Christine Haveford
On February 11, 2012 we lost a musical icon.
The Guinness World Records cited her as the most awarded female act of all time.
Her name was Whitney Elizabeth Houston.
Houston was found dead in her guest room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, California.
The official coroner’s report showed that she had accidentally drowned in the bathtub, with heart disease and cocaine use listed as contributing factors.
Check out this list of the sassiest, soulful and heartbreaking moments of Whitney Houston’s life…
1. Whitney vs Wendy
Before Wendy Williams hosted her own talk show on the television, where she drags celebrities, she had her own radio show, where she dragged celebrities.
But in 2003, Whitney Houston had enough of Miss Wendy talking about her and her alleged drug issues.
In an infamous interview Houston telephoned Wendy’s radio show for in an interview.
It should have been the biggest professional opportunity of Wendy’s career, but instead Whitney read her to filth!
Whitney went in on Wendy during the interview, calling her out about comments about she said about her family.
At one point Whitney told her, “If this were back in the day in Newark, I’d meet you outside” and “‘I’m sure when you look in the mirror you have some reservations about your look, too … I’ve seen you! I KNOW how you look!”
#2. Brandy Meets Her Idol
Singer Brandy Norwood was a huge Whitney fan growing up. Before she became famous she had a chance to meet her idol backstage at one of her concerts.
Unfortunately, Whitney had to leave the concert early leaving a young Brandy, who was dressed head to toe in Whitney merchandise, heartbroken.
Her mother and manager Sonya Norwood promised a tearful Brandy, “One day you’ll meet her and she will never forget your name.”
Fast forward a few years and Brandy became an international R&B star. Cameras captured Brandy meeting Whitney Houston for the first time backstage at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards – where they were both due to perform on the very same stage.
3. Whitney Wins Her First Grammy
At the age of 11, Houston started performing as part of the junior gospel choir at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark.
It was here Whitney learned to play the piano and had her first solo performance in the church singing, “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah.”
Houston also spent some of her teenage years touring nightclubs where her mother Cissy Houston, who was a successful singer.
Houston would occasionally get on stage and perform with her. In 1983, an A&R representative from Arista Records saw her performing with her mother in a New York City nightclub.
He was so impressed he convinced the head of Arista Records, Clive Davis, to sign her. A few years later, Whitney was nominated for her first Grammy Award in 1986.
Houston won for “Saving All My Love for You,” her first No. 1 single. She performed the ballad at the show and won an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program the following year.
#4. Whitney Houston The Fairy Godmother
Whitney Houston made singer Brandy’s life when she agreed to play the Fairy Godmother to her Cinderella in the 1997 television remake of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella.
The television film was the #1 show of the week, with over 60 million television viewers. It became the highest-rated TV musical “in years.”
Brandy said of working with Whitney: “I was just so honored to play the role of Cinderella, and then the bonus of working with my favorite person in the whole world. I just couldn’t believe it.”
#5. Whitney Houston The Fashion Model
In the early 1980s, Houston was a much sought after fashion model.
A photographer spotted a young Whitney at Carnegie Hall singing with her mother Cissy Houston.
She appeared on the cover of Seventeen magazine and became one of the first women of color to grace the cover of the magazine.
She was also featured in layouts in the pages of Glamour and Cosmopolitan magazines. Whitney also appeared in a Canada Dry soft drink TV commercial.
#6. Mariah Carey And Whitney Houston Duet.
In the 90s Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston were undoubtedly two of the biggest pop divas in music.
Rumors of rivalry between the two were silenced when they joined forces for the song ‘When You Believe.’
This was the lead song from the 1998 animated movie The Prince Of Egypt.
The song was awarded the Academy Award For Best Original Song at the 71st annual ceremony on March 21, 1999.
Upon hearing the news of Whitney Houston’s death in 2012, Mariah tweeted: “Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking death of my friend, the incomparable Ms. Whitney Houston.”
#7.Wendy Williams Cries On Live T.V
Wendy Williams and Whitney Houston famously clashed during Wendy’s days as a radio host.
But when Whitney tragically passed away aged 48, the T.V. gossip queen broke down on her show.
On her talk show “Wendy” she confessed the two shared a history of drug abuse.
“Whitney and I, same age, and both plagued with the demon of substance abuse,” Williams said, fighting through tears. “It’s been almost 15 years since I smoked last from a crack pipe,” she continued. “It’s been almost 15 years since I waited on Jerome Avenue on the Bronx for my drugs.”
This although technically not a Whitney Houston moment, appears on the list as many felt Wendy captured the mood of people around the world who were devastated by the passing of Whitney Houston.
#8. Crack Is Wack
Whitney’s erratic behaviour and skinny frame made many fans questions her health and speculation of drug use grew.
In 2002, Houston sat down for an interview with ABC News’ Diane Sawyer. She reluctantly admitted to having used cocaine, pills, and marijuana, but drew the line at crack. Whitney then uttered the infamous line that ‘crack is wack.’
“First of all, let’s get one thing straight,” she told Sawyer. “Crack is cheap. I make too much money to ever smoke crack. Let’s get that straight. OK? We don’t do crack. We don’t do that. Crack is whack.”
#9. Whitney Makes Oprah Cry
A healthier and more positive Whitney sat down for a tell all interview Oprah Winfrey in 2009.
Houston opened up to Oprah about her marriage to singer Bobby Brown, who she was married to for nearly fifteen years.
Whitney revealed that he spit on her in front of their daughter Bobbi Kristina and that she hit him over the head with a telephone.
She admitted that her drug of choice was marijuana laced with cocaine. She declared herself drug free in the interview but she returned to rehab in 2011.
Watch as Whitney Houston performs her empowering song “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength.”
The performance was so powerful it brings Oprah to tears.
#10. Whitney Houston in The Bodyguard
In 1992, Whitney starred in blockbuster hit “The Bodyguard” alongside Kevin Costner.
Whitney played a pop star who hires protection after being tormented by a stalker.
It was one of the first interracial films to not make the fact that it was an interracial love story a focal point.
The film was an overwhelming success, making more than $410 million worldwide. It also made “I Will Always Love You” one of her most memorable hits.
The song was originally written and recorded by country singer Dolly Parton. Whitney won Grammys for Record Of The Year and Best Female Pop Vocal for the song.
#1.Whitney Houston Sings The National Anthem At The 1991 Super Bowl.
Houston’s powerful rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl XXV got such an overwhelming response that it was released as a commercial single.
It reached the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making her the only performer to turn the national anthem into a hit song.
Her rendition came at a particular patriotic time just after the onset of The Persian Gulf War.
It was re – released after the September 11th terrorist attacks. Whitney gave all the proceeds to charity.
Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) May She Continue To Rest In Peace.
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