Whitney Houston, Superstar of Records, Films, Dies

Whitney Houston, who reigned as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died. She was 48.

Publicist Kristen Foster said Saturday that the singer had died, but the cause and the location of her death were unknown.

At her peak, Houston 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 he 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.

"The biggest devil is me. I'm either my best friend or my worst enemy," Houston told ABC's Diane Sawyer in an infamous 2002 interview with then-husband Brown by her side.

It was a tragic fall for a superstar who was one of the top-selling artists in pop music history, with more than 55 million records sold in the United States alone.

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. The criticism would become a constant refrain through much of her career. She was even booed during the "Soul Train Awards" in 1989.

"Sometimes it gets down to that, you know?" she told Katie Couric in 1996. "You're not black enough for them. I don't know. You're not R&B enough. You're very pop. The white audience has taken you away from them."

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.) Over the years, he would be arrested several times, on charges ranging from DUI to failure to pay child support.

But Houston said their true personalities were not as far apart as people may have believed.

"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 would go to rehab twice before she would declare herself drug-free to Winfrey in 2010. But in the interim, there were missed concert dates, a stop at an airport due to drugs, and public meltdowns.

She was so startlingly thin during a 2001 Michael Jackson tribute concert that rumors spread she had died the next day. Her crude behavior and jittery appearance on Brown's reality show, "Being Bobby Brown," was an example of her sad decline. Her Sawyer interview, where she declared "crack is whack," was often parodied. She dropped out of the spotlight for a few years.

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. Canceled concert dates raised speculation that she may have been abusing drugs, but she denied those claims and said she was in great shape, blaming illness for cancellations.

Comments Page: 1 2 3 4 posted on 02-11-2012, 20:05:34 PM Bill Carson Whitney Houston is dead! Breaking News: Whitney Houston is dead! posted on 02-11-2012, 20:09:23 PM Iye Re: Whitney Houston is dead! OMG..why? what happened? posted on 02-11-2012, 20:13:49 PM Big-K Whitney Houston Dead at 48 Breaking News. Details forthcoming posted on 02-11-2012, 20:29:42 PM M. Akosa Re: Whitney Houston Dies at 48 May her soul rest in peace. What a shining bright star that has gone too soon ! posted on 02-11-2012, 20:31:43 PM Anonimi Re: Whitney Houston is dead! Sad but confirmed: QUOTE: Whitney Houston has died. She was 48. The singing superstar's publicist Kristen Foster said Saturday that Houston died, but did not reveal the cause of death. People.com Sad waste of a bright life! posted on 02-11-2012, 20:32:28 PM Shinycoin Re: Whitney Houston Dies at 48 Na wa o!!!!!! What kind of life is this? Why would one die at the point where they're supposed to be enjoying the fruits of their labour? These Hollywood types and their lifestyle are really amazing. Rest in Peace Whitey!!! She was my companion, music-wise for many, many years and i could never get enough of her. She was about the best thing that ever happened to music!! She had the best soul voice and when she opened her mouth to sing, the world stood still, listened and acknowledged her genius. Rest in peace.... she hardly knew peace in this world. i hope she finds it in the next! posted on 02-11-2012, 20:43:26 PM Tonsoyo Re: Whitney Houston Dies at 48 It hurts...I loved Whitney! RIP Whitney! posted on 02-11-2012, 20:47:25 PM Lalakokofefe Re: Whitney Houston Dies at 48 Hooking up with Bobby was her waterloo. Shame shame shame..... O ma se o! LKF posted on 02-11-2012, 20:48:18 PM Lalakokofefe Re: Whitney Houston Dies at 48 Kai! I always rooted for her.... LKF posted on 02-11-2012, 21:08:51 PM Auspicious Re: Whitney Houston Dies at 48 QUOTE: Hooking up with Bobby was her waterloo. Shame shame shame..... O ma se o! LKF LOL! I was waiting for that to come. Only I didn't think it would come from LalaKokoFefe. Like, yeah, Whitney was a baby who didn't know any better when she met Bobby, eh? Nah! The old girl even acknowledged she was the architect of her own undoing back then: "The biggest devil is me; I am either my biggest friend or my worst enemy," she once said. -- posted on 02-11-2012, 21:14:06 PM Bill Carson Re: Whitney Houston Dies at 48 Crack is wack! posted on 02-11-2012, 21:27:14 PM Marin Re: Whitney Houston Dies at 48 Apparently she was the one who introduced Bobby to hardcore drugs, which she had been doing way before him- just read this on another site. That doesnt make her demise less sad - RIP Whitney. Such a sad way to end an iconic life. posted on 02-11-2012, 21:34:08 PM First-lady Re: Whitney Houston Dies at 48 I was really rooting for her in this 2009 Album and hoped she will come back up This is sad I loved her Still do RIP in the bosom of our Savior whom you confessed as your Lord and Master, Ms Whitney The song now makes me cry. Vanity Vanity,everything is vanity posted on 02-11-2012, 21:39:59 PM Stickky Re: Whitney Houston Dies at 48 So, where do broken lives go? posted on 02-11-2012, 22:05:09 PM First-lady Re: Whitney Houston Dies at 48 CNN says she died in a hotel room where she was in preparation for the grammy's this weekend Police say no physical evidence of drug use and no foul play evident. Toxicology reports awaited This is so sad I have listened to the above song 10 times now She was really trying so hard to put her life together 48 is such a young age to die posted on 02-11-2012, 22:39:26 PM Dallasite Re: Whitney Houston Dies at 48 Another price of fame. So you wanna be famous? Rest in peace posted on 02-12-2012, 00:36:29 AM Beam Re: Whitney Houston Dies at 48 May her Soul rest in Perfect Peace. She has a pure voice that will never be replicated She had a unique way in her singing and her acting I only hope she is remembered for her voice, and being a loving mother, May the lord give her Mum, her daughter and the rest of the family the grace to get through this It is so sad she got hooked on drugs and was unable to overcome the drugs for herself if not for her family. Gone to Soon. posted on 02-12-2012, 01:06:17 AM Chaos.com Re: Whitney Houston Dies at 48 Another waste of life and talent. RIP. What a life posted on 02-12-2012, 01:11:51 AM Emj Re: Whitney Houston Dies at 48 When the melodies are gone, in you i hear a song.......it hurts badly. Rest in peace Lady Whitney.......several times a Lady in spite of all...u're now at rest [video=youtube;KGL099t8i2s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGL099t8i2s&feature=related[/video] posted on 02-12-2012, 01:26:55 AM Patcho Re: Whitney Houston Dies at 48 Her life wouldn't have been true if she had it all. Whitney Houston, Rest in Peace. posted on 02-12-2012, 03:20:28 AM Dimaanu Re: Whitney Houston Dies at 48 This very sad news sent me to bed early. Just woke up hoping that it was a terrible nightmare.... In those days, two Whitney Houston posters were the only things that adorned my bedroom wall. My sister owned a portable cassette player. We would sing along to what I later came to understand was her debut album "Whitney Houston". Ohhhh, I can still see my sister and I twisting and singing along to "Saving all my love for you". We tried to match Whitney's voice pitch range. Her voice spoke to me. Such raw talent! [video=youtube;5pL-3ZoEWqA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pL-3ZoEWqA&feature=related[/video] However, in addition to "I Will Always Love You", it is the song "Greatest Love of All" that I would mostly remember her for. I thank Ms. Houston for every time I have stepped forward to sing that song, including a few times at my children's schools... despite their subtle hints. (So far, I have kept my promise not to dance) [video=youtube;IYzlVDlE72w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYzlVDlE72w[/video] I love the way they juxtaposed that clip of a very young Whitney being urged on by her mom, and the grown Whitney doing her thing with her mom in the background. The joy of every mother. Rest in peace, Ms. Houston. You touched lives and that is the whole essence of living. Nothing else matters. posted on 02-12-2012, 04:31:27 AM Obi Re: Whitney Houston Dies at 48 Had she not come into contact with someone called Bobby Brown... May her poor soul rest in peace. posted on 02-12-2012, 04:50:56 AM Colosus Re: Whitney Houston Dies at 48 She has talent, fame but where is Jesus? A lesson for all the talented stars who live empty lives of drug, sex, alcohol and atheism. Michael Jackson and now Whitney.....without God we are nothing. May her soul find mercy with th Lord. posted on 02-12-2012, 05:36:34 AM Sisi Eko Re: Whitney Houston Dies at 48 RIP, Whitney. Her love songs brought smiles to my face uncountable times. Just yesterday, I was listening to "Your love is my love", while driving. I so admired her until she hooked up with the crack-head with the mouth full of rotten teeth. May Bobbi exceed all her expectations. posted on 02-12-2012, 05:42:01 AM Anwulika Re: Whitney Houston Dies at 48 Rest in Peace, Whitney Houston. Crack is really whack. posted on 02-12-2012, 09:21:25 AM First-lady Re: Whitney Houston Dies at 48 You folks are being very unfair to this woman There is no coroner's report yet that she died of a drug overdose Nobody knows her cause of death at this time.,in fact no physical signs of drug use was found according to the Beverly hills police. Maybe some of you ought to go tell her family how she died,I bet they are dying to know. My best musical duo of all times posted on 02-12-2012, 09:29:17 AM First-lady Re: Whitney Houston Dies at 48 QUOTE: This very sad news sent me to bed early. Just woke up hoping that it was a terrible nightmare.... In those days, two Whitney Houston posters were the only things that adorned my bedroom wall. My sister owned a portable cassette player. We would sing along to what I later came to understand was her debut album \"Whitney Houston\". Ohhhh, I can still see my sister and I twisting and singing along to \"Saving all my love for you\". We tried to match Whitney's voice pitch range. Her voice spoke to me. Such raw talent! [video=youtube;5pL-3ZoEWqA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pL-3ZoEWqA&feature=related[/video] However, in addition to \"I Will Always Love You\", it is the song \"Greatest Love of All\" that I would mostly remember her for. I thank Ms. Houston for every time I have stepped forward to sing that song, including a few times at my children's schools... despite their subtle hints. (So far, I have kept my promise not to dance) [video=youtube;IYzlVDlE72w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYzlVDlE72w[/video] I love the way they juxtaposed that clip of a very young Whitney being urged on by her mom, and the grown Whitney doing her thing with her mom in the background. The joy of every mother. Rest in peace, Ms. Houston. You touched lives and that is the whole essence of living. Nothing else matters. I was somewhere in northern Nigeria in one of those university riot related forced vacation when my cousins and I blasted her tape to pieces. I slept sad,thinking about her and this morning I turned on HLN as soon as I woke up to hear news about her. As I make breakfast and cook our Sunday lunch,I am blasting her music I don't think I felt this sad when Michael Jackson died. What makes this so sad for me is the fact that she had finally broken free of Bobby,went to rehab,cleaned up her life,had an incredible support of people who loved her and fans who supported her. If this came while she did that disastrous reality show no one would have been shocked but she died at the height of a great come back story. That is not the way to die I can't wait to hear what happened. posted on 02-12-2012, 09:37:04 AM Anwulika Re: Whitney Houston Dies at 48 Who said she died of overdose on this thread? Her very promising life and talent were destroyed because of drugs. Drugs made her fall and she could never get up after; no matter how she tried to re-brand. Let us not minimize the impact drugs had in her life and let this be a lesson to all. Crack is very whack. posted on 02-12-2012, 09:45:32 AM First-lady Re: Whitney Houston Dies at 48 You didn't say she died of crack but implied it,same with Bill Carson This thread is not about her career prospects primarily and what it would have been, but about her death so making a statement about crack clearly implies she died a crack related death. There were many artists that never touched even a stick of cigarette in their lifetime but faded away as soon as they came on the scene. Is there anyone here that can sincerely say they have never done the wrong things at some point in their life and made wrong choices and perhaps living with the consequences in some instances? She did what she did and when she knew better, she did better. posted on 02-12-2012, 09:57:17 AM First-lady Re: Whitney Houston Dies at 48 Still can't get enough of this song My youngest saw me listening to the youtube clip and I told him the lady was dead he said mom, how old was she? I said 48 He said 48? she doesn't look 48 I said how old does she look? He said she looks 30 ish and when his sibling came out he said to me,mom tell her about the woman that died,the pretty woman that looks like Michelle Obama I wanted to ask "Is she as pretty as mom" ? But I don't want a little kid to spoil my Sunday Go to the Full Discussion Thread Comments Page: 1 2 3 4