Whitney Houston
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{{otheruses4|the musician|her 1985 self-titled album|Whitney Houston (album)}}
'''{{Infobox Musical artist
| Name = Whitney Houston
| Img = Whitbig.jpg
| Img_capt = Houston at the Caudwell Children Legends Ball in 2008
| Background = solo_singer
| Birth_name = Whitney Elizabeth Houston
| Alias =
| Born = {{birth date and age|1963|8|9}}<br>[[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]], [[New Jersey]], [[United States]]
| Died =
| Origin =
| Instrument = [[Singing]], [[piano]]
| Voice_type = [[soprano]]
| Genre = [[pop music|Pop]], [[contemporary R&B|R&B]], [[dance-pop]], [[gospel music|gospel]]
| Occupation = [[Singer]], [[songwriter]], [[pianist]], [[actor|actress]], [[arranger]], [[film producer]], [[model (person)|model]]
| Years_active = 1977–present
| Label = [[Arista Records|Arista]]
| Associated acts = [[Cissy Houston]], [[Dionne Warwick]], [[Cece Winans]]
| Influences = [[Aretha Franklin]], [[Cissy Houston]]
| URL = [http://www.whitneyhouston.com/ www.whitneyhouston.com]
|
}}
'''Whitney Elizabeth Houston''' (born [[August 9]], [[1963]]) is a [[Grammy Award]]-winning [[United States|American]] [[pop music|pop]] and [[contemporary R&B|R&B]] [[singer]], [[actor|actress]], [[film producer]], [[arranger]], [[songwriter]], and former [[model (person)|fashion model]]. Her crossover success opened doors for other [[African American]] women, to find success in pop music and movies.<ref name=Time>{{cite news | first= Richard | last= Corliss | title= The Prom Queen of Soul |date=July 13 1987| publisher= Time Magazine | url= http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,964980,00.html|
accessdate= 2007-03-17 | language= English }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Shelton |first=Marla |title=Whitney is every woman?: Cultural politics and the pop star |journal=Camera Obscura |volume=36 |date=[[September 1]], [[1995]] |pages=135–153 |url=http://www.classicwhitney.com/interview/cameraobscura1995.htm |accessdate=2007-01-15}}</ref> She is frequently referred to as "The Voice"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blackvoices.com/black_entertainment/music_videos_songs_radio/black_music_month_2007/transformers-whitney-houston-gallery |title=Transformers: Whitney Houston |accessdate=2008-01-15 |format= |work=AOL Black Voices |date=[[2007]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bignoisenow.com/christina/betawards.html |title=Christina performs on the 2001 BET Awards in a special tribute to Whitney Houston |accessdate=2008-01-15 |format= |work=Billboard Magazine|date=[[June 19]] [[2007]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whitney-fan.com/nr/mags/030.shtml |title=The Voice Is Back |accessdate=2008-06-04 |format= |work=Whitney Fan |date=[[2008]] }}</ref>, and is known for her "powerful, penetrating pop-gospel voice."<ref>{{cite news | first= Stephen | last= Holden | title= Cabaret: Whitney Houston |date=February 16 1985| publisher= The New York Times | accessdate= 2007-03-17 | language= English }}</ref> She has been credited as having a five-octave [[vocal range]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1998_Oct_23/ai_53119169 |title=Whitney Houston Set to Release First Studio Album in Eight Years on Nov. 17; Top Contemporary Producers and Songwriters Contribute to the Landmark Album|accessdate=2008-06-04 |format= |work=BNet |date=[[1998]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QDNSeMdqr0 |title=Whitney Houston - Interview part 3 |accessdate=2008-06-04 |format= |work=Youtube |date=[[June 4]] [[2008]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mariahconnection.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/ft.jpg |title=Defining Moment: Mariah Carey’s Superhuman Octaves |accessdate=2008-06-04 |format= |work=Mariah Connection |date=[[2008]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.google.com/books?id=b1ruwF6xYNIC&pg=PA227&dq=Whitney+Houston+(five+octaves)&sig=N2YCequTNXZfkuggoNBU6S19WwM |title=From Abba to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Late 20th Century |accessdate=2008-06-05 |format= |work=Google Books |date=[[June 5]] [[2008]]}}</ref>
In the 1980s, Houston was one the first black artists to receive regular rotation on MTV in the network's early years during a white male rock dominated time.<ref name=Soul>{{cite episode |title = A History of Soul Music |network = [[VH1]] |airdate = [[October 18]] [[2007]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode |title = Whitney Houston |series = Biography |network = [[The Biography Channel]] |airdate = [[October 18]] [[2007]]}}</ref> Her debut album became the biggest selling debut album of all time for a solo artist (a record that has since been broken), her follow up album became the first album by a female artist to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200, and she had a record seven consecutive #1 singles on the [[Billboard Hot 100]] chart. Houston continued her success into Hollywood in the 1990s, starting with the box office hit ''[[The Bodyguard]]''. The soundtrack became the best-selling soundtrack of all time, and the single "[[I Will Always Love You]]" the best-selling single by a female artist and 6th best-selling song in the history of music.<ref>[http://www.whitneyhouston.com/bio.html Whitney Houston<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> She continued the decade with other successful and culturally significant projects before returning to the studio. Houston is the fourth best-selling female recording artist according to the [[Recording Industry Association of America]],<ref>[http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=tblTopArt "Gold and Platinum - Top Selling Artists"]. [[Recording Industry Association of America]].</ref> and is the "[[List of Whitney Houston Awards|The Most Awarded Female Artist of All Time]]"<ref>[http://www.blackvoices.com/black_entertainment/music_videos_songs_radio/black_music_month_2007/transformers-whitney-houston-gallery transformers-whitney-houston-gallery - AOL Black Voices<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> according to the [[Guinness Book of World Records]].
After Houston married former R&B singer [[Bobby Brown]] at the height of her career, rumors of drug and spousal abuse started to affect her career. This led to a decline in her public image and her album sales dropped during the 2000s. Her personal troubles and erratic behavior became more talked about than any of her music, with stories regularly appearing in the tabloid press. Houston underwent two drug rehab programs in 2005 and 2006. After a successful second program in 2006, Houston divorced Brown and gained custody of their only daughter. She has since been working on her 7th studio album with music mogul and close friend and mentor [[Clive Davis]], who confirmed that the album will be released in November 2008.<ref name=digitalspy>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a89328/houston-album-out-in-november.html?rss |title= Houston album 'out in November
|accessdate=2008-01-15 |format= |work=Digital Spy |date=[[February 14]] [[2008]] }}</ref>
==Early life==
Whitney Houston was born in a rough neighborhood in the projects of [[Newark, New Jersey]]. She is the third and youngest child of John and gospel singer [[Cissy Houston]].<ref name=Driven>{{cite episode |title = Whitney Houston |series = Driven |network = [[VH1]] |airdate = November 13]] [[2002]]}}</ref> Her mother, along with cousin [[Dionne Warwick]] and Godmother [[Aretha Franklin]] are all notable figures in the gospel, rhythm and blues, and [[soul music|soul]] genres. Houston was raised a [[Baptist]], but was also exposed to the [[Pentecostal]] church. After the [[1967 Newark riots]], the family moved to a middle class area in [[East Orange, New Jersey]] when she was four.<ref name="Driven"/> While her mother was away touring with Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin as a backup singer, her father would spend most of the time raising the children. Houston did not have many friends and she was picked on because her face was too light or her hair was too long compared to the other black girls.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} At the age of eleven, Houston began to follow in her mothers footsteps and started performing as a soloist in the junior gospel choir at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, where she also learned to play the piano.<ref>{{cite news | title= Whitney & Bobby - Addicted to Love |date=September 2005| publisher= Vibe Magazine | url= http://www.classicwhitney.com/interview/vibe_sep2005.htm|
accessdate= 2007-03-17 | language= English }}</ref> Her first solo performance in the church was "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah". When Houston was a teenager, her parents divorced and she continued to live with her mother. She attended a Roman Catholic single-sex high school, [[Mount Saint Dominic Academy]], where she met her best friend Robyn Crawford, whom she describes as the "sister she never had." Crawford would later become Houston's personal assistant and the two of them would eventually be constantly subjected to lesbian rumors.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} While Houston was still in school, her mother continued to teach her how to sing.<ref name="Time"/> In addition to her mother, Franklin, and Warwick, Houston was also exposed to the music of [[Chaka Khan]], [[Gladys Knight]], and [[Roberta Flack]], most of which would have an impact on her as a singer and performer.<ref name=RS93>{{cite news | first= Anthony | last= DeCurtis | title= Whitney Houston: Down and Dirty |date=June 10 1993| publisher= Rolling Stone | url= http://www.classicwhitney.com/interview/rollingstone_1993.htm|
accessdate= 2007-03-17 | language= English }}</ref>
==Music career==
===Early career: 1977–1984===
Houston spent much of her teenage years touring night clubs with her mother. In [[1977]], at fourteen years of age, Houston was featured as the lead singer on the [[Michael Zager Band]]'s single "Life's a Party". Zager subsequently offered to help obtain a recording contract for the young singer, but Cissy declined, wanting her daughter to finish school first. Then in 1979, at age sixteen, Houston sang background vocals on [[Chaka Khan]]'s hit single "[[I'm Every Woman]]", a song she would later turn into a bigger hit in 1992. In the early 1980s, Houston worked as a fashion model after a photographer saw her at [[Carnegie Hall]] singing with her mother. She appeared in [[Vogue Magazine]]<ref name="Cain-1990">{{cite news | first= Joy | last= Duckett Cain | title= The Soul of Whitney |date=December 1990| publisher= Essence Magazine | url= http://www.classicwhitney.com/interview/essence_1990.htm|
accessdate= 2008-02-15 | language= English }}</ref> and became one of the first women of color to grace the cover of ''[[Seventeen (magazine)|Seventeen]]'' magazine.<ref name="salon">{{cite web | last = Traister |first = Rebecca |title = Didn't She Almost Have It All |publisher = Salon.com | date = [[2006-04-13]] |url = http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2006/04/12/whitney_houston/index.html |accessdate = 2007-12-12}}</ref> She also appeared in a [[Canada Dry]] soft drink commercial. While modeling and touring nightclubs with her mother, she continued her recording career, working with producers Michael Bienhorn, [[Bill Laswell]] and [[Martin Bisi]] on an album they were spearheading called ''One Down'', which was credited to the group [[Material (band)|Material]]. For that project, Houston contributed the ballad "Memories", which Robert Christgau of the ''[[The Village Voice]]'' called "one of the most gorgeous ballads you've ever heard".<ref>{{cite web | last = Christgau |first = Robert | author-link = Robert Christgau |title = Material |publisher = RobertChristgau.com | url = http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Material|accessdate = 2007-12-12}}</ref>
Houston had previously been offered several recording contracts (Michael Zager in [[1980]] and [[Elektra Records]] in [[1981]]). In [[1983]], Gerry Griffith, an A&R representative from [[Arista Records]], saw her performing with her mother in a [[New York City]] night club and was impressed. He convinced [[Clive Davis]], Arista's label head, to take time to see Houston perform at the nightclub. Davis too was impressed after the performance and offered her a worldwide recording contract, which Houston signed. Later in the year, she made her national televised debut alongside Davis on the ''[[The Merv Griffin Show]]''.
Houston signed with Arista in 1983 but did not began work on her album immediately. Arista put forth the deal to make sure no other label signed the singer from under them. At first, Davis had a hard time finding material for Houston to record. Many major producers passed on her.<ref name=Billboard86>{{cite news | first= Bud | last= Scoppa | title= The Long Road To Overnight Stardom |date=December 1986| publisher= Billboard Magazine" The Year In Rock '86 | url= http://www.classicwhitney.com/interview/billboard1986artistoftheyear.htm| accessdate= 2007-03-17 | language= English }}</ref> Houston first recorded a duet with [[Teddy Pendergrass]] entitled "Hold Me", which appeared on his album, ''Love Language''. The single became a Top 5 R&B hit, and would also appear on her debut album.
===Debut: 1985–1986===
[[Image:Whitney houston 1986.jpg|right|thumbnail|140px|Whitney Houston at the Garden State Arts Center in [[New Jersey]] headlining her first tour in [[1986]].]]With production from [[Michael Masser]], [[Kashif]], [[Jermaine Jackson]] and [[Narada Michael Walden]], Houston's [[Whitney Houston (album)|self-titled 1985 debut album]] was released in February 1985. ''Rolling Stone Magazine'' praised the new talent, calling her "one of the most exciting new voices in years"<ref>{{cite news | first= Don | last= Shewey | title= Whitney Houston Music Review| date=September 1985| publisher= Rolling Stone Magazine| url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/whitneyhouston/albums/album/301396/review/5943797/whitney_houston| accessdate= 2007-03-17 | language= English }}</ref> while ''The New York Times'' called the album "an impressive, musically conservative showcase for an exceptional vocal talent."<ref>{{cite news | last = Holden | first = Stephen | title = Critic's Choice; Pop Music | newspaper = New York Times | pages = A2 | year =1985 | publisher = New York Times | date = May 12 1985 accessdate =2008-03-05 }}</ref> After the dance-funk single "Someone For Me" failed to chart in both the US and UK, the album initially sold modestly and failed to make an impact. The plan was to first appeal to a black audience, hence the release of the next single, the soulful ballad "[[You Give Good Love]]", which peaked at #3 on the U.S. [[Billboard Hot 100]] while going #1 on the R&B Charts.<ref name="Billboard86"/> As a result, the album began selling and climbing the charts while Houston continued promoting the album touring night clubs in the US. With success on the R&B Charts, Davis wanted Houston to crossover to a broader audience. She began performing on popular night shows that usually weren't open to many black acts.<ref name="Soul"/> The jazz-pop ballad "[[Saving All My Love for You]]" was released next and would become Houston's first #1 hit single in both the US and the UK. She was now an opening act for singer [[Jeffrey Osborne]] on his nationwide tour. At the time, [[MTV]] had received harsh critism for not playing enough videos by African American artists while favoring rock acts.<ref>{{cite episode | title = Whitney Houston | series = Headliners And Legends | serieslink = MSNBC Headliners and Legends with Matt Lauer | airdate = 08-11-2000 | season = | number = }}</ref> The next single, "[[How Will I Know]]", peaked at #1 and would introduce Houston to the MTV audience thanks to its video. This would make the singer one of the only African American female artists to receive heavy rotation on the network.<ref name="salon"/> By [[1986]], a year after its initial release, ''Whitney Houston'' topped the [[Billboard 200]] album chart and stayed there for 14 consecutive weeks.<ref>[http://www.whitney-fan.com/music/history.shtml Chart History], Whitney-Fan.com (last visited Feb. 15, 2008).</ref> The final single, the black pride anthem "[[Greatest Love of All]]" became Houston's biggest hit at the time after peaking #1 and remaining there for three weeks. Houston had established a cross-over base and was now able to headline her own tour thus embarking on ''The Greatest Love Tour''. The album had become an international success, selling over thirteen million copies in the United States alone and becoming the best-selling debut album of all time by a female artist. To date, the album has sold approximately 25 million copies worldwide.<ref>[http://www.whitneyhouston.com Whitney Houston<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
At the 1986 Grammy Awards, Houston was nominated for three awards including ''Album of the Year''. Despite being the front runner, Houston was ineligible for ''Best New Artist'' due to her previous duet recordings in 1984.<ref>{{cite news | first= Richard | last= Harrington | title= Dire Straits Tops List for Grammy's; We are the World Wins 6 Nominations|date=January 10 1986| publisher= The Washington Post|
accessdate= 2007-03-17 | language= English }}</ref> Still, she won her first [[Grammy]] award for 'Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female' for "Saving All My Love for You". At the same award show, Houston performed her Grammy-winning hit; the performance won Houston her first and only [[Emmy]] Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program. Houston also won seven [[American Music Awards]] and an [[MTV Video Music Award]], while "Greatest Love of All" would receive a ''Record of the Year'' nomination at the 1987 Grammys. Houston's debut is currently listed as one of ''Rolling Stone's'' [[500 Greatest Albums of All Time]]<ref>{{cite news| title= The Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums of All Time | date=November 18 2003| publisher= Rolling Stone Magazine| language= English }}</ref> and on The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame's Definitive 200 list.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.definitive200.com/200_list.php |title=The Definitive 200|accessdate=2008-01-15 |format= |work=The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame|date=[[2007]] }}</ref> Whitney Houston's grand entrance into the music industry is considered one of the 25 musical milestones of the last 25 years, according to ''USA Today''.<ref>{{cite web | last=Gundersen | first=Edna | title=25 years of memorable musical moments | publisher=USA Today |url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/top25-musicmoments.htm?csp=34| accessdate = 2008-01-01 }}</ref> Following Houston's debut, other African-American female artists such as [[Janet Jackson]] and [[Anita Baker]] were able to find similar success in popular music.<ref>{{cite news | last = Rizzo | first = Frank | title = Houston Tops New Wave of Women With Pop Punch Aplenty | newspaper = Orlando Sentinel | pages = 11 | year =1987 | publisher = Orlando Sentinel | date = August 30 1987 |accessdate =2008-03-05 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Hunt | first = Dennis | title = Anita Baker: 'Most Powerful Black Woman Singer of 80s' | newspaper = San Francisco Chronicle| pages = 44 | year =1987 | publisher = San Francisco Chronicle | date = February 1 1987 |accessdate =2008-03-05 }}</ref>
===Continued success: 1987–1991===
Houston’s second album, ''[[Whitney (album)|Whitney]]'', was released in June [[1987]]. Following the same formula as her debut, the album featured productions from Masser, Kashif and Walden again, as well as [[Jellybean Benitez]]. Many critics complained that the material was too similar to her previous album, showing a lack of artistic growth. They also felt that Houston was holding back her gospel roots for disposable pop music.<ref name="Soul"/> ''Rolling Stone'' said, "the narrow channel through which this talent has been directed is frustrating."<ref>Vince Aletti, [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/whitneyhouston/albums/album/163316/review/5944404/whitney Review, ''Whitney''], ''Rolling Stone'', Aug. 13, 1987.</ref> Still, it became the first album in history by a female artist to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 in the U.S. and the UK album chart, as well as topping the charts in several countries around the world. The album's first four singles, "[[I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)]]", "[[Didn't We Almost Have It All]]", "[[So Emotional]]", and "[[Where Do Broken Hearts Go]]" all peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, which brought her a total of seven consecutive Hot 100 number-one hits, thus breaking the record of six, previously shared by [[The Beatles]] and [[The Bee Gees]]. The album's fifth, and final single, "[[Love Will Save the Day]]" also peaked in the Top 10 on the Hot 100. However, unlike her previous album, neither song topped the R&B Charts. ''Whitney'' was certified nine times platinum in America, and has sold approximately 20 million worldwide.
At the Grammy Awards in 1988, Houston was nominated for three awards including ''Album of the Year'', winning her second Grammy for 'Best Female Pop Vocal Performance' for "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)". She then embarked on the worldwide ''The Moment of Truth'' tour which made Houston one of the top ten highest grossing concert acts of 1987.<ref>MacDonald, Patrick. "U2, Bon Jovi were top concert acts of 1987". [[Seattle Times]]. [[January 15]] [[1988]]. Page 5. Retrieved [[May 16]] [[2008]].</ref> In the same year, she recorded a song for [[NBC]]'s coverage of the [[1988 Summer Olympics]], "[[One Moment in Time]]", which peaked at number five in the U.S., while reaching number one in the UK and Germany.
With the success of her first two albums, Houston was a crossover superstar. However, many black critics complained that her music was "too White" and that she was selling out.<ref name="Soul"/> Some noted that her singing on record lacked the soul that was present in her concerts.<ref name="Cain-1990" /> At the 1989 Soul Train Music Awards, when Houston's name was called out for a nomination, the audience booed her.<ref>Ralph M. Jr., "Interview with Whitney Houston", Dateline NBC, Dec. 10, 1996 (transcript available at [http://www.whitney-fan.com/nr/tv/003.shtml whitney-fan.com]).</ref> Houston spoke of the criticism and said "If you're gonna have a long career, there's a certain way to do it, and I did it that way. I'm not ashamed of it."<ref name="Cain-1990" /> However, the pop singer decided to take a more urban direction in her music. ''[[I'm Your Baby Tonight]]'', Houston’s third studio album, was released in November [[1990]]. Houston was given more control as she had a hand in production and choosing producers. As a result, the album featured productions from [[Babyface]] and [[Antonio Reid]], [[Luther Vandross]], and [[Stevie Wonder]]. The album showed Houston's versatility on a new batch of tough rhythmic grooves, soulful ballads and up-tempo dance tracks. Reviews were mixed. ''Rolling Stone'' felt it was her "best and most integrated album".<ref>James Hunter, [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/whitneyhouston/albums/album/216799/review/5946912/im_your_baby_tonight Review ''I'm Your Baby Tonight''], ''Rolling Stone'', Jan. 10, 1991.</ref> while ''Entertainment Weekly'' called Houston's shift towards an urban direction "superficial".<ref>Browne, David. [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,318684,00.html ''I'm Your Baby Tonight''], ''Entertainment Weekly'', November 23, 1990.</ref> The album peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and went on to be certified four times platinum in the U.S., selling ten million worldwide. The first two singles, the new jack swing "[[I'm Your Baby Tonight (song)|I'm Your Baby Tonight]]" and the soul ballad "[[All The Man That I Need]]" each hit number one on both the pop and R&B singles charts respectively. The third and fourth singles: "[[Miracle (Whitney Houston song)|Miracle]]", and "[[My Name Is Not Susan]]" peaked at numbers nine and twenty, respectively —the fifth single, "I Belong to You", peaked in the Top 10 on the R&B charts, while yet another single, the duet with Stevie Wonder entitled, "We Didn't Know", made the R&B Top 20.
In 1991, following her Welcome Home Heroes Concert and a performance of the National Anthem at the Super Bowl, Houston embarked ''I'm Your Baby Tonight World Tour'', which ''Rolling Stone'' poll voters voted "Worst Tour of the Year."<ref>''Rolling Stone'', December 1991 year-end issue.</ref> The tour didn't sell out as much as her previous tours.
===Hollywood success: 1992–1998 ===
[[Image:Whitneyhouston1994.jpg|left|thumbnail|140px|Whitney Houston at Ellis Park in [[Johannesburg]], [[South Africa]] in [[1994]].]]In November [[1992]], Houston made her big screen debut, opposite [[Kevin Costner]], in ''[[The Bodyguard]]'', which became a huge success at the box office thanks in large part to the accompanying soundtrack. Houston recorded six songs for the film's [[The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album|adjoining soundtrack album]], which featured productions from [[David Foster]]. The soundtrack's lead single was a cover of the [[Dolly Parton]] country hit "[[I Will Always Love You]]". Some, including Foster, were skeptical that the song would fare well at radio due to its slow, acapella beginning.<ref>{{cite video |title = The Bodyguard Special Edition | medium = DVD | publisher = Warner Home Video |date = February 1 2005 }}</ref> Still, the label took the risk and released it as the first single and it became Houston's biggest hit. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for a then-record-breaking 14 weeks and topping the charts in nearly every other country including the big markets of the UK, [[Germany]], [[France]] and [[Australia]]. The song has sold approximately ten million copies worldwide, making it the best selling single by a female solo artist. The soundtrack debuted at number 1 and remained there for twenty consecutive weeks. The follow-up singles "[[I'm Every Woman]]", a Chaka Khan cover, and "[[I Have Nothing]]" both peaked in the top five. The album was certified 17x platinum in the United States<ref>{{cite web|url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600142714,00.html|title=Soccer and music fans sound|publisher=Deseret Morning News }}</ref> with worldwide sales of forty-two million,<ref name="www.whitneyhouston.com">[http://www.whitneyhouston.com/ Whitney Houston<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and went on to become the best-selling soundtrack album ever. Houston won three Grammys for the project including two of the Academy's highest honors, [[Album of the Year]] and [[Record of the Year]]. ''Entertainment Weekly'' said the two cover songs are "artistically satisfying and uncharacteristically hip" while the rest is generic.<ref>{{cite news | first= Amy | last= Linden | title= The Bodyguard Review| date=December 4 1992| publisher= Entertainment Weekly| url= http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,312588,00.html| accessdate= 2007-03-17 | language= English }}</ref> ''Rolling Stone'' said it is "nothing more than pleasant, tasteful and urbane.".<ref>{{cite news | first= Arion | last= Berger | title= The Bodyguard Review| date=February 18 1993| publisher= Rolling Stone Magazine| url= http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/whitneyhouston/albums/album/209469/review/6210412/the_bodyguard| accessdate= 2007-03-17 | language= English }}</ref> Following the success of the project, Houston embarked on another expansive worldwide tour in [[1993]]and [[1994]].
In December [[1995]], Houston co-produced, with Babyface, the critically acclaimed cultural phenomenon ''[[Waiting to Exhale: Original Soundtrack Album]]''. Though Babyface originally wanted Houston to record the entire album, she declined. Instead, she "wanted [it] to be an album of women with vocal distinction" to go along with the film's strong women message.<ref name=prissy>{{cite news | first= Chritopher John | last= Farley | title= No More Prissy |date=December 04 1995| publisher= Time Magazine | url= http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,983795-2,00.html| accessdate= 2007-03-17 | language= English }}</ref> As a result, the album featured a range of contemporary R&B female recording artists including [[Aretha Franklin]], [[Toni Braxton]], [[Brandy Norwood|Brandy]], and [[Mary J Blige]]. Houston herself contributed three songs including the smash "[[Exhale (Shoop Shoop)]]". After debuting at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the song spent a record 11 weeks at the #2 spot. Houston also contributed two other songs: the top 10 hit "[[Count on Me]]", a duet with friend [[Cece Winans]] and the top 30 hit, "[[Why Does It Hurt So Bad]]". The album debuted at #1, has since been certified seven times platinum in America, and has sold thirteen million worldwide,<ref name="www.whitneyhouston.com" /> according to her official site. The soundtrack received strong reviews. ''Entertainment Weekly'' said "the album goes down easy, just as you'd expect from a package framed by Whitney Houston tracks....the soundtrack waits to exhale, hovering in sensuous suspense"<ref>[[Entertainment Weekly]] [[December 1]] [[1995]] pg.73</ref> and has since ranked it as one of the 100 Best Movie Soundtracks.<ref>{{cite news | first= Chris | last= Willman | title= 100 Best Movie Soundtracks| date=October 12 2001| publisher= Entertainment Weekly| url= http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,254121,00.html| accessdate= 2007-03-17 | language= English }}</ref> ''Newsday'' called it "the most significant R&B record of the decade."<ref>{{Fact|date=February 2008}}</ref>
In late [[1996]], Houston recorded, and co-produced with Mervyn Warren, the gospel ''[[The Preacher's Wife: Original Soundtrack Album]]'', six of the songs were recorded with the Georgia Mass Choir at Greater Rising Star Church in Atlanta. Unlike Houston's previous soundtracks, The Preacher's Wife featured Houston on 14 of the 15 tracks including a collaboration with gospel legend [[Shirley Caesar]]. The soundtrack sold six million copies worldwide and scored pop hits with "[[I Believe in You and Me]]" and "[[Step by Step]]", becoming the largest selling gospel album of all time. The album received mainly positive reviews. Some critics, like ''USA Today'', noted the presence of an emotional depth not always heard in her previous recordings.<ref>[http://www.whitney-fan.com/music/review/pw/012.shtml whitney-fan.com]</ref> ''The UK Times'' said "To hear Houston going at full throttle with the 35 piece Georgia Mass choir struggling to keep up is to realise, at last, what her phenomenal voice was made for."<ref>[http://www.whitney-fan.com/music/review/pw/014.shtml whitney-fan.com]</ref>
=== Back to the studio: 1998–2001 ===
[[Image:Whitney houston 1999.jpg|right|thumbnail|140px|Whitney Houston at Derby Park in [[Hamburg]], [[Germany]] during her [[1999]] "My Love Is You Love Tour".]]After spending much of the early and mid 1990s working on films, with their adjacent soundtrack albums as an outlet for new music, Houston's first studio album in eight years, the critically acclaimed ''[[My Love Is Your Love]]'' was released in November [[1998]]. Though originally slated to be a greatest hits album with a handful of new songs, recording sessions produced enough new material for a full-length studio album. Recorded and mixed in only six weeks, it featured production from [[Rodney Jerkins]], [[Wyclef Jean]] and [[Missy Elliott]]. The album had a more funkier and edgier sound than past releases and saw Houston handling urban dance, [[hip hop music|hip hop]], [[reggae]], mid-tempo [[R&B]], [[torch song]]s, and ballads all with great dexterity. The album's first single, the [[Academy Award]]-winning "[[When You Believe]]" (a duet with Mariah Carey for 1998s [[The Prince of Egypt]] soundtrack) didn't do as well as expected and only reached the Top 20 in the U.S. As a result, the album debuted at #13.<ref name="ClassicWhitney-ChartLog">[http://www.classicwhitney.com/music/charts.html Chart Log: UK/US Singles Chart], ClassicWhitney.com</ref> However, the next three singles, "[[Heartbreak Hotel (Whitney Houston song)|Heartbreak Hotel]]", which featured [[Faith Evans]] and [[Kelly Price]]; "[[It's Not Right but It's Okay]]", which won Houston her sixth [[Grammy Award]], and "[[My Love Is Your Love (song)|My Love Is Your Love]]" all reached the U.S. Top 5 and became international hits. The album's fifth single, "[[I Learned from the Best]]", peaked inside the U.S. top forty, at number twenty-seven. All singles, except "When You Believe", also became number one hits on the U.S. Dance/Clubplay Chart. The album went on to be certified four times platinum in the U.S., with worldwide sales of ten million. The album gave Houston her strongest reviews ever. ''Rolling Stone'' said Houston was singing "with a bite in her voice that she's never come close to before"<ref>Rob Sheffield, [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/whitneyhouston/albums/album/191282/review/6068334/my_love_is_your_love Album reviews: Whitney Houston, My Love Is Your Love], ''Rolling Stone'', Jan. 4, 1999.</ref> and ''The Village Voice'' called it "Whitney's sharpest and most satisfying so far".<ref>Vince Aletti, "Look Who's Ticking", ''Village Voice'' (date??), available at [http://www.classicwhitney.com/review/music/albums/village.htm classicwhitney.com].</ref> In [[1999]], Houston participated in ''[[VH1 Divas|VH-1's Divas’ Live '99]]'', alongside [[Mary J. Blige]], [[Tina Turner]], [[Cher]]. The same year, Houston hit the road with her worldwide 70 date ''My Love Is Your Love'' tour.
In April [[2000]], ''[[Whitney: The Greatest Hits]]'' was released. The double disc set peaked at number five on the Billboard Top 200, and reached number one on the UK chart. While the ballads were left unchanged, the album is notable for featuring [[house music|house]]/[[club music|club]] remixes of many of Houston's past up-tempo songs, in place of their original version. Also included on the album were four new songs: "[[Could I Have This Kiss Forever]]" (a duet with [[Enrique Iglesias]]), "[[Same Script, Different Cast]]" (a duet with [[Deborah Cox]]), "[[If I Told You That]]" (a duet with [[George Michael]]), and "[[Fine (song)|Fine]]", all of which failed to crack the Billboard Top 40. Along with the album, an accompanying DVD was also released of the music videos to Houston's greatest hits. The greatest hits album was certified triple platinum in the U.S., with worldwide sales of ten million. The same year, Houston performed on the televised special commemorating Arista Records twenty-fifth anniversary. Houston was then the first ever reciepient of the BET Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution towards black music. In August [[2001]], Houston signed the biggest record deal in music history with Arista/[[BMG]]. She renewed her contract (worth $100 million) to deliver six new albums on which she would also earn royalties. Within weeks Houston's rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner" would be re-released after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The single peaked at #6 on the singles chart.<ref name="ClassicWhitney-ChartLog" /> Houston would donate her portion of the proceeds.
===Commercial decline: 2002–2005===
In December [[2002]], Houston released her fifth studio album, ''[[Just Whitney]]''. The album included productions from then-husband [[Bobby Brown]], as well as [[Missy Elliott]], and Babyface, while marking the first time Houston did not produce with Clive Davis. It received mostly poor reviews upon release.<ref>MetaCritic.com, [http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/houstonwhitney/justwhitney "Just Whitney" by Whitney Houston] (last visited Feb. 15, 2008).</ref> ''Rolling Stone'' said the album "only shows an artist vainly trying to reach for what her future once could have been"<ref>Jon Caramanica, [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/whitneyhouston/albums/album/96850/review/6068011/just_whitney Album Reviews: Whitney Houston, ''Just Whitney''], ''Rolling Stone'', Jan. 3, 2003.</ref> while ''The San Francisco Chronicle'' said the album "shows signs of life, but not enough to declare a resurrection."<ref>{{cite news | first= Neva | last= Chonin | title= Tracks of Their Tears| date=December 11 2002| publisher= The San Francisco Chronicle| url= http://www.classicwhitney.com/review/music/albums/jwrev.htm#Post| accessdate= 2007-03-17 | language= English }}</ref> The album debuted at #9 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with the highest opening week sales of any album she had ever released. However, all of the singles, the media bashing "[[Whatchulookinat]]", "[[One of Those Days]]", and "[[Try It on My Own]]" failed to reach the top forty on the Hot 100 singles chart and the album quickly fell off the Billboard Top 200. ''Just Whitney'' would be certified platinum in the U.S. with cumulative worldwide sales of over three million, Houston's lowest sales of any studio album.
In late [[2003]], Houston released ''[[One Wish: The Holiday Album]]'', a specialty album of traditional Christmas songs. Houston produced the album with Gorden Chambers and Mervyn Warren. Some, like ''Slant Magazine'', noted a decline in her voice<ref>{{cite news | first= Sal | last= Cinquemani | title= Whitney Houston: One Wish The Holiday Album| date= 2003| publisher= Slant Magazine| url= http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=380| accessdate= 2007-03-17 | language= English }}</ref> while ''The New York Times'' praised the "lavish swoops, the sultry whispers, the gospelly asides and the meteoric crescendos."<ref>{{cite news | first= Jon | last= Pareles | title= Whitney Houston: One Wish | date= December 5 2003| publisher= New York Times| url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E07E3D6143DF936A35751C1A9659C8B63| accessdate= 2007-03-17 | language= English }}</ref> The single "[[One Wish (for Christmas)]]" reached the Top 20 on the Adult Contemporary Chart as the album sold approximately 400,000 copies in the U.S. It eventually became Houston's lowest selling album and the first not to achieve [[gold album|gold]] status in the U.S..
In [[2004]], Houston embarked on an international tour, the ''Soul Divas Tour'' with [[Natalie Cole]] and cousin Dionne Warwick in Europe, before embarking on solo dates in the [[Middle East]], [[Russia]], and [[Asia]]. In September 2004, she gave a surprise performance at the [[World Music Awards]], in tribute to long time friend Clive Davis. Houston received a thunderous standing ovation for her performance. After the show, Davis and Houston announced plans to go into studio to work on a new album.<ref>Paul Cashmere, [http://www.whitney-houston.com/news/articles/180904a.htm "Whitney Back With Clive Davis"], Pops by Paul Cashmere, Sept. 17, 2004, available at whitney-houston.com.</ref> However, no further updates would surface and no album was released due to Houston's drug problems.
===New beginnings: 2006–present===
After a successful [[Drug rehabilitation|rehabilitation]] period in [[2006]], Houston divorced [[Bobby Brown]] and gained full parental custody of their daughter, Bobbi Kristina. The singer began recuperating her career in the public eye by attending the various high profile events. Houston recorded the song "Family First" with Dionne Warwick and Cissy Houston for the soundtrack [[Daddy's Little Girls]]. In March 2007, Clive Davis announced that the singer would be heading in to the studio to record her first studio album in 4 years. Though the release date and title are yet to be determined, reported producers include [[will.i.am]],<ref name="Friedman-20070313">Roger Friedman, [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,258421,00.html "Whitney Houston Starts Work on New Album Today"], Fox News, March 13, 2007.</ref> [[Ne-Yo]],<ref name="Friedman-20070313" /> [[R. Kelly]],<ref name="Friedman-20070313" /> and [[John Legend]]<ref>Shaheem Reid & Jasmine Dotiwala, [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1554180/20070308/legend_john.jhtml "John Legend Builds Label; Hooks Up With Whitney, Jennifer Hudson"], MTV, March 9, 2007.</ref> among others.<ref>Joanna Mazewski, [http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7008880079 "Whitney Houston Stuns Guests At Swarovski Fashion Rocks Party"], AllHeadlineNews, Oct. 19, 2007.</ref>
In the meantime, Arista released ''[[The Ultimate Collection (Whitney Houston album)|The Ultimate Collection]]'' in October 2007. The compilation included, for the first time, all of Houston's hit singles on one CD. It debuted at #5 in the UK, with sales of 37,228 and peaked at #3. The compilation was not released in the U.S. and also included a bonus DVD of music videos.
In December 2007, Houston performed in [[Kuala Lumpur]], [[Malaysia]] to positive reception.<ref>[http://news.google.co.nz/news/url?sa=t&ct=nz/0-0&fp=47539bbb802c7cdf&ei=FGFTR9XKAYqsqwPexbHUCA&url=http%3A//blogs.sohh.com/ya_heard/2007/12/breaking_news_w.html&cid=0 Google News]</ref><ref>[http://news.google.co.nz/news/url?sa=t&ct=nz/1-0&fp=47539bbb802c7cdf&ei=FGFTR9XKAYqsqwPexbHUCA&url=http%3A//www.star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp%3Ffile%3D/2007/12/2/music/19643327%26sec%3Dmusic&cid=1124388722 Google News]</ref><ref>[http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=0fb9e4b0-d3dc-4c67-bae7-4adf2dd3daea&entry=index E! News]</ref>Clive Davis later announced at Billboard's Music & Money Symposium in New York that [[Whitney Houston's forthcoming album]] is going to be released around the holiday season. Davis blames the delay on the creative process, saying he and Houston were unwilling to rush out an album of substandard tracks. Davis states "We're not going to compromise who she is to fit into today's hip-hop radio market. The public wants Whitney material."
In May 2008, Houston performed at the Mawazine festival in Rabat, Morocco, which again resulted in positive reception.
==Film and television career==
During the early-mid 1980s, as Houston was trying to launch a music career, she auditioned for acting roles; including the part of Sondra Huxtable on ''[[The Cosby Show]]'', which eventually went to [[Sabrina Le Beauf]]. In 1984, Houston appeared on an episode of ''[[Gimme a Break]]'', and an episode of ''[[Silver Spoons]]'' in 1985.
With the huge success of her first two albums, movie offers came from [[Robert De Niro]], [[Quincy Jones]], and [[Spike Lee]], though she felt the time wasn't right.<ref name="Norment-1991">Lynn Norment, [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n7_v46/ai_10640593/pg_1 Whitney Houston talks about the men in her life - and the rumors, lies and insults that are the high price of fame - interview], ''Ebony'', May 1991.</ref> Houston’s first film role was in ''[[The Bodyguard]]'', released in 1992 and co-starring Kevin Costner. Houston plays Rachel Marron, a star who is stalked by a crazed fan that hires a bodyguard to protect her. The film was successful at the box office, grossing more than $121 million in the U.S. and $410 million worldwide thanks in large to the success of Houston's soundtrack to the film. It is currently among the top 100 highest grossing films worldwide<ref>[http://imdb.com/boxoffice/alltimegross?region=world-wide IMDB]</ref> and ''USA Today'' listed it as one of the 25 most memorable movie moments of the last 25 years.<ref>Susan Wloszczyna, [http://www.usatoday.com/life/top25-movies.htm "Hollywood highlights: 25 movies with real impact"], ''USA Today'', 2007.</ref> The movie is also notable for not mentioning or explaining its interracial aspect. Houston's mainstream appeal allowed people to look at the movie color-blind.<ref>[http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,305461_4,00.html "Pregnant Pause"]. [[Entertainment Weekly]].[[1993]]. Retrieved [[March 12]] [[2006]].</ref> Still, controversy arose as some felt the film's ads intentionally hid Houston's face to hide the film's interracial aspect. In an interview with ''Rolling Stone Magazine'' in 1993, the singer commented that "people know who Whitney Houston is—I'm black. You can't hide that fact."<ref name="RS93"/> Despite the film's success, the reviews were mixed, and Houston received a [[Razzie Award]] nomination for Worst Actress. ''The Washington Post'' said Houston is "doing nothing more than playing Houston, comes out largely unscathed if that is possible in so cockamamie an undertaking"<ref>Rita Kempley, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/thebodyguardrkempley_a0a2f7.htm "The Bodyguard"], ''Washington Post'', Nov. 25, 1992.</ref> and ''The New York Times'' said she lacked passion with her co-star.<ref>New York Times, November 25 1992</ref>
In 1995, Houston starred alongside [[Angela Bassett]], [[Loretta Devine]], and [[Lela Rochon]] in the film ''[[Waiting to Exhale]]'', about four African-American women struggling with relationships. Houston plays the lead character Savannah Jackson, a TV producer who moves to Phoenix to find a new man, but ends up in love with a married man. It marked Houston's first time portraying a character who isn't a singer. She chose to role because she saw the film as "a breakthrough for the image of black women because it presents them both as professionals and as caring mothers".<ref name=prissy/> The movie and its soundtrack struck a chord with African American women and is considered a cultural classic. After opening at #1 and grossing $67 million in the U.S. at the box office and $82 million worldwide, it proved that a movie targeting black audiences can cross over to a white audience and make money, while paving the way for other all black movies such as ''[[How Stella Got Her Groove Back]]'' and the [[Tyler Perry]] movies that have become popular in the 2000s.<ref>[http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC/africanambib2.html African American Filmmakers, African American Films: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Library], UC Berkeley Library (last visited Feb. 15, 2008).</ref><ref>Rebecca Ascher-Walsh, [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,284411,00.html "Back in the Groove?"], ''Entertainment Weekly'', Aug. 14, 1998.</ref><ref>Nicole LaPorte, [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117918919.html?categoryid=1055&cs=1 "Diary of a Mad Niche Hit"], ''Variety'', March 6, 2005.</ref> The film is also notable for its portrayal of black women as strong middle class citizens as oppose to their usual stereotypes.<ref>{{cite news | first= Jack E. | last= White | title= Heavy Breathing |date=January 15 1996| publisher= Time Magazine | url= http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,983966,00.html| accessdate= 2007-03-17 | language= English }}</ref> The reviews were mainly positive for the ensemble cast. ''The New York Times'' said "Ms. Houston has shed the defensive hauteur that made her portrayal of a pop star in "The Bodyguard" seem so distant."<ref>New York Times, December 22 1995</ref> Houston was nominated for an [[NAACP Image Award]] for Outstanding Actress In A Motion Picture, but lost to her co-star Basset.
In 1996, Houston starred in the holiday comedy ''[[The Preacher's Wife]]'', with [[Denzel Washington]]. She plays a gospel-singing wife of a Reverand. Houston earned $10 million for the role, making her one of the highest paid actress in Hollywood at the time and the highest earning African American actress.<ref>Laurence, Charles. [http://www.classicwhitney.com/interview/dailytelegraph_1996.htm "The Arts: The gospel according to Whitney"], [[The Daily Telegraph]], [[December 14]] [[1996]]. Retrieved on 2008-01-01</ref> Despite the success of ''Waiting To Exhale'', the movie's star power, and Disney's high budget, many predicted the movie would not be a success due to its all black cast.<ref>{{cite news | first= Kim | last= Masters | title= Testing The Faith |date=December 16 1996| publisher= Time Magazine | url= http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,985708-2,00.html| accessdate= 2007-03-17 | language= English }}</ref> The movie was a moderate success, earning approximately $50 million at the U.S. box offices.<ref>IMDB, [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117372/business Box office / business for "The Preacher's Wife"] (last visited Feb. 15, 2008).</ref> Still, the movie gave Houston her strongest reviews so far. ''The San Francisco Chronicle'' said Houston "is rather angelic herself, displaying a divine talent for being virtuous and flirtatious at the same time" and that she "exudes gentle yet spirited warmth, especially when praising the Lord in her gorgeous singing voice."<ref>Peter Stack, [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1996/12/13/DD36582.DTL Human Comedy's Divine in 'Preacher's Wife'], ''San Francisco Chronicle'', Dec. 13, 1996.</ref> Houston won an [[NAACP Image Award]] for Outstanding Actress In A Motion Picture for the role, her first award for her acting.
In 1997, Houston's production company changed it's name to BrownHouse Productions and was joined by [[Debra Martin Chase]]. Their goal was "to show aspects of the lives of African-Americans that have not been brought to the screen before" while improving how African-Americans are portrayed in film and television.<ref name=brownhouse>[http://www.classicwhitney.com/interview/ebony_nov1997.htm Whitney scores as producer and star]. Ebony Magazine. [[November]], [[1997]]. Retrieved on 2008-05-25.</ref> Their first project was a made-for-television remake of [[Rodgers & Hammerstein]]'s ''[[Cinderella (TV)|Cinderella]]''. In addition to co-producing, Houston starred in the movie as the Fairy Godmother along with [[Brandy Norwood|Brandy]], [[Jason Alexander]], [[Whoopi Goldberg]], and [[Bernadette Peters]]. Houston was initially offered the role of Cinderella in 1993, but other projects intervened and CBS lost interest.<ref>Todd S. Purdum, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D03E0DD1231F931A35752C1A961958260&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/H/Houston,%20Whitney "Television; The Slipper Still Fits, Though the Style Is New"], ''New York Times'', Nov. 2, 1997.</ref> The film featured a multiracial cast and Houston said the ultimate message was that "African-American girls and women are princesses just as much as White girls and those of other ethnicities, and that they too can fulfill their dreams."<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n1_v53/ai_20013879 "Whitney & Brandy in 'Cinderella.' - updated version of 'Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella' - includes related article on producer and actress Whitney Houston"], ''Ebony'', Nov. 1997.</ref> An estimated 60 million viewers tuned into the special giving ABC its highest TV ratings in 16 years.<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_n1_v93/ai_20136070 "'Cinderella' TV movie special produces spectacular rating for ABC - interracial version of 'Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella' - Brief Article"], ''Jet'', Nov. 24, 1997.</ref> The movie received seven [[Emmy]] nominations including Outstanding Variety, Musical or Comedy, while winning Outstanding Art Direction in a Variety, Musical or Comedy Special.<ref>[http://www.classicwhitney.com/newsfile/reports/movienews/cinderella/emmys23jul1998.htm| Classic Whitney]</ref>
Houston and Chase then obtained the rights to the story of [[Dorothy Dandridge]]. Houston was to play Dandridge, who was the first African American actress to be nominated for an Oscar. She wanted the story told with dignity and honor.<ref name=brownhouse/> However, [[Halle Berry]] also had rights to the project and she got her version going first.<ref>[http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1430186/19970409/houston_whitney.jhtml| Whitney Houston To Take On "Christie Love"]. ''MTV News''. April 9 1997.</ref> Houston and Chase, along with [[Warner Brothers]], were then set to produce a remake of the 1976 film [[Sparkle]] about a 1960s singing group of three sisters in Harlem. [[Aaliyah]], who was to star in the remake, was killed in a plane crash in 2001 before production began.<ref>Bautz, Mark."[http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,172512,00.html| Obituary]". ''Entertainment Weekly''. August 26, 2001.</ref>
In 2005, husband Bobby Brown starred in his own reality TV program ''[[Being Bobby Brown]]'' (on the [[Bravo (US TV channel)|Bravo network]]), which provided a view into the domestic goings-on in the Brown household. Though it was Brown's vehicle, Houston was a prominent figure throughout the show. The series featured Houston at her lowest moments and many wondered why she took part in it.<ref name="Shales-20050629">Tom Shales, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/29/AR2005062902741.html "Bobby Brown Invites Himself Into Your Living Room"], ''Washington Post'', June 29, 2005.</ref> ''Slant Magazine'' said "it's just an excuse to get [Whitney] on camera while she's ripped out of her mind."<ref>Sal Cinquemani, [http://www.slantmagazine.com/tv/tv_review.asp?ID=6 "Being Bobby Brown"], ''Slant Magazine'', July 1, 2005.</ref> ''Hollywood Reporter'' said it was "undoubtedly the most disgusting and execrable series ever to ooze its way onto television"<ref>Barry Garron, [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8409211/ "'Being Bobby Brown' Is Disgusting"], MSNBC, July 7, 2005.</ref> and ''The Washington Post'' said "Their lives seem sad much of the time, yet never rise to the status of tragedy."<ref name="Shales-20050629" /> Despite the train wreck nature of the show, the series gave Bravo its highest ratings in its time slot.<ref>Steve Rogers, [http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/report-bravo-being-bobby-brown-coming-back-for-second-season-3794.php "Report: Bravo's 'Being Bobby Brown' coming back for second season"], RealityTV World, Oct. 31, 2005.</ref> The show was canceled after the first season due to low demand after the couple split and Houston no longer appeared in the show.<ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=7&entry_id=12515 "Brown Reality Show Cancelled"], ''SFGate'', The Daily Dish, Jan. 10, 2007.</ref>
Of late, Houston has served as an executive producer of many successful Hollywood films including the [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]] films ''[[The Princess Diaries (film)|The Princess Diaries]]'', ''[[The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement]]'', and the Disney made-for-television films ''[[The Cheetah Girls (film)|The Cheetah Girls]]'' and ''[[The Cheetah Girls 2]]''.
==Personal life==
===Marriage to Bobby Brown===
<!-- removing replaceable non-free image [[Image:Whitney-bobby.jpg|right|thumb|Whitney and Bobby in 1994.{{ifdc|Image:Whitney-bobby.jpg|log=2007 August 6}}]] -->
Throughout the '80s, Houston was romantically linked to [[American football]] star [[Randall Cunningham]] and actor [[Eddie Murphy]], whom she dated.<ref name="Norment-1991" /> She was also romantically linked to her long-time friend and female assistant Robyn Crawford, but continuously denied the lesbian rumors.<ref name="RS93"/> Houston then met R&B singer [[Bobby Brown]] at the [[1989]] [[Soul Train Music Awards]]. After a three year courtship, the two were married on [[July 18]], 1992. Many were surprised at the pairing and felt that the [[New Edition]] singer would be a bad influence on Houston. Brown had numerous run-ins with the law and already had 3 kids with different women while Houston was considered a good church girl.<ref name="RS93"/> Many felt that the marriage was an attempt for Houston to get street credibility after being under fire from black critics.<ref name="Sawyer-Houston-Interview-2002">[[Diane Sawyer]], Interview, ABC Primetime, Dec. 4, 2002 (transcript available at [http://www.whitney-fan.com/nr/tv/015.shtml whitney-fan.com]).</ref> Despite their differences in image, Houston gave birth to their child, daughter Bobbi Kristina Houston Brown on [[March 4]], [[1993]] after a miscarriage the year before.<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_n13_v86/ai_15713652 Whitney Houston Suffers a Miscarriage], ''Jet'', Aug. 1, 1994.</ref> Throughout the 90s Brown continued to get in trouble with the law including sexual harassment, drunk driving, assault charges and even jail time<ref>Rob Kenner, [http://www.vibe.com/news/online_exclusives/2006/09/when_bobby_met_whitney_the_timeline/ When Bobby Met Whitney: The Timeline], ''Vibe'', Sept. 5, 2006.</ref> while Houston suffered another miscarriage in 1996.<ref>Sheri & Bob Stritof, [http://marriage.about.com/od/entertainmen1/a/whitneyhouston.htm Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown Marriage Profile], About.com: Marriage (last visited Feb. 15, 2008).</ref> In the 2000s, Brown continued to find trouble while the drug rumors began for Houston. In December 2003 Brown was arrested and charged with battery after an altercation with Houston after it was reported that he hit her.<ref>CNN, [http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/12/10/brown.charged/index.html "Bobby Brown Charged with Battery"], Dec. 10, 2003.</ref>
With a history of infidelity, scandals, drug and alcohol arrests, and marital problems, Houston finally filed for separation from Brown in September 2006 following trips to rehab. The following month, on [[October 16]], [[2006]], Houston filed for divorce from Brown.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,213689,00.html|title=Whitney Houston Files for Divorce From Bobby Brown|date=[[September 13]], [[2006]]|author=Associated Press}}</ref> On [[February 1]], [[2007]] Houston asked the court to [[fast track]] their divorce. The divorce became finalized on [[April 24]], [[2007]], with Houston granted custody of the couple's daughter.
On [[April 26]], [[2007]], Brown filed court papers with the Orange County Superior Court to set aside the divorce judgement that ended his marriage to Houston. In the filing, he claims the marriage was ended under false pretenses and sought [[child support]], possible [[Alimony|spousal support]], and a change in the judgement that gave full custody of their daughter to Houston. The papers also claim that Brown was essentially homeless at one point and severely depressed during that time. A court hearing was set for June 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.celebtv.com|title=Whtiney Bombshell}}</ref> At the court hearing on [[January 4]], [[2008]], Brown failed to show up at the scheduled court date. As a result of this, the judge dismissed his appeal to overrule Houston's custody terms, leaving Houston will full custody and Brown with no custody or spousal support.<ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=7&entry_id=23236 Brown Cannot Overturn Houston Divorce Terms After Court No-Show], "The Daily Dish!", ''SFGate'', Jan. 7, 2008.</ref> Brown also was fired by his lawyers after a "breakdown of communication", leaving him without an attorney.
===Drug and health issues===
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There is a discussion on the talk page about the validity of including the allegations of her crack addiction. Please contribute to it on that page before blanking this section. -- richfife
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[[Image:Whitney Houston at MJ Concert 2001.jpg|right|thumbnail|140px|Houston's appearance at The Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Show in 2001 further spurred rumors of drug and health problems.]]Though Houston was seen as a good girl with a perfect image in the '80s and early '90s, during the late '90s many noted a change in her behavior. She was often hours late for interviews, photo shoots, rehearsals, and canceled concerts and talk-show appearances.<ref>[http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/whitneyhouston/biography Whitney Houston Biography], ''Rolling Stone'' (last visited Feb. 15, 2008).</ref><ref name="McShane-20000406">Larry McShane, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/digest/ent3.htm "Whitney Houston Gets Bad Press"], ''Washington Post'', April 6, 2000.</ref> With the missed performances and weight loss people began to wonder if something was wrong while rumors began that there was drug use with her husband. On January 11, 2000, airport security discovered marijuana in the luggage of both Houston's and husband Bobby Brown's luggage at a Hawaiian airport, but the two boarded the plane and departed before authorities could arrive. Charges were later dropped against her and Brown as she later pleaded no contest to a possession charge and was ordered to pay £2,100 to a youth-orientated anti-drug program in place of community service,<ref>TCM Breaking News, [http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2001/09/11/story23275.asp "Fears for Whitney Houston Grow"], Sept. 11, 2001.</ref> but rumors of drug usage among the couple would continue to surface. Two months later, Clive Davis was inducted into the [[Rock & Roll Hall of Fame]]. Houston was scheduled to perform and honor the man that helped launch her career, but she canceled ten minutes before the show.<ref name="Dansby-20000607">Andrew Dansby, [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/whitneyhouston/articles/story/5924161/whitney_insider_tells_of_drug_use_failed_intervention "Whitney Insider Tells of Drug Use, Failed Intervention"], ''Rolling Stone'', June 7, 2000.</ref> Shortly after, Houston was scheduled to perform at the Academy Awards but was fired from the event by musical director and long time friend [[Burt Bacharach]]. Though her publicist cited throat problems as the reason for the cancellation, many speculated it was drugs. In Steve Pond's book "The Big Show: High Times And Dirty Dealings Backstage At The Academy Awards", it was revealed that "Houston's voice was shaky, she seemed distracted and jittery, and her attitude was casual, almost defiant" and that while Houston was to sing "Over The Rainbow", she would start singing a different song.<ref>Movie & TV News @ IMDB.com, [http://www.imdb.com/news/wenn/2004-12-23#celeb5 "Houston's Oscar Confusion"], Dec. 23, 2004.</ref> Houston herself would later admit to being fired.<ref name="Sawyer-Houston-Interview-2002"/> In an interview with Jane Magazine, Houston reportedly arrived late, seemed unfocused, had trouble keeping her eyes open, and played an imaginary piano.<ref name="McShane-20000406" /> Later that year, Houston's long time executive assistant and best friend Robyn Crawford resigned from Houston's management company.<ref name="Dansby-20000607"/>
The next year, Houston made an appearance at [[Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special]]. Her shockingly thin frame further spurred rumors of drug use, anorexia, and bulimia. Her publicist said "Whitney has been under stress due to family matters, and when she is under stress she doesn't eat."<ref name=abcnews>{{cite news | first= Sharon | last= Knolle | title= Reports of Whitney Houston's Death Denied |date=September 13 2001 | publisher= ABC News | url= http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=102477&page=1| accessdate= 2007-03-17 | language= English }}</ref> The singer was scheduled for a second performance the following night but canceled without explanation.<ref>Lynette Holloway, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9406E2D91231F932A25752C1A9649C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print "In Switch, Whitney Houston Has to Sell an Album"], ''New York Times'', Nov. 11, 2002.</ref> Shortly after, rumors began that the troubled singer had died of a drug overdose. The rumor was quickly denied by Houston's camp.<ref name="abcnews"/>
In late 2002, Houston did an interview with [[Diane Sawyer]].<ref name="Sawyer-Houston-Interview-2002"/> During the prime time special, the defiant and erratic Houston spoke on various topics including her rumored drug abuse and marriage to Bobby Brown. When Sawyer showed Houston the photo of her appearance at the Michael Jackson Show, the singer replied "Well, that's a bad shot."<ref name="Sawyer-Houston-Interview-2002"/> She was asked about the ongoing drug rumors and replied "First of all, let's get one thing straight. [[Crack cocaine|Crack]] is cheap. I make too much money to ever smoke crack. Let's get that straight. Okay? We don't do crack. We don't do that. Crack is wack."<ref name="Sawyer-Houston-Interview-2002"/> The line would become infamous. Houston admitted to using various substances at times and that she partied. When asked if Brown ever hit her, she replied, with Brown by her side "No, he's never hit me, no. I've hit him, in anger."<ref name="Sawyer-Houston-Interview-2002"/>
Houston entered drug rehabilitation facilities in March 2004, but the following year appeared in Brown's reality TV series displaying more erratic behavior. In March 2005, Houston reentered the same drug rehab successfully completing the program. Though odd reports surface that the singer is still using drugs, her record label insists that Houston is off the drugs.<ref>Roger Friedman, [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,272382,00.html Record Company: Whitney Houston Is Straight as an Arrow], Fox News, May 15, 2007.</ref> Recently, the singer has slowly been making her way back into the public eye looking healthy and clean.
=== John Houston dispute ===
In 2002, Houston became involved in a legal dispute with her father, and one-time manager, John Houston. John Houston Enterprise, run by company president and family friend Kevin Skinner, filed a [[breach-of-contract]] [[lawsuit]] and sued for $100 million (but lost); stating that she owed his company previously unpaid compensation for helping to negotiate her $100 million contract with Arista Records and for sorting out her legal problems involving her drug bust at a Hawaiin Airport in 2000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1458015/20021008/houston_whitney.jhtml?headlines=true |title=Whitney Houston Sued For $100 Million By Dad's Company |accessdate=2008-01-15 |format= |work=MTV.com |date=[[October 8]] [[2002]]}}</ref> The singer's publicitst claimed that Houston's 81 year old father had nothing to do with the lawsuit, but Skinner claimed otherwise.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_19_102/ai_93457202 |title=Whitney Houston is sued for $100 million by her father's entertainment company - Entertainment |accessdate=2008-01-15 |format= |work=Jet Magazine |date=[[October 28]] [[2002]]}}</ref> Houston's father, who was ill at the time, died in February 2003 though the singer did not attend the funeral.<ref>Friedman, Roger. [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,78063,00.html Whitney and Bobby No-Shows at Dad's Funeral] FOXNews.com. February 10 2003</ref> The lawsuit was dismissed on April 5, 2004, after Skinner failed to participate in pre-trial discovery.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3628169.stm |title=Judge throws out Houston lawsuit |accessdate=2008-01-15 |format= |work=BBC News |date=[[April 15]] [[2004]]}}</ref>
==Philantropy==
In 1989, Houston formed The Whitney Houston Foundation For Children, a non-profit organization that has raised funds for the needs of children around the world. The organization cares for homelessness, children with cancer and AIDS, and other issues of self-empowerment.<ref>[http://www.whfoundation.com/ Whitney Houston Foundation for Children]</ref> In 1995, Houston's organization was awarded a VH1 Honor for all the charitable work. In 1997, Houston paid tribute to her idols such as Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, and Billie Holliday by performing their hits during the three night HBO Concert "Classic Whitney" live from Washington DC. The special raised over $300000 for the Children's Defense Fund.<ref>[http://www.whitneyhouston.com/bio.html WhitneyHouston.com]</ref>
Houston was a supporter of Nelson Mandela and the anti-apartheid movement. During her modelling days, the singer refused to work with any agencies who did business with a then apartheid South Africa. In 1988, Houston joined other musicians to perform a set at Wembley Stadium in London to celebrate a then imprisoned Nelson Mandela's 70th birthday. Over 72,000 people filled Wembley Stadium, and over a billion people tuned in worldwide as the rock concert raised over $1 million for charities while bringing awareness to apartheid. Houston dedicated the gospel song "He I Believe" to Mandela and his people.<ref>Watrous, Peter. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE2DF1F38F930A25755C0A96E948260 Pop Music's Homage to Mandela ] ''The New York Times''. June 13 1988.</ref> In 1994, at the end of The Bodyguard Tour, Houston performed 3 concerts in South Africa, playing to over 200,000 people. This would make the singer the first musician to visit the newly unified and apartheid free nation following Mandela's winning election. The funds of the concerts were donated to various charities in South Africa.<ref>[http://whfan.free.fr/other94sa.htm AllWhitney.com]</ref>
Houston has also contributed to the Red Cross. Houston performed "[[The Star Spangled Banner]]" at [[Super Bowl XXV]] in January [[1991]]. Her recording of the song was released as a commercial single, reaching the top twenty on the U.S. Hot 100, and making her the only artist to turn the national anthem into a chart hit. (Ten years later, the song was re-released after the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], this time peaking becoming a Top 10 hit.) Houston donated her share of the proceeds to the [[American Red Cross]]. This legendary performance of the national anthem was named number one in the [[NFL]]'s 2003 list of Top 25 greatest moments in NFL history.{{Fact|date=March 2007}} VH1 also listed it as the 12th greatest moment that rocked TV.<ref>[http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/the_greatest/63773/episode_wildcard.jhtml?wildcard=/shows/dynamic/includes/wildcards/the_greatest/rocked_tvmoments/complete_list_20.jhtml&event_id=63773 vh1]</ref> Houston then performed her Welcome Home Heros concert for the soldiers fighting in the Gulf War.
Like many African American artists, Houston has contributed to the United Negro College Fund. One of Houston's first gigs before being discovered was at a UNCF benefit backing up her mother in the early 1980s. Houston has since appeared at UNCF telethons and specials in 1988, 1989, and 2001. As a result, UNCF has awarded the singer with the Frederick D. Patterson Award for her donations.<ref>[http://www.whitney-fan.com/titles/charity.shtml Whitneyfan.com]</ref>
==Awards==
{{Main article|List of Whitney Houston awards}}
==Discography==
{{main|Whitney Houston discography}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=== Studio Albums ===
* 1985: ''[[Whitney Houston (album)|Whitney Houston]]''
* 1987: ''[[Whitney (album)|Whitney]]''
* 1990: ''[[I'm Your Baby Tonight]]''
* 1998: ''[[My Love Is Your Love]]''
* 2002: ''[[Just Whitney]]''
* 2003: ''[[One Wish: The Holiday Album]]''
* 2008: ''[[Whitney Houston's forthcoming album]]''
=== Soundtracks ===
* 1992: ''[[The Bodyguard (soundtrack)|The Bodyguard]]''
* 1995: ''[[Waiting to Exhale (soundtrack)|Waiting to Exhale]]''
* 1996: ''[[The Preacher's Wife (soundtrack)|The Preacher's Wife]]''
=== Compilations ===
* 2000: ''[[Whitney: The Greatest Hits]]''
* 2001: ''[[Love, Whitney]]''
* 2004: ''Artist Collection: Whitney Houston''
* 2007: ''[[The Ultimate Collection (Whitney Houston album)|The Ultimate Collection]]''
{{col-2}}
=== Videos/DVDs ===
*1986: ''Number One Video Hits''
*1991: ''Star Spangled Banner''
*1991: ''Welcome Home Heroes''
*1994: ''Concert for a New South Africa''
*1997: ''Classic Whitney Concert''
*1999: ''[[VH1 Divas Live]] '99''
*2000: ''The Greatest Hits''
*2000: ''[[Fine (song)|Fine]]''
*2002: ''Whatchulookinat Video/Whatchulookinat Behind-the-Scenes Footage/Love to Infinity Megamix Video''
*2004: ''Artist Collection: Whitney Houston''
{{col-end}}
== Filmography ==
{|class="wikitable"
! Year || Title || Role || Notes
|-
| 1984 || ''[[Gimme a Break!]]'' || Rita ||"Katie's College" (Season 3, Episode 20)
|-
| 1992 || ''[[The Bodyguard]]'' || Rachel 'Rach' Marron || Main Role
|-
| 1995 || ''[[Waiting to Exhale]]'' || Savannah 'Vannah' Jackson || Main Role
|-
| 1996 || ''[[The Preacher's Wife]]'' || Julia Biggs || Main Role
|-
| 1997 || ''[[Cinderella (TV)#1997 version|Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella]]'' || Fairy Godmother ||made for television ([[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]])
|-
|}
'''As Producer'''
{|class="wikitable"
! Year || Title || Notes
|-
| 1997 || ''[[Cinderella (TV)#1997 version|Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella]]'' || executive producer
|-
| 2001 || ''[[The Princess Diaries]]'' || producer
|-
| 2003 || ''[[The Cheetah Girls (film)|The Cheetah Girls]]'' || executive producer
|-
| 2004 || ''[[The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement]]'' || producer
|-
| 2006 || ''[[The Cheetah Girls 2 ]]'' || executive producer
|-
|}
==Tours==
*1986: ''[[Greatest Love Tour]]''
*1987: ''[[Moment of Truth World Tour]]''
*1991: ''[[I'm Your Baby Tonight World Tour]]''
*1993: ''The Whitney Houston World Tour''
*1999: ''[[My Love Is Your Love World Tour]]''
==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last=Bowman |first=Jeffrey |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Diva: The Totally Unauthorized Biography of Whitney Houston |year= 1995|publisher=[[Harpercollins]] |location= |id=ISBN 978-0061008535 }}
* {{cite book |last=Ammons |first=Kevin |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Good Girl, Bad Girl: An Insider's Biography of Whitney Houston |year= 1996|publisher=[[Citadel Press]] |location= |id=ISBN 978-1559723794 }}
* {{cite book |last=Parish |first=James Robert |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Whitney Houston: The Biography |year= 2003|publisher=[[Aurum Press]] |location= |id=ISBN 978-1854109217 }}
==See also==
*[[Whitney Houston chart records and achievements]]
*[[List of Whitney Houston awards]]
*[[Grammy nominations for Whitney Houston]]
*[[List of artists by total number of USA number one singles]]
*[[American Music Award nominations for Whitney Houston]]
*[[List of best-selling music artists]]
*[[List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)]]
*[[List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart]]
==References==
===Footnotes===
{{reflist|2}}
===Additional references===
{{refbegin}}
*[http://www.breakinglegalnews.com/entry/Whitney-Houston-wins-custody-of-daughter "Whitney Houston wins custody of daughter"],BLN - People in the News, 2007-04-05
*Roger Friedman, [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,66212,00.html "Whitney's New Album Leaked One Month Early"], Fox News, Oct. 21, 2002
{{refend}}
== External links ==
* [http://www.whitneyhouston.com/ Official website]
* {{imdb name|id=0001365|name=Whitney Houston}}
* [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/whitneyhouston Whitney Houston] at ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
* [http://www.myspace.com/fansofwhitney UnOfficial Whitney Houston Fan Site]
{{EmmyAward VarietyPerformance 1976-2000}}
{{Whitney Houston}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Houston, Whitney}}
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