute to the label as well as its founder and leader, Clive Davis.

In the aftermath of the World Trade Center disaster of September 11, 2001, Whitney’s soaring rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” was the first benefit single to be issued, coupled with her version of “America the Beautiful.” The Whitney Houston Foundation For Children, Inc. and Arista Records agreed to donate royalties and net proceeds from all single sales to the New York Firefighters 9/11 Disaster Relief Fund and the New York Fraternal Order of Police. Both groups as well as the families of those affected by the tragic event were to benefit from the sales.

The following year saw the release of Just Whitney (December 2002), her fifth studio album and first for the new millennium. An A-list of handpicked hitmakers and producers contributed to the album, among them Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Missy Elliott, Kevin “She’kspere” Briggs, Teddy Bishop and Gordon Chambers. The diverse program of ballads included “Try It On My Own,” (written by Babyface and Carole Bayer Sager); “My Love” (a duet with Bobby Brown); and a powerful remake of Debby Boone’s 1977 “You Light Up My Life.” Also among the album’s gems were such hip grooves as “Love That Man” and the old-school style jam “Things You Say” (written and produced by Missy Elliott).

Every artist’s first Christmas collection is a special career landmark, and Whitney’s One Wish: The Holiday Album (November 2003) was no exception. Whitney worked with producers and arrangers Troy Taylor, Mervyn Warren, and the team of Gordon Chambers and Barry J. Eastmond on a joyous mix of yuletide favorites from the traditional and contemporary songbooks, along with several new compositions.

The album opened with the classic “The First Nöel” and Mel Tormé’s timeless “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire).” Other favorites included Freddie Jackson’s “One Wish (For Christmas),” “Cantique De Nöel (O Holy Night),” “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “O Come O Come Emanuel,” and a medley of “Deck The Halls/Silent Night.” Two tracks originated on The Preacher’s Wife soundtrack, “Who Would Imagine A King” and “Joy To The World.” The centerpiece was 10-year old daughter Bobbi Kristina Houston Brown’s recording debut on “Little Drummer Boy.”

Guinness World Records lists Whitney as music’s “most awarded female artist of all time,” with an amazing tally of 411 awards (as of 2006) a tally that is certainly topped by her six GRAMMY Awards, 16 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, two Emmy Award nominations and one win, as well as MTV VMAs in the U.S. and Europe, NAACP Image Awards, BET Awards, Soul Train Music Awards, and so on. She received the Nickelodeon “Kids Choice” award (she was inducted into the “Kids Choice” Hall Of Fame in 1996), the Dove (Gospel Music Association) Award, and Blockbuster Entertainment Award. Whitney was inducted into the BET (Black Entertainment Television) Walk Of Fame in 1996; and received Soul Train’s prestigious Quincy Jones Career Achievement Award in 1998.

True to her church upbringing, the Whitney Houston Foundation For Children Inc. was established in 1989 as a non-profit organization that cared for such problems as homelessness, children with cancer and AIDS, and other issues of self-empowerment. In June 1995, the Foundation was awarded a VH1 Honor for its charitable work. Funds were raised for numerous causes involving children around the world, from South Africa to Newark, and generated over $300,000 for the Children’s Defense Fund as a result of a 1997 HBO concert. In 2020, The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation was formed as a continuation of Whitney’s journey to Rebuild lives, Restore self-esteem and Repair images through grassroots programs and initiatives for the young.

Whitney’s tireless efforts earned recognition from such organizations as St. Jude Children’s Hospital, the United Negro College Fund, and the Children’s Diabetes Foundation, all of whom have benefited from the heart and soul of a great artist and humanitarian.  Whitney continued her charitable works with her sister-in-law, Patricia Houston, who started a nonprofit organization in 2007 called Teen Summit. Teen Summit was formed to Rebuild, Restore and Repair the lives of teens and young adults.  Whitney attended the annual event and also helped Pat with Celebrity Consignment, a shop in Shelby, North Carolina which also benefits Teen Summit. Whitney not only donated clothes to the shop but was instrumental in getting celebs like Oprah Winfrey, Alicia Keys, Dionne Warwick, Diane Sawyer and others to donate as well.  Teen Summit was able to open its first academy on January 26, 2013.

Whitney’s seventh and final studio album, I Look To You, was released on August 28, 2009 and it debuted at #1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 with sales of 305,000 copies and was her first studio album to reach #1 since 1992’s The Bodyguard . The album spawned two hit singles – the title track which became a Top 20 R&B single and “Million Dollar Bill” which hit the Top 10 in several countries worldwide. A promotional single, “Nothin’ But Love,” taken from the album was released to U.K. radio stations to promote what was to be her final tour – the Nothing But Love World Tour.

In the fall of 2011, Whitney got to fulfill her lifelong dream of bringing a remake of the film Sparkle to the silver screen. Filming took place in Detroit for six weeks commencing in October 2011. Whitney played the role of the mother, Emma, as well as being Executive Producer of the film. Sparkle was released in August 2012. Along with Sparkle , Whitney had been working on a remake of a Judy Garland film and a Waiting To Exhale sequel.

Whitney’s tragic passing on February 11, 2012 is still deeply felt by her family, friends and millions of fans worldwide. Her Estate is committed to keeping her legacy alive. To that end, they along with Sony Music’s Legacy Recordings have released Whitney Houston Live: Her Greatest Performances in 2014, I Wish You Love: More From The Bodyguard in 2017, and Whitney Houston 35th Anniversary Edition , a 2LP box set in 2020.

An official documentary, directed by Academy Award winner Kevin Macdonald (titled Whitney ) was released in 2018. The film was nominated for Best Music Film at the GRAMMY Awards, and for Outstanding Documentary Film at the NAACP Image Awards.

In July 2019, Whitney achieved her first posthumous Billboard Hot 100 hit with “Higher Love,” released as a single with producer and DJ Kygo. The song hit #1 on two Billboard dance charts and reached #2 on the U.K. Official Singles chart. In October that year, a special version of Whitney’s 1987 recording of “Do You Hear What I Hear” was released on The Best Of Pentatonix Christmas .

In September 2019, The Estate of Whitney E. Houston and BASE Hologram announced An Evening With Whitney: The Whitney Houston Hologram Tour , an awe-inspiring and immersive live theatrical concert experience celebrating the incredible music and everlasting legacy of Whitney Houston. The tour launched in February 2020 in the United Kingdom and began an extended residency at Harrah’s Las Vegas in October 2021.

Nearly 35 years after the release of her debut album, Whitney was honored with induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2020 in recognition that her unique fusion of pop, R&B and gospel – the very roots of rock & roll – subverted genres and influenced just about every contemporary vocalist. That same year, Whitney became the first African-American recording artist (male or female, solo or group) with three Diamond albums, after her second album, Whitney , was certified 10x platinum.

A new remix of “How Will I Know” by Whitney Houston x Clean Bandit was released in September 2021, and an official biopic, titled I Wanna Dance with Somebody , was released in theaters in December 2022. Whitney’s contributions continue to touch the hearts and souls of millions of fans the world over.

Whitney: Tribute To An Icon

In this magnificent collection, more than 20 of the world’s top photographers have joined together to celebrate the brilliant woman they were privileged to capture through their camera lenses. These photographs are a testament to Whitney’s dazzling physical presence, but they also remind us that she was a multidimensional woman: powerful, vulnerable, commanding, enchanting, thoughtful, bewitching … and absolutely unforgettable—a singer whose smile was as bright and true as her voice.

Whitney Houston

• Born August 9 , 1963 · Newark, New Jersey, USA
• Died February 11 , 2012 · Beverly Hills, California, USA (accidental drowning)
• Birth name Whitney Elizabeth Houston
• The Prom Queen of Soul
• The Princess of Pop
• Height 5′ 8″ (1.73 m)
• Whitney Elizabeth Houston was born into a musical family on 9 August 1963, in Newark, New Jersey, the daughter of gospel star Cissy Houston (née Emily Lee Drinkard) and John Russell Houston, Jr., and cousin of singing star Dionne Warwick . She began singing in the choir at her church, The New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, as a young child and by the age of 15 was singing backing vocals professionally with her mother on Chaka Khan 's 1978 hit, 'I'm Every Woman'. She went on to provide backing vocals for Lou Rawls, Jermaine Jackson and her own mother and worked briefly as a model, appearing on the cover of 'Seventeen' magazine in 1981. She began working as a featured vocalist for the New York-based funk band Material and it was the quality of her vocal work with them that attracted the attention of the major record labels, including Arista with whom she signed in 1983 and where she stayed for the rest of her career. Her debut album, 'Whitney Houston', was released in 1985 and became the biggest-selling album by a debut artist. Several hit singles, including 'Saving All My Love For You', 'How Will I Know', 'You Give Good Love', and 'The Greatest Love of All', were released from the album, setting her up for a Beatles-beating seven consecutive US number ones. The album itself sold 3 million copies in its first year in the US and went on to sell 25 million worldwide, winning her the first of her six Grammies. The 1987 follow-up album, 'Whitney', which included the hits 'Where Do Broken Hearts Go' and 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody', built on her success but it was the 1992 film The Bodyguard (1992) that sealed her place as one of the best-selling artists of all time. While the movie itself and her performance in it were not highly praised, the soundtrack album and her cover of the Dolly Parton song 'I Will Always Love You' topped the singles and albums charts for months and sold 44 million copies around the world. That same year she married ex-New Edition singer Bobby Brown with whom she had her only child, their daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown in March 1993. It was about this time that her much documented drug use began and by 1996 she was a daily user. Her 1998 album, 'My Love Is Your Love' was well reviewed but the drug abuse began to affect her reputation and press reports at the time said that she was becoming difficult to work with, if she turned up at all. She was dropped from a performance at The 72nd Annual Academy Awards (2000) because she was "out of it" at rehearsals. Her weight fluctuated wildly - she was so thin at a 'Michael Jackson' tribute in 2001 that rumors circulated the next day that she had died - and her voice began to fail her. She was twice admitted to rehab and declared herself drug-free in 2010 but returned to rehab in May 2011. Her 2009 comeback album 'I Look To You' was positively received and sold well, but promotional performances were still marred by her weakened voice. Her final acting performance was in Sparkle (2012) (a remake of the 1976 movie, Sparkle (1976) ), released after her death. She was found dead in a Beverly Hills hotel room on 11 February 2012. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous
• Spouse Bobby Brown (July 18, 1992 - April 24, 2007) (divorced, 1 child)
• Children Bobbi Kristina Brown
• Parents Cissy Houston John Russell Houston Jr.
• Relatives Michael Houston (Sibling) Gary Houston (Half Sibling) Dionne Warwick (Cousin) Dee Dee Warwick (Cousin) Rayah Houston (Niece or Nephew) David Elliott (Cousin) Damon Elliott (Cousin) John Houston III (Half Sibling) Gary Houston (Sibling)
• Powerful mezzo-soprano vocals
• Her beautiful smile
• Because she passed away the night before the 54th Grammy Awards (2012), the host for the evening, LL Cool J , opened the show with a tribute and a prayer in her honor.
• One of the last times Whitney Houston was seen on camera was at a rehearsal for Monica and Brandy's performance at Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party. At the time, Brandy did not know that Houston had planned a surprise birthday party for her on the night she passed away.
• Her mother was at one time a background singer for Elvis Presley .
• Her powerful rendition of "I Will Always Love You", from The Bodyguard (1992) , was ranked #65 on the American Film Institute's list of "The 100 Years of The Greatest Songs".
• Once "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" hit #1 in April 1988, she was honored as the first artist in history to ever have seven consecutive Billboard number one singles. An accomplishment that she still holds to this day.
• I almost wish I could be more exciting, that I could match what is happening out there to me.
• I've got a good man. He takes care of me. I don't have to be scared of anything because I know he will kick every ass... disrespect him and you've got a problem.
• God gave me a voice to sing with, and when you have that, what other gimmick is there?
• I was aware of people staring at me. No one moved. They seemed almost in trance. I just stared at the clock in the center of the church. When I finished, everyone clapped and started crying.
• I know that I could really kill for my daughter. I know because I'm living for her, so I'm fierce when it comes down to it. And I feel the same about my husband and my family. I'm just fiercely protective. It's like, that's my lair and nobody messes with my lair.
• The Preacher's Wife (1996) - $10,000,000

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Whitney Houston Biography

Birthday: August 9 , 1963 ( Leo )

Born In: Newark, New Jersey, United States

The American singer, actress, model, and producer, Whitney Houston is one of the world’s most successful female entertainers of all time. Having been exposed to a family with a musical background, the naturally talented beauty became inspired to sing and play the piano at an early age. She entered the entertainment industry by touring nightclubs with her mother, while singing and modeling, until eventually signing her own recording contract and coming out with her debut album. This musical introduction would not only become her best-selling studio album to-date, but would earn her a Grammy, thrusting her into super-pop-stardom, followed by a string of Hollywood film features and production efforts. Throughout her career, she released seven studio albums and three movie soundtrack albums, winning her various awards. Her powerful voice, spirit, and beauty redefined the image of a soul artist. As much as the renowned singer was an international icon and inspiration to females, emerging recording artists, and the community, she also faced some personal challenges that would impair her influential status. From drug addictions to a troubled relationship with husband Bobby Brown, Houston’s reputation was painted with a series of eventful ups and downs before she ultimately succumbed to her tragic death

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Also Known As: Whitney Elizabeth Houston

Died At Age: 48

Spouse/Ex-: Bobby Brown

father: John Russell Houston

mother: Cissy Houston

siblings: Gary Garland, Michael Houston

children: Bobbi Kristina Brown

Born Country: United States

African American Singers Pop Singers

Height: 5'8" (173 cm ), 5'8" Females

Died on: February 11 , 2012

place of death: Beverly Hills, California, United States

Notable Alumni: Mount Saint Dominic Academy

Cause of Death: Drowning

U.S. State: New Jersey

City: Newark, New Jersey

education: Mount Saint Dominic Academy

Humanitarian Work: Supported children welfare organizations

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Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston facts: Singer's age, family, children and husband revealed

22 December 2022, 14:16 | Updated: 22 December 2022, 16:19

Whitney Houston was one of the most iconic singers of all time.

One of the best-selling music artists of all time, Whitney's soulful and powerful performances and ever-presence in the charts of the 1980s and 1990s, cemented her as a true legend.

Starting her singing career in church as a child, she became one of the first black women to appear on the cover of Seventeen magazine, and signed to her first record label aged 19 under the guidance of Clive Davis.

Her first two albums were massive successes, and she went on to score huge hits with the likes of 'Saving All My Love for You', 'I Have Nothing' and 'I Will Always Love You' .

• Whitney Houston's 15 greatest songs ever, ranked

Whitney was also a successful actress, particularly in the romantic thriller The Bodyguard opposite Kevin Costner in 1992.

She is the top-selling R&B female artist of the 20th century, and is one of the most successful artists of all time. She won two Emmy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, 16 Billboard Music Awards and 22 American Music Awards.

Where and when was Whitney Houston born and who were her parents?

Whitney Houston was born on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey.

She was the daughter of ex-Army serviceman and Newark city administrator John Russell Houston Jr , and gospel singer Emily 'Cissy' Houston .

• Newly surfaced images of "innocent" 18-year-old Whitney Houston's first ever photoshoot

Her older brother Michael is also a songwriter, and her older half-brother is the former basketball player and singer Gary Garland.

Whitney's parents were both African-American, and she is thought to have had Dutch and Native American ancestry.

She was also a first cousin of singers Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick . Her godmother was singer Darlene Love, and her honorary aunt was Aretha Franklin .

Her parents eventually divorced.

How did Whitney Houston get her start in music?

Whitney Houston - Home | Live at The Merv Griffin Show, 1983 (Remastered, 60fps)

When Whitney was still in school, her mother Cissy taught her how to sing. At this point, Cissy was a member of the group Sweet Inspirations, which also sang backup for Elvis Presley .

Spending some of her teenage years touring nightclubs where Cissy was performing, she would occasionally perform with her on stage.

In 1977, aged 14, she was the backup singer on the Michael Zager Band's single 'Life's a Party'.

• When Whitney Houston sang the national anthem so powerfully she moved a nation to tears

In the early 1980s, Whitney began working as a fashion model after a photographer saw her at Carnegie Hall, becoming a highly sought-after young model.

In 1983, Gerry Griffith, an A&R representative from Arista Records, saw Whitney performing with her mother in New York. He told Arista's head Clive Davis to see her perform.

Impressed, he immediately offered her a record deal, which she eventually signed. Later that year, she made her TV debut alongside Davis on The Merv Griffin Show .

When did Whitney Houston pass away?

Kevin Costner´s emotional speech in full at Whitney Houston´s funeral

On February 9, 2012, Whitney visited singers Brandy and Monica, alongside Clive Davis, at their rehearsals for Clive's pre-Grammy Awards party at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.

That day, she made her last public performance, joining Kelly Price on stage in Hollywood, California, singing 'Jesus Loves Me'.

Two days later, on February 11, Whitney was found unconscious in her suite at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, in the bath.

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The cause of death was not known at first. On March 22, the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office reported that her death was caused by drowning and the "effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use".

The manner of death was listed as an "accident".

A memorial service was held for Whitney on February 18, 2012, at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. Among those who performed at the funeral included Stevie Wonder , CeCe Winans, Alicia Keys and R Kelly.

Who was Whitney Houston's husband?

In the 1980s, Whitney was romantically linked to stars including Jermaine Jackson , American football star Randall Cunningham and actor Eddie Murphy.

She met R&B singer Bobby Brown at the 1989 Soul Train Music Awards. After three years, the couple married on July 18, 1992.

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During their marriage, Whitney and Bobby had several periods of troubles, including infidelity, domestic violence, and drug use. In 2003, Bobby was charged with battery after an altercation with Whitney.

In 2006, Whitney filed for divorce, which was finalized in April 2007.

Did Whitney Houston have any children?

Whitney and Bobby had one child together. Bobbi Kristina Brown was born March 4, 1993.

Bobbi Kristina became a reality television star and singer. She was 14 when her parents divorced and Whitney gained custody.

In January 2015, she was tragically found unconscious in a bath in her home. After being in a coma for nearly six months, she died on July 26, 2015, aged 22.

Her partner Nick Gordon was later found responsible in a wrongful death lawsuit and ordered to pay $36 million to her estate.

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Whitney Houston Biography and Profile

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Whitney Houston has been cited by the Guinness Book of Records as the most awarded female performer of all time. She sold more than 170 million records worldwide.

Whitney Houston's Early Life and Relations

Whitney Houston was born August 9, 1963 in Newark, New Jersey. Her mother was gospel and R&B singer Cissy Houston and Dionne Warwick was a cousin. She also counted singer Darlene Love as godmother and Aretha Franklin as an honorary aunt. By the age of 11, Whitney Houston was performing as a soloist at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark. She attended the Roman Catholic School Mount Saint Dominic Academy. Whitney Houston counts Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight and Roberta Flack among her early musical influences.

Background Vocalist

As a teenager Whitney Houston began touring with her mother as a backup vocalist. In 1978, at the age of 15, she backed Chaka Khan on the hit single "I'm Every Woman." Whitney Houston also sang on recordings by Lou Rawls and Jermaine Jackson. In addition to her music career, Houston began working as a model and appeared on the cover of Seventeen magazine, one of the first Black women to do so. She made an appearance on the 1982 album One Down by Bill Laswell's avant funk band Material. Whitney Houston sang the ballad "Memories." Whitney Houston was given multiple offers for a recording contract in the early 1980s, but her mother insisted that she complete high school first. Finally, legendary music executive Clive Davis signed Whitney Houston to a recording contract with Arista Records in 1983 after seeing her performance in a nightclub.

Whitney Houston's Debut Album

Clive Davis did not rush the recording of Whitney Houston's self-titled debut. In the meantime she recorded "Hold Me," a duet with R&B legend Teddy Pendergrass  for his solo album Love Language . It became a top five R&B hit in 1984. It was also later included on her debut album. That collection titled  Whitney Houston was released in February 1985. She immediately received rave critical reviews. The first single "Someone For Me" was a relative failure and did not chart in the US or UK. The second single "You Give Good Love" took off with R&B audiences hitting #1 on the R&B chart in May 1985. It then started to climb the pop chart and ultimately landed at #3 in July. The following three singles all topped the pop singles chart. The album hit #1 on the album chart a year after its release and stayed there for 14 weeks. It ultimately sold over 13 million copies in the US. At the time, it was the bestselling debut album ever by a solo artist.

Whitney Houston's album earned three Grammy Award nominations in 1986 including for Album of the Year. The early appearance in a duet with Teddy Pendergrass made Whitney Houston ineligible for the Best New Artist category. Her performance on the song "Saving All My Love For You," Whitney Houston's first #1 pop hit, also won her first Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal.

Whitney Album

Anticipation was very high for Whitney Houston's second solo album. Upon release in June 1987, some critics complained that Whitney was too similar to her first album. However, pop audiences disagreed. The first four singles all went to #1. Whitney Houston became the first recording artist to ever release seven consecutive singles that topped the Billboard Hot 100. She bypassed the previous record of six by the Beatles and the  Bee Gees . A fifth single from the album, "Love Will Save the Day," also hit the top 10. The album was the first by a female artist to debut at #1 on the US album chart. The success of concert tours helped Whitney Houston break into the Forbes list of the top 10 moneymaking entertainers.

Whitney Houston repeated her Grammy Awards success in 1988 with three more nominations including a second for Album of the Year. She also won the Best Female Pop Vocal for a second time with "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)."

Whitney Houston's Marriage to Bobby Brown

Whitney Houston met R&B singer Bobby Brown at the 1989 Soul Train Music Awards . They dated for three years and married in 1992. Their relationship was beset with tabloid headlines and Bobby Brown's run-ins with the law. Their family was the subject of a reality TV show Being Bobby Brown which debuted on Bravo in 2004. The pair separated in September 2006, filed for divorce the following month, and the divorce was eventually finalized in April 2007.

Top Hit Singles

• "I Will Always Love You" - 1992
• "Greatest Love Of All" - 1986
• "How Will I Know" - 1985
• "All the Man That I Need" - 1990
• "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" - 1987
• "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" - 1988
• "Didn't We Almost Have It All" - 1987
• "Saving All My Love for You" - 1985
• "I'm Your Baby Tonight" - 1990
• "So Emotional" - 1987

I'm Your Baby Tonight

In response to some critics that her first two albums were "selling out" to white audiences, Whitney Houston's music took a more adamantly urban turn on her 1990 album I'm Your Baby Tonight . It included production by Babyface and Stevie Wonder among others. The album only reached #3 on the US chart but eventually sold over four million copies. The singles "I'm Your Baby Tonight" and "All The Man That I Need" both topped the pop singles chart. In January 1991 Whitney Houston performed the "Star Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV during the Gulf War and it was hailed as one of the most stunning televised performances ever. A single of the performance was released and it reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. Whitney Houston became the first artist to turn the national anthem into a top 40 hit.

Whitney Houston's Acting and The Bodyguard

In the early 1990s Whitney Houston branched out beyond music into acting. Her first role was co-starring with Kevin Costner in 1992's The Bodyguard . She recorded six songs for the soundtrack of the film, and one of these, a cover of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You," became the biggest hit of her career and one of the biggest pop hits of all time staying at #1 for 14 weeks. Whitney Houston later starred in the feature films Waiting to Exhale and The Preacher's Wife . "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)," released in 1995 on the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack, became Whitney Houston's final #1 pop hit.

My Love Is Your Love

Whitney Houston's first studio, non-soundtrack, album in eight years was released in November 1998. My Love Is Your Love was heavily oriented toward the urban and dance markets. The album included "When You Believe," a duet with Mariah Carey, and four consecutive #1 dance hits, "Heartbreak Hotel," "It's Not Right, But It's OK," "My Love Is Your Love," and "I Learned From the Best." The album failed to reach the top 10 but ultimately sold four million copies and received some of the best reviews of Whitney Houston's career.

Whitney Houston's Decline, Return, and Death

In the early 2000's rumors of drug use, missed performances, and late appearances all tarnished Whitney Houston's public image. She released her fifth studio album Just Whitney in 2002 to mixed reviews. The album debuted inside the top 10 on the album chart but failed to produce any top 40 singles. It did eventually sell a million copies. Whitney Houston released One Wish , a Christmas album, in 2003.

Whitney Houston embarked on a world concert tour in 2004, but the following few years found her doing little connected with music. In March 2007, as her divorce with Bobby Brown was being finalized, Clive Davis announced she would be going into the studio to record new material. After nearly two years of rumors, Whitney Houston took the stage at Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party in February 2009. She released the album in August, 2009. It debuted at #1 and was ultimately certified platinum. The title song and "Million Dollar Bill" were top 20 R&B hits.

In late 2011 reports surfaced that Whitney Houston was planning to produce and star in a remake of the 1976 film Sparkle . However, she was found dead February 11, 2012 in Beverly Hills, California just hours before the annual Clive Davis pre-Grammy Awards party. At the Grammy Awards ceremony itself, Jennifer Hudson performed "I Will Always Love You" in tribute.

The invitation-only memorial service at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey was originally scheduled to last only two hours, but it ultimately went on for four. A wide range of top R&B and gospel artists performed live at the service including Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, R. Kelly, and CeCe Winans. Clive Davis, Kevin Costner, and Dionne Warwick all spoke at the service.

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Whitney Houston: A Timeline of Her Life and Legacy

Remembering whitney houston: inside her rise to fame, ‘six triple eight’ first look: watch kerry washington in tyler perry’s new world war ii drama, ‘baywatch’ stars open up about faking romance to protect gay castmate, ‘the bachelorette’ men weigh in on who jenn tran should end up with (exclusive), ‘big brother’ season 26: how the ai instigator technology works (exclusive), adam sandler praises taylor swift and travis kelce’s relationship, ‘fractured’ prince harry and prince william won’t reunite in new york, despite speculation (source), armie hammer 'exploring new work' that focuses 'on recovery' (source), taeil exits k-pop group nct 127 over sexual crime allegation, ben affleck feels 'relieved' by jennifer lopez divorce (source), '1000-lb. sisters' star tammy slaton fought 'inner demons' to lose 500 pounds, 'general hospital': jonathan jackson on return as lucky and feeling luke and laura's presence, travis kelce and adam sandler praise 'best performer out there,' taylor swift, armie hammer says he's starting 'a new life' after controversies, ella langley and riley green on 'you look like you love me' collab: bts of the video (exclusive), 'the braxtons': toni wants to make peace after family funeral drama with traci's husband (exclusive), 'the bachelorette's jenn tran on confronting and reuniting with exes at 'men tell all' (exclusive), jazz jennings celebrates losing nearly 100 lbs. after binge eating disorder diagnosis, erika jayne's ex tom girardi found guilty of embezzling more than $15m in client money, wendy williams spotted out in public for first time in a year, from the church choir to the super bowl to the grammys stage, whitney's story is one of a generational talent gone too soon..

One of the most iconic performers of the 20th century, Whitney Houston’s legacy will remain as long as music can be played. With the release of the new biopic, Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody , fans new and old are getting a closer look at the life, career and struggles of a generational talent gone too soon.

From her early days singing in church, to her star-making Super Bowl rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner," to major movie roles and even more successful soundtracks, Whitney was a superstar in every sense of the word. However, her personal life was plagued by complicated relationships and substance abuse, the latter of which lead to her death in 2012 at just 48 years old.

Naomi Ackie stars as Whitney in the Houston family-approved biopic, and she told ET that having the support of Whitney's family and friends was instrumental in doing justice to the singer's story.

"Reading what Clive [Davis] had written, what Pat [Houston] had written, it was so heartwarming," she added. "And to get to see them in so many different parts of the process, they were always so supportive. Always willing to share anything to help me tell the story properly. I'm eternally grateful for them, and really quite touched by their involvement and how much they wanted this part of her story to be told."

Read on for a look at the life and legacy of one of the greatest performers of all time.

The Early Years

Whitney was born on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey, to John Russell Houston Jr. and Emily "Cissy" Houston (née Drinkard). She was surrounded by music from an early age -- Cissy was a gospel singer who later joined a popular session vocal group called the The Sweet Inspirations, who performed on songs with stars like Elvis Presley , Dusty Springfield, Jimi Hendrix, Van Morrison and more. Darlene Love was Whitney’s godmother, Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick were first cousins, and Aretha Franklin was considered an honorary aunt.

Whitney started out singing in church at the age of five, and also learned to play the piano. She was a soloist by age 11, and by 14, had started singing backup for her mother at cabaret clubs in New York City. She also started modeling, becoming one of the first women of color to cover a fashion magazine when she appeared on the cover of Seventeen . 

She continued performing and recording throughout high school -- with Cissy insisting she turn down offers from record labels until her education was complete -- but her big moment came when Arista Records head Clive Davis came to see her perform and was instantly impressed, signing her to a worldwide deal on April 10, 1983.

Making It Big

Whitney’s first major hit was a duet with Teddy Pendergrass, “Hold Me,” which became a Top 5 R&B hit prior to the release of her self-titled debut album. Whitney Houston , released on Feb. 14, 1985, went platinum 13 times over and included mega hits like “Saving All My Love for You,” “Greatest Love of All” and “How Will I Know.”

She followed it up with 1987’s Whitney , which was certified Diamond and made Whitney the first female act to achieve four No. 1 hits from one album: "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)", "Didn't We Almost Have It All", "So Emotional" and "Where Do Broken Hearts Go.”

The success of her first two albums established Whitney as a global superstar -- with seven consecutive Billboard No. 1 hits breaking a record previously shared by The Beatles and The Bee Gees. Then, she stepped onto one of the biggest stages of her career in January 1991, when she performed a rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” before Super Bowl XXV amid the Persian Gulf War. Whitney’s recording of the national anthem peaked at No. 20 on the Hot 100 and became the most successful recording of the song.

Over the course of her career, Whitney released five more albums -- I'm Your Baby Tonight, My Love Is Your Love, Just Whitney, One Wish: The Holiday Album, and I Look to You -- and two soundtrack albums, all of which were certified diamond, multi-platinum or platinum. She was the top-selling female R&B artist of the 20th century, and has sold more physical singles than any other female solo artist in history.

She also garnered dozens of awards during her career, including two Emmy Awards, eight GRAMMYs (including two GRAMMY Hall of Fame honors), 14 World Music Awards, 16 Billboard Music Awards and 22 American Music Awards.

The Silver Screen

In addition to her music career, Whitney also found success in the movies. Her first film role came in 1992’s The Bodyguard. The romantic drama -- in which Houston played a famous singer with a stalker who falls in love with her bodyguard, played by Kevin Costner -- received mixed reviews, but it was massively successful at the box office, earning $410 million worldwide.

Even more successful was The Bodyguard soundtrack, on which Whitney co-executive produced and recorded six new songs. Her cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” remains one of the best-selling physical singles of all time -- going platinum 18 times over -- and won the performer the GRAMMY Awards for Album of the Year and Record of the Year in 1994. The album would go on to be named the top-selling Soundtrack Album of the Century by the RIAA.

Whitney also performed on the soundtracks for her next two films, 1995’s Waiting to Exhale and 1996’s The Preacher’s Wife. In 1997, she co-executive produced and starred in a television adaptation of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella , playing the Fairy Godmother to Brandy’s titular princess. The special was ABC’s highest-rated in 16 years, racking up over 60 million viewers, and remains a fan favorite to this day.

Later in her career, Whitney teamed up with other music stars on several movie projects, recording the duet “When You Believe” with Mariah Carey for the 1998 animated film The Prince of Egypt , and singing with Jordin Sparks in the 2011 remake of Sparkle , which ended up being her final film and music release.

Love and Troubles

After being linked to stars like Jermaine Jackson, Randall Cunningham and Eddie Murphy in the early years of her career, Whitney met Bobby Brown in 1989 and the pair were married on July 18, 1992. The relationship was a roller coaster from the start with Brown facing numerous legal troubles for drunk driving, drug possession and battery, and Houston suffering miscarriages before and after the couple welcomed their only child, daughter Bobbi Kristina, on March 4, 1993.

The later years of Whitney's marriage to Bobby also brought increased speculation about the couple’s drug use and erratic behavior. In early 2000, she had marijuana found in her bags at a Hawaiian airport, no-showed for the ceremony celebrating Clive Davis’ induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and was fired from performing at the Academy Awards after appearing “distracted and jittery” during rehearsals.

Then, there was Whitney’s relationship with Robyn Crawford . The pair met as teens, when they were counselors at a summer camp in East Orange, Jersey, and remained inseparable for many years. Speculation about the nature of their relationship was always dispelled during Whitney’s life, however, in Robyn’s 2019 memoir , she claimed that the pair had a sexual relationship in their early years, but stopped being physical at the start of Whitney’s musical career.

However, Robyn remained close for many years, serving as Whitney’s personal assistant and working with her management company until 2000, when she quit. In her book, Robyn says that she left because of Whitney’s refusal to seek help for her drug use.

Early on, Whitney denied rumors of drug use, however, in her infamous “crack is whack” interview with Diane Sawyer in 2002, she admitted to using cocaine, marijuana, alcohol and pills, and added that her highly-speculated weight loss was in fact due to drug use. 

In 2003, Bobby was charged with battery after an incident in which he assaulted Whitney, and in 2004, the couple starred in one season of his ill-fated reality show, Being Bobby Brown . The series was an unflattering look at the couple’s home life and led to further speculation about their substance use and domestic turmoil.

In a 2009 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Whitney admitted that her drug use increased following the birth of her daughter and the success of The Bodyguard. She also opened up about more domestic disputes with Bobby and revealed that she had attended a 30-day rehab program. In 2011, Whitney returned to rehab, with a rep saying at the time that the outpatient treatment was a part of Houston's ongoing recovery process.  

Gone Too Soon

Whitney was found dead in her hotel room at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on Feb. 11, 2012. It was GRAMMY Awards weekend, and the performer was scheduled to attend the annual pre-GRAMMYs bash held by her longtime friend and producer Clive Davis that night. She was discovered in the bathtub -- the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office later determined that her death was caused by drowning and the "effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use.”

The singer was mourned in a private funeral, with performances by Stevie Wonder, CeCe Winans, Alicia Keys, Kim Burrell, and R. Kelly and remarks by Clive Davis, Kevin Costner, Dionne Warwick, music director Rickey Minor, and Ray Watson, Whitney’s security guard for the previous 11 years. 

Sadly, tragedy followed Whitney in death, as her daughter, Bobbi Kristina, died just three years later, after also being found unresponsive in a bathtub. She was just 22.

It’s been over 10 years since Whitney’s death, but there’s no denying that her legacy continues to remain strong. In the weeks following her death, the singer became the first and only female act to ever place three albums in the Top 10 of the US Billboard 200 Album Chart all at the same time, with Whitney: The Greatest Hits at No. 2, The Bodyguard at No. 6 and Whitney Houston at No. 9.

To this day, she remains the first and only Black artist to have three Diamond-certified albums. The Bodyguard soundtrack remains the best-selling soundtrack album of all time, and The Preacher's Wife soundtrack is the best-selling gospel album of all time.

On January 15, 2020, Whitney was announced as an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 2020 class, and in March 2020, the Library of Congress announced that Houston’s rendition of "I Will Always Love You" had been added to its National Recording Registry, a list of "aural treasures worthy of preservation" due to their "cultural, historical and aesthetic importance" in the American soundscape. 

And in October 2020, the music video for "I Will Always Love You" surpassed 1 billion views on YouTube, making Houston the first solo 20th-century artist to have a video reach that milestone --  and proving that she’s just as relevant as ever.

Now, with the release of  Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody,  fans new and old can get more perspective on one of the greatest musical talents of her generation.

Ackie told ET that she spent months researching the superstar, "studying the songs and her history and what she was like as a child and all this beautiful, imaginary work that me, as an actor, I just like live for... It really pushed me to my outer limits and I'm so happy that I got to do it."

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• Whitney Houston
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Whitney Houston

Discover the remarkable life of whitney houston....

Whitney Houston was a rare star. She burst onto the music scene like a supernova one might only see once in a million years. Despite a humble beginning, she rapidly rose to fame on the strength of her voice and unbeatable charisma.

Houston began her life singing in her hometown church in Newark, New Jersey, but ended up performing for the whole world to see. Her superstardom knew no bounds. In the middle of her career, however, drug use and a wild lifestyle took their toll. Many thought she was down for the count, but she would ultimately come back stronger than ever, producing one final masterpiece for the masses right before her life was tragically cut short.

Discover a plethora of topics such as

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Whitney Houston, singer and actress, sold close to 100 million albums worldwide during her lifetime.  Her recognitions include two Emmy Awards, five Grammy Awards, 19 American Music Awards, five People’s Choice Awards, five Soul Train Awards, and seven NAACP Image Awards.

Houston was born in Newark, New Jersey on August 9, 1963.  Her mother, Cissy Houston, was a nightclub performer and recording artist.  Her father, John, was an aspiring singer who later managed his wife’s career.  Whitney’s extended family and close friends included a number of prominent entertainers.  Dionne Warwick was her first cousin, and Aretha Franklin was her godmother.  She also counted Roberta Flack and Gladys Knight among close family friends.

Houston started singing at age five at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark where her mother was music director.  She performed her first solo in the church when she was eleven.  That performance persuaded both Whitney and her mother that the young soloist should become a professional singer.

As a teen, Whitney was able to fine tune her stage presence when she was allowed to perform on tour with Cissy Houston in the 1970s.  Her parents however encouraged her to stay in school and would not allow her to launch a professional singing career until she graduated from high school in 1981.

In 1985 21-year-old Houston released her first album, Whitney Houston.   It sold 20 million copies worldwide and became the biggest debut album in history at that time. Her single from the album, I Wanna Dance With Somebody (who loves me), entered the charts at number one, the first single by a woman performer to do so. Her 1987 album, Whitney , broke the record for the most consecutive number one singles.

In 1992 Houston starred in her first film The Bodyguard and recorded the soundtrack as well. The film, a love story between a mixed race couple, costarred Kevin Costner who was also the producer.  In 1994 Houston won three Grammy awards for the soundtrack from The Bodyguard.   The following year she costarred in the movie Waiting to Exhale about four African American female friends. She also recorded a hit song Exhale (Shoop Shoop) for that soundtrack. In 1996 Houston costarred with Denzel Washington in The Preacher’s Wife.

Houston married fellow entertainer Bobby Brown in 1992. Their daughter Bobbi Kristina was born in 1993.  The marriage lasted 16 years despite public rumors about discord between the couple, several miscarriages and time both spent in rehab for drug and alcohol related issues. Their turbulent marriage was documented in a reality television show, “Being Bobby Brown,” which aired on the Bravo network during the summer of 2005.

Houston contributed both time and money to charities that support AIDS research, black colleges, and veterans. In 1989 she formed the Whitney Houston Foundation for Children.

Houston was found dead on February 11, 2012 in her Beverly Hills hotel room on the eve of the 2012 Grammy Awards.  The cause is so far undetermined. Her funeral, with many tributes from the entertainment community, was held on February 18, 2012 in the same New Jersey church where she first performed.

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Cite this entry in APA format:

Source of the author's information:.

Ted Cox, Whitney Houston (Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 1999); Amy Linton, “The Tentative Return of Whitney Houston: Not a disaster, but not exactly a triumph, either,” Village Voice; 54:37 (September 9, 2009); Whitney Houston Obituary, Los Angeles Times , February 11, 2012, http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/02/whitney-houston-died-beverly-hills.html.

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(1963–2012). American singer and actress Whitney Houston recorded a string of number-one hits, beginning in 1985 with “Saving All My Love for You.” Her first four albums, released between 1985 and 1992, amassed global sales in excess of 86 million copies. She received countless music awards including six Grammys. At the time of her death in 2012, her total record sales exceeded 170 million.

The daughter of gospel singer Emily “Cissy” Houston, Whitney Elizabeth Houston was born on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey. Her mother sang with the Sweet Inspirations, who served as Aretha Franklin ’s background vocalists. (Franklin would become Whitney’s godmother.) Her cousin was popular singer Dionne Warwick .

Houston began performing in church concerts at an early age. While still in high school, she sang backup for Chaka Khan and Lou Rawls and modeled for fashion magazines. At age 19 she signed with Arista Records, whose president, Clive Davis , groomed the gospel-based singer for crossover pop success. Her debut album, Whitney Houston (1985), became a crossover pop success. It produced, in addition to “Saving All My Love For You,” such hits as “You Give Good Love,” “How Will I Know,” and “Greatest Love of All.” Her second album, Whitney (1987), produced the hit single “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” which earned Houston her first Grammy Award. Her third album, I’m Your Baby Tonight (1990), boosted her total album sales to more than 40 million. In 1992 she married singer Bobby Brown and made her motion-picture debut in The Bodyguard . The film featured her rendition of Dolly Parton ’s “I Will Always Love You,” which stayed at number one for 14 weeks. The film soundtrack dominated the Grammys the following year, and Houston won the awards for album of the year, record of the year, and best female pop vocal performance. In the mid-1990s she continued acting in films such as Waiting to Exhale (1995) and The Preacher’s Wife (1996), and the soundtrack of each film generated hit singles for her.

In 1998 Houston released My Love Is Your Love, which did not sell as well as previous efforts. However, critics praised the album, and she earned another Grammy Award. In 2000 she signed a new multi-album contract with Arista for $100 million, but personal difficulties soon overshadowed her recording career. Houston’s relationship with Brown provided fodder for the tabloids (they divorced in 2007), as did her admitted drug use and financial issues. Her 2002 album, Just Whitney, was a personal response to her detractors, but its sales were disappointing compared with earlier efforts. Other than a lackluster holiday album, One Wish (2003), Houston spent subsequent years in a state of virtual retirement.

In February 2009 Houston began a comeback effort with a four-song set at Clive Davis’s pre-Grammy Awards gala. The performance was greeted warmly, and in June Houston announced that an album of new material would be available later that year. I Look to You was released in August to positive reviews. Standout songs included the up-tempo “Million Dollar Bill” (written by Alicia Keys ) and the title track, a slow-building ballad written by R. Kelly.

Houston died in a bathtub in a Beverly Hills, California, hotel on February 11, 2012. A coroner’s report stated that the cause of death was accidental drowning, with heart disease and drug use listed as contributing factors. At the time of her death, Houston had completed filming of Sparkle (2012), a remake of a 1976 film that originally starred Irene Cara . In January 2015 Houston’s only child, Bobbi Kristina Brown, was found unconscious in a bathtub at her home near Atlanta, Georgia. She died in July. Houston was named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020.

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The Life of Whitney Houston: A Timeline (Aug. 9, 1963-Feb. 11, 2012)

A look back at legendary six-time grammy award-winning singer's life.

Pop-music icon Whitney Houston  shockingly and tragically passed away Saturday at the Beverly Hilton hotel, on the eve of the 54th annual Grammy Awards. While fans and artists alike pay tribute to the singer via Twitter and Facebook, E! takes a look back at the ups and downs of the legendary singer's life.

RELATED: Whitney Houston Dead at 48

Aug. 9, 1963:  Whitney Elizabeth Houston is born in Newark, New Jersey to mother Cissy Houston , a noted gospel singer, and Army serviceman and entertainment exec John Russell Houston Jr .

1977:  At the tender age of 14 Whitney becomes a backup singer on the  Michael Zager Band 's single "Life's a Party." Zager offers her a recording contact, but her mother Cissy rejects the offer, wanting Whitney to finish school first.

1979:  At 15, Whitney Houston sings background vocals on Chaka Khan 's smash "I'm Every Woman"—the jam she would later turn into a monster hit for herself on the acclaimed soundtrack album to The Bodyguard . 

1980:  Whitney's not only an in-demand singer, she's a looker as well. The singer begins modeling after being spotted by a photographer at Carnegie Hall. Whitney is featured in  Seventeen  magazine, becoming one of the first women of color to grace the mag's cover. 

1983:  After being spotted by Gerry Griffith , an A&R rep from Arista Records, the label's head  Clive Davis  offers Houston a worldwide recording contract. The rest, as they say, is history.

Feb. 14, 1985:  Whitney's self-titled debut album drops. Her single "How Will I Know" hits number one and its video introduces Houston to the MTV generation—making her the first African-American female artist to receive consistent heavy rotation on MTV.

1986:  Whitney's album hits No. 1 on Billboard's year-end charts, making her the first female artist to earn that distinction. Oh, and her debut disc also wins her a Grammy and is dubbed Best Album of 1986 by Rolling Stone .

MORE: News, photos and clips of the late singer

June 1987:  Whitney releases her second album, entitled  Whitney . The next year, Houston receives her second Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "I Wanna Dance With Somebody."

1989:  Whitney meets R&B singer  Bobby Brown  at the Soul Train Music Awards (whom she'd later marry in 1992, kicking off a rollercoaster marriage that would last until 2006).

Jan. 27, 1991:  Houston performs "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV. Due to the success of her rendition, it's released as a commercial single and reaches the Top 20 on the US Hot 100, making Houston the only act to turn the National Anthem into a pop hit.

July 18, 1992:  The singer takes the plunge and ties the knot with Bobby Brown

MORE: Houston's Comeback Attempts

1992:  Whitney takes her voice and movie star looks to the big screen and makes her movie debut in  The Bodyguard , which becomes a huge success grossing over $120 million.

1993:  Whitney embarks on a worldwide tour and gives birth to her and Bobby Brown's daughter  Bobbi Kristina Houston Brown.  

2000:  Houston is busted at Hawaii's Kona International Airport for trying to sneak a bag of pot past airport screeners. In happier news, this is the same year Whitney wins the first BET Lifetime Achievement Award for her notable contribution to African-American music. 

2002: After rumors the singer had passed away, a lively Houston admits to ABC News'  Diane Sawyer  that, yes, she has done drugs: alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and prescription drugs. She has "partied," but says now the party is over.

December 2003:  Whitney's perpetually troubled husband Bobby Brown is busted for allegedly roughing up Houston during a domestic dispute. Houston later says the whole thing was a misunderstanding.

March 2004: Houston enters herself into a rehab facility to deal with a substance abuse problem—but leaves after five days. Her rep insists that all is well, and that Houston simply prefers to continue the program on an outpatient basis. She spends the next 30 days accompanied by a chaperone.

MORE: Quincy Jones "Absolutely Heartbroken" Over Death of Whitney Houston; Stars Tweet Their Regrets

March 2005:  A year later, the songstress reenters rehab.

October 2006:  Just one year after their troubled love life is chronicled on Bravo's  Being Bobby Brown,  the singer files for divorce from Brown after 14 years of marriage. The R&B couple's divorce is made final in Orange County, California, six months later. Houston is granted full legal and physical custody of the their daughter, Bobbi Kristina—a decision that would soon be battled out further in court.

2008:  The singer's court days aren't over following her divorce from Brown, as the songstress' stepmother claims she wrongfully kept her late dad's $1 million insurance payout.

2010:  While on tour attempting a comeback, Houston appears to be going down a slippery downward slope when she cancels numerous shows due to illness

May 2011:  Houston returns to rehab for the third time, voluntarily checking herself into an outpatient  program.

October 2011:  Houston's camp  blames exhaustion  for a fight with a flight attendant during a trip to Detroit. 

Despite three stints in rehab and diva moments here and there, 2011 is a bounceback year for Houston. She  works on her first movie in more than a decade— Sparkle . It's a remake of a 1970s singing-group drama, costarring Jordin Sparks , which completed filming in November. Sparkle is due in theaters in August 2012.

Feb. 11, 2012: In Los Angeles for the Grammy Awards, the pop icon is pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

PHOTO RETROSPECTIVE: Whitney Houston: A Life

Famous People Insights

Short Biography of Whitney Houston (The Voice)

Whitney Elizabeth Houston, known by her stage name Whitney Houston, was an American singer, actress, and model. Her incredible talent, music, and voice made her one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with hits like “I Will Always Love You” and “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.”

Due to her vocal range, power, and agility, she was also nicknamed ‘The Voice.” She was a multi-talented singer who used to sing in a variety of styles, including pop, R&B, gospel, and classical.

Table of Contents

A Short Biography of Whitney Houston (The Voice)

Today, with the help of Whitney Houston’s Story , you will learn about the journey of her life, her success, and her struggles. As a singer, she made a profound impact on the music industry and pop culture. She was also named the second-greatest singer of all time by the Rolling Stones in 2023.

Whitney Houston’s real name, DOB, and age

She was born in 9 August, 1963, in New Jersey, U.S. She was born at Newark Beth Israel Hospital. Her birth name was Whitney Elizabeth Houston. She was 48 years old at the time he died.

Whitney Houston was the daughter of Emily “Cissy” Houston and John Russell Houston Jr. Her mother, Emily, was a Grammy Award-winning gospel singer.

Her mother was also one of the founding members of a R&B girl group called The Sweet Inspirations. Her father, ‘John’, was a former Army serviceman. Her ancestry was African American.

Height and Weight

Whitney Houston’s height was approximately 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm or 1.73 m) , and her weight varied throughout her life; her reported weight is around 64 kg (141 pounds).

Whitney Houston Education

She attended Franklin Elementary School until the 6th grade and later moved to Mount Saint Dominic Academy (a Catholic girls’ high school in Caldwell, New Jersey). She graduated from Mount Saint Dominic Academy. She did not receive a college education.

Whitney Houston Career

Houston started her music journey at a young age. Her mother taught her the initial lessons of singing and music. As a child, she started singing in the church choir and learned to play the piano at 5.

She made her first solo performance at the age of 12. During high school, she performed as a background vocalist. She joined a statewide talent show in 1977, where she got second place. She was 14 years old at that time.

In 1978, Houston performed at Manhattan’s Town Hall, where she received her first standing ovation. Her professional music career started in the early 1980s, when she was signed to Arista Records.

On February 14, 1985, she released her self-titled debut album, “Whitney Houston,” which sold over 10 million copies worldwide and earned diamond certification. In 1986, her album topped the Billboard 200 chart for nearly 14 weeks.

The album came with three No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100: “Saving All My Love for You,” “How Will I Know,” and “Greatest Love of All.” Not only did her album top the Billboard 200 chart, but it also topped the charts in other countries, including Canada, Australia, Norway, and Sweden.

Till now, her first album has sold around 20 million copies and got 14× Platinum certification by the RIAAA. After the immense success of her first solo album, Whitney Houston released her second album, “Whitney,” in 1987.

Her 2nd album became more successful than her debut, selling over 25 million copies worldwide. Her album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart on June 27, 1987, and spent 11 weeks at the top position.

Her 2nd album had four No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100: “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me),” “Didn’t We Almost Have It All,” “So Emotional,” and “Where Do Broken Hearts Go?”

She continued to release successful albums throughout the 1990s; she released her third album, “I’m Your Baby Tonight,” on 6 November, 1990. Her fourth album was “My Love Is Your Love”, which was released on November 17, 1998.”

Whitney Houston was active in the music industry from 1977 to 2012. During her career, she released seven studio albums, 3 sound tracks, 8 compilation albums, 7 EPs and 5 Box sets. Her career was at its peak during the 1990s, but it started to decline in the early 2000s due to personal struggles with addiction and financial difficulties.

However, she made a comeback in 2009 with the release of her 7th and final album, “I Look to You.” The album was a commercial success, selling over 3 million copies worldwide, and became her 4th chart-topping album.

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Whitney Houston Albums with Total Sales Worldwide

Until now, Whitney records have sold over 220 million globally, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Here is a list of albums released by Whitney Houston.

Filmy Career

Apart from her music, she also worked in many films. Her most famous acting role was in “The Bodyguard,” where she starred alongside Kevin Costner. She played the character of Rachel Marron, a famous singer who hires a bodyguard to protect her.

The film was a commercial success and featured Houston’s iconic rendition of “I Will Always Love You” on its soundtrack. In 1995, she played the role of Savannah Jackson in a film called “Waiting to Exhale.”

In 1996, she appeared in “The Preacher’s Wife” (1996). Where she played the character Julia Biggs, the wife of a struggling preacher.

During her career, Whitney Houston acted in 4 feature films, 1 TV film, and 7 TV episodes. She also appeared in 17 commercials for various products, including Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, and AT&T.

List of Whitney Houston feature films and TV films:

• The Bodyguard (1992)
• Waiting to Exhale (1995)
• The Preacher’s Wife (1996)
• Sparkle (2012)
• Cinderella (1997) (TV film)

Whitney Houston married once in her life. She married singer Bobby Brown in 1992. Her marriage life was a bad part of her life, marked by infidelity, domestic violence, and drug use. They divorced in 2007. Her marriage to Brown was a major source of stress for her, and it had a negative impact on her career.

Whitney Houston had one child, a daughter named ‘Bobbi Kristina Brown’, with her ex-husband Bobby Brown. She died on July 26, 2015.

Whitney Houston Net Worth

She was one of the most successful singers, but due to her personal life issues, including a lavish lifestyle, drugs, and alcohol, she lost most of her wealth.

At the time of her death, she had a wealth of negative 20 million dollars. After her death, Houston’s state rebounded and is now estimated to be worth around $14 million.

On 11 February, 2012, Houston was found dead in her hotel room in Beverly Hills, California. At the time, she was 48 years old. As per reports, the reason for her death was accidental drowning.

Awards and achievements

Houston was one of the most awarded singers of her era. She won many awards throughout her career, including 22 American Music Awards, 16 Billboard Music Awards, 55 Cash Box Year-End, 6 Grammy Awards, and 28 Guinness World Records.

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I hope this short biography of Whitney Houston will give you a proper understanding of her life and career. Share this short biography with your friends, and stay connected with us for more such life stories.

Ans- She passed away on February 11, 2012, at the age of 48.

Ans- She had only one daughter, whose name was Bobbi Kristina Brown.

Ans- As per reports, the reason for her death was accidental drowning, with heart disease and cocaine use as contributing factors.

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Whitney Houston - Biography

The new jersey-born star is one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

Whitney Houston was an American singer and one of the best-selling music artists of all time and has influenced countless other musicians in popular music. In her lifetime the gifted songbird amassed a $100 million fortune, six Grammy's and 11 US and four UK number ones.

Whitney Houston's early life

Whitney was born on August 9, 1963 in Newark, New Jersey to  Emily "Cissy" and John Russell Houston Jr. She comes from a very musical family as her mother, Cissy, was a Grammy-winning gospel and soul singer who made her name in The Drinkards Singers gospel quartet, and later founded the Sweet Inspirations vocal group, who recorded with the likes of Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley. Through her mother, Whitney was also a first cousin of accomplished singers Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick.

Whitney Houston's career and personal life

The road to riches began when Arista Records boss Clive Davis heard Whitney singing in a nightclub. Then 19, she was using her voice to pay for her education. Her success in the music business translated to the big screen, and for her first starring role in the Kevin Costner film The Bodyguard , which grossed a staggering $400 million, she virtually played herself. I Will Always Love You , the soundtrack's lead single was top of the charts for 14 weeks, making it one of the best-selling discs in history. She also starred in two other movies, Waiting To Exhale and The Preacher's Wife .

In June 1991, the singer married R'n'B star Bobby Brown, six years her junior. The couple had a daughter, Bobbi Kristina, born March 4, 1993. 

Concerns over the state of Whitney's health emerged in the late Nineties, after numerous allegations that she had a problem with substance abuse. Then, just 48 hours before her appearance at the Oscars ceremony in 2000, she was reportedly dropped by music director Burt Bacharach for her apparent inability to remember the lyrics to the songs she had been booked to sing. However, the singer continued to produce hit records - My Love Is Your Love , which was released in 1998, marked a radical change in direction for the soul star. 

Working with ultra-cool R'n'B producer Rodney Jerkins, of Spice Girls, Michael Jackson and Destiny's Child fame, Whitney sounded hipper and more urban than on her previous works. A greatest hits package was released shortly afterwards, but it wasn't long before the star dipped out of the limelight to deal with personal issues. 

She entered a rehabilitation facility in 2004 and again in 2005, and one year later troubled Whitney filed for divorce from Bobby. Whitney gained custody of their daughter and the divorce was finalised in April 2007. 

Slowly but surely she began to get her life back on track and in December the same year staged a long-awaited comeback, performing a selection of her greatest hits at a music festival in Kuala Lumpur. At the event she announced she was working on a new album. I Look To You gave the iconic performer her first number one since The Bodyguard soundtrack and went platinum with sales of over one million in the US.

Whitney Houston's death

In 2012, one of the greatest talents of her generation passed away on February 11, just hours before she was due to attend a pre-Grammys party.

Her passing was ruled as an accidental drowning with contributing factors of cocaine use and heart disease. She was 48 years old. 

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Whitney Houston: A Life from Beginning to End (Biographies of Musicians) Kindle Edition

• Growing up in New Jersey
• Early Modeling Career
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• Part of series Biographies of Musicians
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• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BM9WNSW1
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hourly History (November 13, 2022)
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