Whitney Houston: From pop icon to movie star
The life and times of the woman they called 'The Voice'
Whitney Houston is one of the biggest and most successful singers of all time. With an ability to master a wide variety of styles including fizzy, sparkling pop, adult-themed ballads, and slick and contemporary R’n’B, it’s little surprise that her appeal was - and remains - so broad.
Following the news that her performance from 1994 in Durban is to be shown in cinemas, and her biopic is set to be added to Netflix, and to celebrate the life and times of the lady often called 'The Voice', we've taken a look at some of her biggest career moments, interesting facts and frequently asked questions about Whitney Houston.
When was Whitney Houston born?
Whitney Houston was born on 9th August 1963, in Newark, New Jersey. As the daughter of gospel and R’n’B singer Cissy Houston, cousin of ‘Walk On By’ hitmaker Dionne Warwick and goddaughter to 60s vocalist Darlene Love, it’s hardly surprising that Whitney Houston would follow in their footsteps.
That said, it’s doubtful that anyone could’ve predicted that she’d be the first and only artist to score seven consecutive Number 1 singles on the Billboard Top 100 in the US. Closer to home, Whitney Houston’s 26 Top 20 hits in the UK included four Number 1s.
How successful was Whitney Houston in the 80s?
Despite her musical background, it looked as if a career in modelling might have been her way forward were it not for Arista president Clive Davis hearing her sing in nightclub. Cannily spotting her talent and potential, Clive was careful to pair her with the right songwriters and producers to best present her considerable talents.
Clive‘s instincts paid off. Her first three UK hits – ‘Saving All My Love For You’ (1985), ‘How Will I Know’ (1985) and ‘Greatest Love Of All’ (1986) – not only showed off her incredible range of slinky R’n’B, infectious pop and inspirational balladry, but also announced that Whitney Houston was here for the long run. These tracks featured on her debut self-titled album released in 1985, which also had a re-release for the 35th anniversary in 2020.
From here on in, Whitney Houston would become a regular fixture on the pop landscape as hit followed hit. ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)’ and ‘One Moment In Time’ both topped the UK singles charts as elsewhere ‘Where Do Broken Hearts Go’ and ‘Didn’t We Almost Have It All’ dominated the airwaves.
WATCH: Whitney Houston - 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody'
Whitney Houston's movie acting roles
The 1990s would propel Whitney Houston to almost stratospheric levels of stardom. She began the decade by releasing her third album, ‘I’m Your Baby Tonight’ in 1990, that saw her grooving into more funk and dance orientated areas of pop music. But it was her move into films that would define her career and musical output for the next six years.
Co-starring with Kevin Costner in the box office smash The Bodyguard in 1992, the soundtrack’s lead single, a cover of Dolly Parton’s ‘I Will Always Love You’ topped the charts the world over. Her 10-week reign in pole position in the UK is a feat that’s yet to be matched or surpassed by a solo female artist.
‘I Have Nothing’ and a cover of Chaka Khan’s ‘I’m Every Woman’ were both taken from the soundtrack album and duly followed their predecessor into the Top 10.
Staying with movies, Whitney Houston then starred alongside Angela Bassett in the Forest Whitaker-directed Waiting To Exhale (1995), then The Preacher’s Wife with Denzel Washington the following year.
Both movies spawned a number of hit singles for Whitney including ‘Exhale (Shoop Shoop)’ and ‘Count On Me’ from the former, with the latter producing ‘Step By Step’.
She also starred as the Fairy Godmother in the TV film Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella in 1997, and as Emma Anderson in 2012's Sparkle, which she also executive produced. Whitney was also a producer for The Princess Diaries (2001) and the sequel The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004).
WATCH: Whitney Houston's video for 'I Will Always Love You'
Was Whitney Houston married?
Yes, she was. Marrying former New Edition singer Bobby Brown in 1992, their tempestuous on-off relationship filled the pages of the tabloids with what became a depressing regularity. Dark rumours of substance abuse were not far behind and they would divorce in 2007. Their daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown was born in 1993 and sadly died in 2015.
Did Whitney Houston sing any duets?
She did. Whitney’s first duet was with her mother Cissy Houston on ‘I Know Him So Well’. Other duets include ‘We Didn’t Know’ with Stevie Wonder (1992), ‘Count On Me’ with CeCe Winans, and ‘When You Believe’ with Mariah Carey which was then followed up by ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ in 1998 where she was joined by Faith Evans and Kelly Price.
Her 2000 ‘Greatest Hits’ package saw Whitney releasing a number of new duets including ‘Could I Have This Kiss Forever’ with Enrique Iglesias and ‘If I Told You That’ with George Michael.
What was Whitney Houston’s last work?
Her final album was 2009’s ‘I Look At You’. It peaked at Number 3 in the UK album charts while the single, ‘Million Dollar Bill’, went to Number 5. Although Whitney sadly passed away in 2012, her voice lives on, with the late singer featuring vocally in Norwegian DJ Kygo's 2019 hit remix 'Higher Love'. The song peaked at Number 2 in the UK charts, as well as becoming her longest-running single on the Top 100 Official UK Singles Chart.
In 2020, Whitney was also the subject of a hologram tour, as well as being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that same year.
How did Whitney Houston die?
Whitney Houston was found dead in her bathroom at the Beverley Hills Hilton on 11th February 2012. The cause of death was accidental drowning caused by cocaine use and heart disease. She is buried in Fairview Cemetery, in Westfield, New Jersey, next to her father, John Russell Houston.
Is there a Whitney Houston film?
Two documentaries were made about her life after her death - Whitney: Can I Be Me in 2017, and Whitney in 2018.
A Whitney Houston biopic titled 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody' was released in December 2022. Kasi Lemmons directed the film and Anthony McCarten is wrote the script. The film stars Naomi Ackie as Whitney and Stanley Tucci plays Grammy-winning producer Clive Davis.
In April 2022, Sony Pictures shared the poster for the film, showing Naomi as Whitney for the first time. The film will be added to Netflix in October 2024.
In September 2024 it was announced that a concert film of Whitney Houston's 'The Concert for a New South Africa' will be shown in cinemas in October 2024.
The concert film is of Whitney's performance in Durban after President Nelson Mandela's historic win, leaving a newly unified, post-apartheid South Africa.
You can hear Whitney Houston's songs on Downtown Radio.
Take a look through Whitney Houston's biggest career moments:
Early 1980s: Career beginnings
Whitney Houston was born on 9th August 1963 to ex-Army serviceman and Newark city administrator John Russell Houston Jr and gospel singer Cissy Houston.
Through her mother's family, Whitney was a first cousin of legendary singers Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick.
Following in the footsteps of her musical heritage, Whitney was on stage from a young age alongside her mother. She performed in the junior gospel choir at her local church in Newark, New Jersey and at the age of 16, sang background vocals for funk icon Chaka Khan.
1983: Signing a record deal
In the early 1980s, Whitney began working as a fashion model and became the first woman of colour to feature on the cover of Seventeen magazine.
In 1983, an A&R representative from Arista Records saw Whitney performing at a nightclub. She impressed label head Clive Davis who signed her on a worldwide record deal.
1985-1987: Debut album and Grammy Awards
Whitney Houston released her self-titled debut album in February 1985. The album was a huge success and has since been named one of the best-selling albums of all time!
The album featured many of the star's signature hits including 'Saving All My Love For You', 'How Will I Know' and 'The Greatest Love of All'.
The album was followed by the Greatest Love Tour before Whitney bagged three nominations at the 1986 Grammy Awards and won her first Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance for 'Saving All My Love For You'.
She went on to win seven American Music Awards in 1986 and 1987 as well as an MTV Video Music Award.
1987-1991: 'Whitney' and Wembley Stadium
Whitney released 'Whitney', the much-anticipated follow up to her debut in June 1987. The album's first four singles 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody', 'Didn't We Almost Have It All', 'So Emotional' and 'Where Do Broken Hearts Go' all topped the charts in the US.
At the Grammy's in 1988, she picked up another three awards, including the prestigious Album of the Year.
Whitney was a supporter of Nelson Mandela and the anti-apartheid movement. In June 1988, she performed at Wembley Stadium to celebrate the then-imprisoned Nelson Mandela.
1992: The Bodyguard
Whitney's first film role was in 1992 hit The Bodyguard alongside Kevin Costner, playing the lead role of Rachel Morron.
She co-produced and recorded six songs for the movie soundtrack, including arguably Whitney's biggest hit 'I Will Always Love You', a cover of a 1974 song by Dolly Parton.
1995-1997: Waiting to Exhale, The Preacher's Wife and Cinderella
After the success of The Bodyguard, film offers continued to flood in. Whitney starred in films Waiting to Exhale, The Preacher's Wife and the made-for-television remake of Cinderella.
Whitney not only played the Fairy Godmother in Cinderalla, she produced the film and also went on to produce Sparkle in 2012, as well as The Princess Diaries and its sequel in 2001 and 2004.
1998-2000: 'My Love Is Your Love' and Greatest Hits
Whitney spent most of the early 90s working on films and soundtrack albums. In 1998, she released her first studio album for eight years called 'My Love Is Your Love', with standout single 'It's Not Right But It's Okay' released in January 1999.
The album earned Whitney six Grammy nominations. She took home the prize for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for 'It's Not Right But It's Okay', her sixth and final Grammy Award.
2009: 'I Look To You' and The X Factor
After a period of immense turmoil, drug abuse and the divorce of her partner Bobby Brown, Whitney returned with a new album called 'I Look To You', featuring her final hit 'Million Dollar Bill'.
Whitney appeared as a guest mentor of The X Factor and performed 'Million Dollar Bill' on the results show. She later embarked on a world tour, 'Nothing But Love World Tour', her first in 10 years.
February 2012: Whitney Houston dies
On 11th February 2012, Whitney Houston was pronounced dead at the Beverley Hilton Hotel.
After her sad death, friends, fellow musicians and fans around the world paid tribute to the star.
Stars pay tribute
Singers including Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys performed at her funeral. Stevie Wonder sang 'Ribbon in the Sky' and 'Love's in Need of Love Today', whilst Alicia Keys performed 'Send Me An Angel'.
Tributes continued to flood in for Whitney Houston after her sad death. Dolly Parton said: "I will always be grateful and in awe of the wonderful performance she did on my song, and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart, 'Whitney, I will always love you. You will be missed.'"
Soul legend Aretha Franklin commented: "It's so stunning and unbelievable. I couldn't believe what I was reading coming across the TV screen."
2019: 'Higher Love' is released
Back in 1990, on her 'Feels So Right' tour, Whitney performed a cover of Steve Winwood's 'Higher Love' and re-recorded the track a year later. The song was going to be on her 'I'm Your Baby Tonight' album but was never officially released.
The song was remixed by DJ Kygo, who worked with her estate, and released in 2019, making it the first new music to come from Whitney in seven years.
2020: 'I Will Always Love You' hits 1 billion views on YouTube
Originally sung by Dolly Parton, 'I Will Always Love You' was released by Whitney Houston and featured in 1992 film The Bodyguard. The hugely popular song's music video surpassed 1 billion views on YouTube in 2020.
2020: Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The superstar was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020, with Alicia Keys giving the induction speech.
2020: The Whitney Houston Hologram Tour
Fans of the late singer were given the chance to watch her perform as a hologram with Whitney's original band and backing singers in an exciting show. Called An Evening with Whitney: The Whitney Houston Hologram Tour is an immersive live theatrical concert experience which has run from 2020 to 2022 with shows across the UK and in Las Vegas.
2022: The Bodyguard celebrates 30th anniversary
To mark 30 years since the amazing film The Bodyguard came out, the film is getting a special release event in cinemas on 6th and 9th November. As well as the film screening, the music videos for Whitney's 'Queen of the Night' and 'I Will Always Love You' will be played at the event.
Whitney not only starred in the film but also contributed to the soundtrack, and The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album will also get a speical vinyl release on 18th November to mark the occasion.
2022: I Wanna Dance With Somebody film
Starring Naomi Ackie as Whitney Houston, I Wanna Dance With Somebody was released in cinemas on 26th December 2022. The biopic tells the story of the life and career of the music legend. It will be available on Netflix from 6th October 2024.
2023: Celebrating Whitney Houston's legacy
There are a few big things in the works surrounding the music and legacy of Whitney Houston coming soon. Her estate confirmed that five of her albums would get reissued on vinyl throughout 2023, including 'Whitney', 'Whitney Houston', 'I'm Your Baby Tonight', 'The Preacher's Wife', and 'My Love Is Your Love'.
2024: Whitney Houston's 'The Concert for a New South Africa' to be shown in cinemas
Way back in 1994, Whitney Houston became the first major Western recording artist to perform in the newly unified, post-apartheid South Africa, after President Nelson Mandela's historic election win. Her performance in Durban will be shown in cinemas in October 2024.
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