Whitney Elizabeth Houston was the golden girl of the music industry from the middle 1980s to the late 1990s. She was one of the world's best-selling artists. She wowed audiences with effortless, powerful, and peerless vocals that were rooted in the b Read more...
Whitney Elizabeth Houston was the golden girl of the music industry from the middle 1980s to the late 1990s. She was one of the world's best-selling artists. She wowed audiences with effortless, powerful, and peerless vocals that were rooted in the black church but made palatable to the masses with a pop sheen. Her success carried her beyond music to movies, where she starred in hits like "The Bodyguard" and "Waiting to Exhale." She had the perfect voice and the perfect image: a gorgeous singer who had sex appeal but was never overtly sexual, who maintained perfect poise. She influenced a generation of younger singers, from Christina Aguilera to Mariah Carey, who when she first came out sounded so much like Houston that many thought it was Houston. She seemed to be born into greatness. She was the daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston, the cousin of 1960s pop diva Dionne Warwick and the goddaughter of Aretha Franklin. Houston first started singing in the church as a child. In her teens, she sang backup for Chaka Khan, Jermaine Jackson and others, in addition to modeling. It was around that time when music mogul Clive Davis first heard Houston perform. "The time that I first saw her singing in her mother's act in a club ... it was such a stunning impact," Davis told "Good Morning America." "To hear this young girl breathe such fire into this song. I mean, it really sent the proverbial tingles up my spine," he added. Before long, the rest of the country would feel it, too. Houston made her album debut in 1985 with "Whitney Houston," which sold millions and spawned hit after hit. "Saving All My Love for You" brought her her first Grammy, for best female pop vocal. "How Will I Know," ''You Give Good Love" and "The Greatest Love of All" also became hit singles. Another multiplatinum album, "Whitney," came out in 1987 and included hits like "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" and "I Wanna Dance With Somebody." The New York Times wrote that Houston "possesses one of her generation's most powerful gospel-trained voices, but she eschews many of the churchier mannerisms of her forerunners. She uses ornamental gospel phrasing only sparingly, and instead of projecting an earthy, tearful vulnerability, communicates cool self-assurance and strength, building pop ballads to majestic, sustained peaks of intensity." Her decision not to follow the more soulful inflections of singers like Franklin drew criticism by some who saw her as playing down her black roots to go pop and reach white audiences. Some saw her 1992 marriage to former New Edition member and soul crooner Bobby Brown as an attempt to refute those critics. It seemed to be an odd union; she was seen as pop's pure princess while he had a bad-boy image, and already had children of his own. (The couple had a daughter, Bobbi Kristina, in 1993.) "When you love, you love. I mean, do you stop loving somebody because you have different images? You know, Bobby and I basically come from the same place," she told Rolling Stone in 1993. "You see somebody, and you deal with their image, that's their image. It's part of them, it's not the whole picture. I am not always in a sequined gown. I am nobody's angel. I can get down and dirty. I can get raunchy." It would take several years, however, for the public to see that side of Houston. Her moving 1991 rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl, amid the first Gulf War, set a new standard and once again reaffirmed her as America's sweetheart. In 1992, she became a star in the acting world with "The Bodyguard." Despite mixed reviews, the story of a singer (Houston) guarded by a former Secret Service agent (Kevin Costner) was an international success. It also gave her perhaps her most memorable hit: a searing, stunning rendition of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You," which sat atop the charts for weeks. It was Grammy's record of the year and best female pop vocal, and the "Bodyguard" soundtrack was named album of the year. She returned to the big screen in 1995-96 with "Waiting to Exhale" and "The Preacher's Wife." Both spawned soundtrack albums, and another hit studio album, "My Love Is Your Love," in 1998, brought her a Grammy for best female R&B vocal for the cut "It's Not Right But It's Okay." But during these career and personal highs, Houston was using drugs. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2010, she said by the time "The Preacher's Wife" was released, "(doing drugs) was an everyday thing. ... I would do my work, but after I did my work, for a whole year or two, it was every day. ... I wasn't happy by that point in time. I was losing myself." In the interview, Houston blamed her rocky marriage to Brown, which included a charge of domestic abuse against Brown in 1993. They divorced in 2007. Houston staged what seemed to be a successful comeback with the 2009 album "I Look To You." The album debuted on the top of the charts, and would eventually go platinum. Things soon fell apart. A concert to promote the album on "Good Morning America" went awry as Houston's voice sounded ragged and off-key. She blamed an interview with Winfrey for straining her voice. A world tour launched overseas, however, only confirmed suspicions that Houston had lost her treasured gift, as she failed to hit notes and left many fans unimpressed; some walked out.
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R.I.P Whitney...May you find peace where ever you maybe.. A Troubled Mind & Heart...But No Longer a Troubled Soul..
SING & REST..........with the Angels ...xx
Tina Black ,
March 01, 2012
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RIP WHITNEY YOU WERE THE VOICE XXXXX
Caroline Mc Evoy ,
February 27, 2012
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love u u war da best rest in peace xxxxxxxxxxxx magz
Christy Claxton ,
February 25, 2012
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Let us all now leave Whitney Houston to rest in PEACE..which she never had enough PEACE in her life...a beautiful talented woman...and please leave Bobbi Kristina to live her life in Peace...My heart goes out to all the family at this very sad time....I want the media to leave this family to grieve in PEACE....Do they not have any mercy?????
Megg Natale ,
February 21, 2012
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You were a great singer and you will never be forgotten/ I would like to express my condolences to the Houston family.
Cynthia
Cynthia Shearin ,
February 18, 2012
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u were a great singer and mother. god bless u whitney. u will be so miss by all your fans and i was one of them r.i.p whitney houston. my fav song was if you say your eyes were beautifull.. will allways play your songs.
Elaine Christie ,
February 18, 2012
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I love you, thank you for all you have done.
Kjell Elvin ,
February 18, 2012
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I will always Love you Whitney!
Jacqueline Battle ,
February 17, 2012
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We were all so blessed that God shared you with us all...a great gift and treasured memories. Sleep peacefully beautiful lady.
Ann Feutrill ,
February 16, 2012
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So sorry you are gone.I loved & will always love your music.Such A short life for such A GREAT woman.My heart goes out to your family & all the other fans out there that loved you as much as I did.
Peggy Swim ,
February 16, 2012
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Whitney, you were a beautiful singer and we will always remember your music. Such a troubled life you had towards the end and so young and precious to leave this world behind the music world will definitely not be the same without your angelic voice gracing our world with your music. Rest in peace Whitney, you will never be forgotten.
Rachael Lin Lukaszewski ,
February 16, 2012
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You will be truly missed...your a legend and my idol always...Rest In Peace Whitney you voice will live on forever..
Jeannie Lopez ,
February 16, 2012
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Hey Beautiful Precious Whitney. I miss you. I Love you. I wish you were still here. RIP Condolences to all the Houston family.
I will forever cherish you.
Sevda Cetmiyilmaz ,
February 16, 2012
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We will always love you too, Whitney! May your rest in peace!
Melissa Weiler ,
February 16, 2012
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Whitney, you were and always be one of my favourite singers, i loved your passion for life and singing.You will always live on in your music.RIP Whitney, another great light has gone out.Gill
Gillian Smith ,
February 16, 2012
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RIP songbird,we will always love YOU!!!
Cindi Louthan ,
February 16, 2012
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r.i.p you are gong but you will never be forgotten, be at peace dear friend,your music will never die. god bless you whitneyxxxxxxxxxxxx
Elizabeth Cannell ,
February 15, 2012
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So sad to here you passed away loved ur music and movies as well rip whitney u will be missed
Kim Christie ,
February 15, 2012
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R.I.P. Whitney ,Hope you are happy in Heaven singing with the Angels .God Bless You ,Thoughts and Prayers With the Family ...
Linda Glynn ,
February 15, 2012
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you will be missed so much what a great singer i loved your music since you i first heard you sing rip whitney xxx
Eithne O'Hanlon Lyes ,
February 15, 2012
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rip legend
Damien O Brien ,
February 15, 2012
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!!LOVE YOU ALWAYS WHITNEY RIP >>
Mark Anthony Wilson ,
February 15, 2012
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R.I.P Whitney Houston you will be sadly missed by everyone you are a legend i never stop watching the bodyguard it's a brilliant film to watch R.I.P Whitney
Angela Hover ,
February 15, 2012
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LOVE YOU WHITNEY ALWAYS WILL LOVE YOU> RIP YOU GAVE THE MUSIC INDUSTY GOOD LOVE>>***************
Mark Wilson ,
February 15, 2012
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beautiful singer , beautiful singer will be missed .
Caroline Carey ,
February 14, 2012
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rip whitney loved your music and u had a wonderful voice rip xxxxx
Ann Crawford ,
February 14, 2012
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Whitney your beauty your voice will never be forgotten ur a legend whom I will certainly let my grand children know of, such a gift, sadly missed by all "We will always love you" R.I.P mwah..
Dian ,
February 14, 2012
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a sad day for the world and such a waste of such a beautiful voice u had so much talent there will never be another whitney may you rest in peace xxxx
Lisa Thompson ,
February 14, 2012
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A truly sad day for the world to lose such a beautiful and talented person,an angel heaven has gained, Rest in peace Whitney !
Lola Simm ,
February 12, 2012
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You had an amazing impact on the music industry. You were a very talented singer with an incredible gift! You touched alot of people. No one is ever going to forget you and the music that you graced us with. Rest in Peace. Many thoughts and prayers go out to your family.
Jaysun Antony ,
February 12, 2012
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Whitney you have left your mark on both the music industry and my life. You've inspired me to be the best me that I can be vocally and charateristically. The first song I ever learned note by note and key by key to sing was "I Will Always Love You". I cherish every album, every note, and every movie that you were a part of. My prayers and condolences are with your family,friends, and fans. Sing God a beautiful song. I love you and you are greatly missed.
William Banks ,
February 12, 2012
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R.I.P Whitney you are going be miss every much....
Sprinkle Jackson ,
February 12, 2012
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Whitney, you were a beautiful person inside and out. What the world lost, Heaven gained! You will be missed! My prayers go out to your family on this sad day.
Nicole Kouma ,
February 12, 2012
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R.i.p whitney , uu were dhaa queen of r&b , ndd always will bhee , nobody couldd ever takee ur placee , ii luvv uu muchh ..... ur qonee , bhutt never will bhee 4qotten .!
Titaa Still'Gott Hym ,
February 12, 2012
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The world has truly lost a legend! Her music was always in my life and she was taken too young. This news saddens me greatly and I am still in shock. I listened to her for 25 of my 30 years. My sister was 3 years old and sang "Gweatest wove of all" for our entire childhood.
Carrie Lynn Everett ,
February 12, 2012
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Whitney you were one in a million...a beautiful woman with an amazing voice and talent beyond compare. I pray you are resting in God's arms as he welcomes you home to sing with His angels. May peace come to your family and friends in this time of loss.
Jama Munson ,
February 12, 2012
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What an inspiration. Truly a classy lady. I loved her music so much, I named my daughter Whitney...God Bless. My deepest sympathy to the family.
a guest ,
February 12, 2012
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to all her family. Too young and talented to go. Thoughts are with you and your family.
Carrie Kaplan ,
February 12, 2012
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