Whitney Houston
Who Was Whitney Houston?
Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer, actress, film producer, and record producer. She is commonly referred to as “The Voice.”
She is one of the best-selling artists ever. She sold over 200 million records throughout the course of her career. She received 2 Emmy Awards, 6 Grammy Awards, 14 World Music Awards, 16 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, and 28 Guinness World Records.
Furthermore, she is one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century and one of the most awarded artists of all time.
Early Life: Born Into Music Royalty
Newark, New Jersey — August 9, 1963
Whitney Houston was born into a musical family on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey. She was the daughter of gospel star Cissy Houston and John Russell Houston Jr.
Her parents were both African American, and she was also said to have Native American and Dutch ancestry.
She was a cousin of singing star Dionne Warwick. Moreover, through her mother, she was also a first cousin of Dee Dee Warwick. Her godmother was Darlene Love, and her honorary aunt was the legendary Aretha Franklin.
Her father was an administrator under Newark Mayor Kenneth Gibson. She was born into music royalty.
Moving to East Orange
After the 1967 Newark riots, the family moved to a middle-class area in East Orange, New Jersey, when she was four. This new environment shaped her formative years. However, music remained the constant thread running through her life.
The New Hope Baptist Church: Where the Voice Was Born
By the age of five, Houston was singing in the choir at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark. At 12, she made her solo singing debut at New Hope. At 14, she was singing background at her mother’s cabaret shows in Manhattan.
She received a standing ovation for her solo performance at Town Hall.
Growing up in this musical environment, Whitney was exposed to a rich tapestry of sounds that would shape her future career. These early experiences instilled in her a deep appreciation for music and a strong foundation in vocal technique.
First Steps as a Professional
By the age of 15, she 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. She also worked briefly as a model, appearing on the cover of Seventeen magazine in 1981.
The Rise to Stardom: Signed, Sealed, Delivered
Clive Davis Discovers a Legend
She was discovered by legendary record executive Clive Davis while singing backup for her mother at just 19 years old.
She began working as a featured vocalist for the New York-based funk band Material. It was the quality of her vocal work with them that attracted the attention of the major record labels. She signed with Arista Records in 1983 and stayed there for the rest of her career.
Whitney Houston (1985): A Debut for the Ages
Her self-titled debut album, Whitney Houston, topped the Billboard 200 for 14 weeks. Three songs from the album reached the Billboard Hot 100.
In 1985, Whitney Houston was released. To this day, it has won three different awards for best debut album of all time.
Her debut album is one of the best-selling albums of all time, with over 22 million copies sold.
The album produced three massive number-one singles. These were “Greatest Love of All,” which became her signature song; “Saving All My Love for You”; and “How Will I Know.”
Whitney (1987): Making History Again
Her follow-up album, Whitney (1987), debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, making Whitney Houston the first woman ever to achieve such a milestone.
The album also came with four more of Whitney’s songs that dominated the charts.
Her second studio album, Whitney, became a Diamond-certified album in 2020, making her the only Black artist to have three 10x Platinum LPs.
Seven Consecutive Number Ones: A Record That Still Stands
She is the only artist to have seven consecutive number-one singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Just to scratch the surface, the mezzo-soprano powerhouse became the first artist to have seven consecutive singles hit number one, from “Saving All My Love for You” (1985) through “Where Do Broken Hearts Go” (1988).
This was not luck. It was a once-in-a-century voice meeting once-in-a-century songs.
The Bodyguard (1992): The Biggest Soundtrack in History
A Hollywood Debut Like No Other
Whitney Houston made her acting debut with the romantic thriller The Bodyguard (1992). She co-starred with Oscar-winning actor 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.
“I Will Always Love You”: A Song for Eternity
“I Will Always Love You” is a cover of the original song written and recorded by Dolly Parton. Whitney’s version was produced by Canadian musician David Foster. It was released on November 2, 1992, as the lead single from The Bodyguard soundtrack.
The song was a global success, topping the singles charts in 34 countries. It stayed at number one in the US for 14 weeks.
It has sold over 24 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling single by a female artist of all time as well as one of the best-selling singles of all time.
The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2018 and added to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry in 2020 for being “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.”
Grammy Dominance
The soundtrack dominated the Grammys the following year. Houston won awards for Album of the Year, 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” — were also major international hits.
Film Career: An Actress of Natural Power
Waiting to Exhale (1995)
After The Bodyguard, Houston starred in the ensemble drama Waiting to Exhale. The first single from the soundtrack, “Exhale (Shoop Shoop),” topped the charts. The album sold over seven million copies.
The Preacher’s Wife (1996)
For her next project, Houston returned to her gospel roots. The soundtrack to the 1996 film The Preacher’s Wife was loaded with traditional and contemporary gospel songs. It also featured guest appearances by her mother, Shirley Caesar, and the Georgia Mass Choir.
Sparkle (2012): A Final Farewell
Her final acting performance was in Sparkle (2012), a remake of the 1976 movie. It was released after her death. It was a poignant last gift from a timeless performer.
Personal Life: Love, Marriage, and Struggle
Marriage to Bobby Brown
In 1992, Houston married singer Bobby Brown, formerly of the boy band New Edition.
In a 2009 interview, Houston indicated the marriage was both passionate and turbulent.
Houston and Bobby Brown had a daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, born in 1993.
Houston’s tumultuous relationship with Brown provided fodder for the tabloids, as did her acknowledged drug use and financial issues. The couple divorced in 2007.
Her Lifelong Friend: Robyn Crawford
In 2019, Crawford released the memoir A Song for You: My Life with Whitney Houston, which confirmed that she and Houston had been romantically involved. Crawford was a constant presence throughout Houston’s life, career, and personal struggles.
Battles and Comeback Attempts
Personal Struggles and Career Decline
In 2001, she signed a new multi-album contract with Arista for $100 million. However, personal difficulties soon overshadowed her recording career.
Critics noted that her voice sounded as if it had suffered damage from smoking and drug use. She began working with a vocal coach to rebuild her talent.
Houston spent subsequent years in a state of virtual retirement.
I Look to You (2009): The Comeback
She eventually made a comeback with 2009’s I Look to You.
Her 2009 comeback album was positively received and sold well. However, promotional performances were still marred by her weakened voice.
Despite this, she kept fighting. She kept returning. That spirit was never extinguished.
Death and Legacy
February 11, 2012: A World Mourns
On February 11, the day before the 2012 Grammy Awards, Houston was found dead in her bathroom at the Beverly Hills Hilton. The cause of death was accidental drowning caused by heart disease and cocaine intoxication.
The Grammy ceremony paid tribute to her life with a Jennifer Hudson performance of “I Will Always Love You.”
She was 48 years old. The music world stopped. It has never been quite the same since.
Inducted Into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2020)
Houston was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020, solidifying her status as one of the greatest singers of all time.
She has been inducted into multiple halls and walks of fame, including the Grammy Hall of Fame (twice), the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, the New Jersey Hall of Fame, and the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress.
The Biopic: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022)
In 2022, the biopic I Wanna Dance with Somebody was released, starring Naomi Ackie as Houston. The film celebrated the singer’s life and helped new generations discover the woman behind the legend.
The Hologram Tour
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 live theatrical concert experience celebrating her incredible music and everlasting legacy.
Discography: A Legacy in Albums
| Year | Album | Key Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Whitney Houston | 3 #1 singles; 22 million+ copies sold; debut of the decade |
| 1987 | Whitney | First woman to debut at #1 on Billboard 200; Diamond certified |
| 1990 | I’m Your Baby Tonight | 2 #1 singles; 4 million+ copies sold |
| 1992 | The Bodyguard (Soundtrack) | Best-selling soundtrack of all time; Grammy AOTY |
| 1995 | Waiting to Exhale (Soundtrack) | 7 million+ copies sold |
| 1996 | The Preacher’s Wife (Soundtrack) | Gospel roots revisited |
| 1998 | My Love Is Your Love | 6th Grammy; “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay” |
| 2000 | Whitney: The Greatest Hits | Career retrospective |
| 2002 | Just Whitney | Personal creative statement |
| 2009 | I Look to You | Final studio album; comeback era |
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | The Bodyguard | Rachel Marron |
| 1995 | Waiting to Exhale | Savannah Jackson |
| 1996 | The Preacher’s Wife | Julia Biggs |
| 1997 | Cinderella (TV) | Fairy Godmother |
| 2012 | Sparkle | Emma Anderson |
