Whitney Houston.
Born on Aug. 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey, to John and Cissy Houston,Whitney Elizabeth Houstonwent on to greatness at an early age, with her debut album selling 12 million copies in the U.S., and producing three consecutive No. 1 singles.Tragically, the superstar singer died on Feb. 11, 2012, one night before the Grammy Awards, in her Los Angeles hotel room. Her only child,Bobbi Kristina Brown, died just three years later.Though her life had many ups and downs, her legacy is full of beautiful music and career milestones. Here, revisit Houston’s life in photos, 12 years after her tragic death.
Born on Aug. 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey, to John and Cissy Houston,Whitney Elizabeth Houstonwent on to greatness at an early age, with her debut album selling 12 million copies in the U.S., and producing three consecutive No. 1 singles.
Tragically, the superstar singer died on Feb. 11, 2012, one night before the Grammy Awards, in her Los Angeles hotel room. Her only child,Bobbi Kristina Brown, died just three years later.
Though her life had many ups and downs, her legacy is full of beautiful music and career milestones. Here, revisit Houston’s life in photos, 12 years after her tragic death.
01of 24Stellar DebutA young Whitney Houston.Rex USAHouston was destined for a career as a singer: Her mother sang backup for Elvis Presley; her cousin was superstar Dionne Warwick; and her godmother was the legendary Aretha Franklin. Unsurprisingly, young Whitney also proved to have a vocal gift, performing her first solo at age 11 at the New Hope Baptist Church.
01of 24
Stellar Debut
A young Whitney Houston.Rex USA
Houston was destined for a career as a singer: Her mother sang backup for Elvis Presley; her cousin was superstar Dionne Warwick; and her godmother was the legendary Aretha Franklin. Unsurprisingly, young Whitney also proved to have a vocal gift, performing her first solo at age 11 at the New Hope Baptist Church.
02of 24On the RiseA young Whitney Houston.Mount Saint Dominic Academy/ZumaIn her teens, Houston worked as a model, appearing inSeventeen,GlamourandCosmopolitan, and performed in New York City clubs. It was during one particular singing gig in 1983 that she caught the ear of Arista music exec Clive Davis, who signed her to a record deal on the spot.
02of 24
On the Rise
A young Whitney Houston.Mount Saint Dominic Academy/Zuma
In her teens, Houston worked as a model, appearing inSeventeen,GlamourandCosmopolitan, and performed in New York City clubs. It was during one particular singing gig in 1983 that she caught the ear of Arista music exec Clive Davis, who signed her to a record deal on the spot.
03of 24
Off the Charts
A young Whitney Houston.Ebet Roberts/Redferns/Getty
04of 24Family AlbumA young Whitney Houston.Robin Platzer"Being around people like Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick and Roberta Flack, all these greats, I was taught to listen and observe," Houston, pictured with Warwick and mom Cissy, said of her natural talent. “It had a great impact on me as a singer, as a performer, as a musician. Growing around it, you just can’t help it … It was something that was so natural to me that when I started singing, it was almost like speaking.”
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Family Album
A young Whitney Houston.Robin Platzer
“Being around people like Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick and Roberta Flack, all these greats, I was taught to listen and observe,” Houston, pictured with Warwick and mom Cissy, said of her natural talent. “It had a great impact on me as a singer, as a performer, as a musician. Growing around it, you just can’t help it … It was something that was so natural to me that when I started singing, it was almost like speaking.”
05of 24
Golden Girl
A young Whitney Houston.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
06of 24A Broken RecordA young Whitney Houston.Ebet Roberts/Redferns/GettyWith the June 1987 release of her second album,Whitney, Houston made history again, becoming the first female artist to enter theBillboardalbum charts at No. 1, and surpassing the Beatles with her seven consecutive No. 1 hits, including “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” “So Emotional” and “Didn’t We Almost Have It All.”
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A Broken Record
With the June 1987 release of her second album,Whitney, Houston made history again, becoming the first female artist to enter theBillboardalbum charts at No. 1, and surpassing the Beatles with her seven consecutive No. 1 hits, including “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” “So Emotional” and “Didn’t We Almost Have It All.”
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Funny Business
Whitney Houston and Eddie Murphy.Ron Galella/WireImage
08of 24America’s SweetheartWhitney Houston at the Super Bowl.George Rose/GettyAs the Persian Gulf War raged on in 1991, Houston united the entire nation with her stirring rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl XXV. The powerhouse performance was released as both a single and a video, and landed in the Top 20 ofBillboard’s Hot 100.
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America’s Sweetheart
Whitney Houston at the Super Bowl.George Rose/Getty
As the Persian Gulf War raged on in 1991, Houston united the entire nation with her stirring rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl XXV. The powerhouse performance was released as both a single and a video, and landed in the Top 20 ofBillboard’s Hot 100.
09of 24
Take a Vow
10of 24
Screen Queen
Whitney Houston.Everett
11of 24Stage MotherWhitney Houston and Bobbi Kristina Brown.Eugene Adebari/Rex USAOn March 4, 1993, Houston gave birth to daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown, whom she called her greatest inspiration. “She supports me, she loves me, she gives me good mommy hugs,” Houston toldAccess Hollywoodof their bond.
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Stage Mother
Whitney Houston and Bobbi Kristina Brown.Eugene Adebari/Rex USA
On March 4, 1993, Houston gave birth to daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown, whom she called her greatest inspiration. “She supports me, she loves me, she gives me good mommy hugs,” Houston toldAccess Hollywoodof their bond.
12of 24
Girl Power
Whitney Houston.Rex USA
13of 24A Holy UnionWhitney Houston and Denzel Washington.GlobeDespite her reservations, Houston took another film role, this time starring alongsideDenzel Washingtonin 1996’sThe Preacher’s Wife. The family drama, about the troubled marriage between a reverend and his gospel choir mistress, earned her a reported $10 million paycheck. The weeks leading up to the film’s December release were turbulent, with Houston denying her own union is in trouble and, more tragically, suffering a miscarriage.
13of 24
A Holy Union
Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington.Globe
Despite her reservations, Houston took another film role, this time starring alongsideDenzel Washingtonin 1996’sThe Preacher’s Wife. The family drama, about the troubled marriage between a reverend and his gospel choir mistress, earned her a reported $10 million paycheck. The weeks leading up to the film’s December release were turbulent, with Houston denying her own union is in trouble and, more tragically, suffering a miscarriage.
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Soul Sisters
Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.KMazur/WireImage
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Trouble Ahead
16of 24Body WatchWhitney Houston.Beth A. Keiser/APJust weeks after signing a $100 million Arista record contract, Houston kicked off theMichael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Specialin September 2001 alongsideUsherand Mya, singing “Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'.” But it was her gaunt figure that really started some talk; after blaming a “bad shot,” she would admit years later her thinness was due to drug use.
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Body Watch
Whitney Houston.Beth A. Keiser/AP
Just weeks after signing a $100 million Arista record contract, Houston kicked off theMichael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Specialin September 2001 alongsideUsherand Mya, singing “Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'.” But it was her gaunt figure that really started some talk; after blaming a “bad shot,” she would admit years later her thinness was due to drug use.
17of 24’Crack Is Whack’Whitney Houston and Diane Sawyer.ABCIn an alarming yet candid 2002 interview with Diane Sawyer, Houston insisted she makes too much money to be a crack user, as rumored. “Crack is whack!” she said, blaming emotional stress for her erratic behavior. “This is not fun any more,” she said of working in the music industry.
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‘Crack Is Whack’
Whitney Houston and Diane Sawyer.ABC
In an alarming yet candid 2002 interview with Diane Sawyer, Houston insisted she makes too much money to be a crack user, as rumored. “Crack is whack!” she said, blaming emotional stress for her erratic behavior. “This is not fun any more,” she said of working in the music industry.
18of 24
Watered Down
On a whirlwind tour of Israel in May 2003, Houston and Brown dipped themselves, baptism-style, in the River Jordan — even though they were guests of the Black Hebrews, a religious sect of about 2,000 black Americans who observe certain Jewish rituals.
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Back on Track
Whitney Houston.Pascal Le Segretain/Getty
20of 24
Reality Check
21of 24On the Road AgainWhitney Houston and Clive Davis.Richard Young/StartraksReleased in August 2009, Houston’s seventh effort,I Look to You, marked her first No. 1 album sinceThe Bodyguard. Though it seemed she was ready for a career revival, even launching a world tour the following February, she canceled several live performances and received poor reviews for her shows.
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On the Road Again
Whitney Houston and Clive Davis.Richard Young/Startraks
Released in August 2009, Houston’s seventh effort,I Look to You, marked her first No. 1 album sinceThe Bodyguard. Though it seemed she was ready for a career revival, even launching a world tour the following February, she canceled several live performances and received poor reviews for her shows.
22of 24Tight BondWhitney Houston and Bobbi Kristina Brown.Jackson Lee/Splash News Online"I want her to count on me to try to understand what she’s going through," Houston toldInStyleof daughter and aspiring singer Krissy (together onGood Morning Americain 2009). “No damnation, no condemnation, nothing that’s going to make her feel like she can’t come to me.”
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Tight Bond
Whitney Houston and Bobbi Kristina Brown.Jackson Lee/Splash News Online
“I want her to count on me to try to understand what she’s going through,” Houston toldInStyleof daughter and aspiring singer Krissy (together onGood Morning Americain 2009). “No damnation, no condemnation, nothing that’s going to make her feel like she can’t come to me.”
23of 24Last ScenesWhitney Houston and Jordin Sparks.SonyFifteen years afterThe Preacher’s Wife,Houston returned to the big screen forSparklewithJordin Sparks. “Part of the fun of making this movie is definitely the costumes and the hairstyles,” an excitedHouston told PEOPLE. “The movie is set in 1963, and we had a great wardrobe, hair and makeup person and I loved wearing the outfits.” Her costar was equally thrilled: “I sang her songs into a hairbrush when I was little. … It was a dream come true.”
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Last Scenes
Whitney Houston and Jordin Sparks.Sony
Fifteen years afterThe Preacher’s Wife,Houston returned to the big screen forSparklewithJordin Sparks. “Part of the fun of making this movie is definitely the costumes and the hairstyles,” an excitedHouston told PEOPLE. “The movie is set in 1963, and we had a great wardrobe, hair and makeup person and I loved wearing the outfits.” Her costar was equally thrilled: “I sang her songs into a hairbrush when I was little. … It was a dream come true.”
24of 24A ‘Dimmed’ LightWhitney Houston.David Corio/Redferns/Getty"Whitney would have asked that the music go on. And her family said the show should go on," Clive Davis told partygoers at his annual pre-Grammys gala on Feb. 11, 2012 – the same day asHouston’s death. As news spread of the troubled singer’s demise at 48, themusic industry responded with sadness, and respect. “Her powerful voice graced many memorable and award-winning songs,” said Neil Portnow, the president and CEO of the Recording Academy. “A light has been dimmed in our music community today.”
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A ‘Dimmed’ Light
Whitney Houston.David Corio/Redferns/Getty
“Whitney would have asked that the music go on. And her family said the show should go on,” Clive Davis told partygoers at his annual pre-Grammys gala on Feb. 11, 2012 – the same day asHouston’s death. As news spread of the troubled singer’s demise at 48, themusic industry responded with sadness, and respect. “Her powerful voice graced many memorable and award-winning songs,” said Neil Portnow, the president and CEO of the Recording Academy. “A light has been dimmed in our music community today.”
source: people.com
