June Carter Cash
Musical Monikers
Madonna
Justin Bieber
My Ghost Story
I Survived
Babe Ruth
Johnny Cash
Georgia O'Keefe
I Survived
Quick Facts
- NAME: Whitney Houston
- OCCUPATION: Film Actress, Singer
- BIRTH DATE: August 09, 1963
- DEATH DATE: February 11, 2012
- PLACE OF BIRTH: Newark, New Jersey
- PLACE OF DEATH: Beverly Hills, California
Best Known For
Whitney Houston was an American singer and actress whose first four albums, released between 1985 and 1992, amassed global sales in excess of 86 million copies.
Videos see all videos
Whitney Houston - A Musical Family
Whitney Houston grew up wanting to follow in the footsteps of her mother, gospel singer Cissy Houston, her cousin, pop star Dionne Warwick, and her godmother, Aretha Franklin.
Whitney Houston - The Debut Album
Clive Davis and Arista records released Whitney Houston's debut album, "Whitney Houston," in 1985. Her strong voice shined on the ballads "The Greatest Love of All" and "Saving All My Love for You."
Whitney Houston - The Bodyguard
Even though she initially turned down the role, Kevin Costner eventually secured Whitney Houston as his costar in "The Bodyguard." Whitney's accompanying soundtrack became the best-selling soundtrack album of all time.
Whitney Houston - Second Album Success
Still riding high on the success of her first album, Whitney Houston released her second album, "Whitney," in June, 1987. "Whitney" broke numerous Billboard records and solidified her status as an A-Lister.
Quiz
Think you know about Biography?
Answer questions and see how you rank against other players.
Play NowWhitney Houston. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 02:20, May 23, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/whitney-houston-9344818.
Whitney Houston. [Internet]. 2013. The Biography Channel website. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/whitney-houston-9344818 [Accessed 23 May 2013].
"Whitney Houston." 2013. The Biography Channel website. May 23 2013, 02:20 http://www.biography.com/people/whitney-houston-9344818.
"Whitney Houston," The Biography Channel website, 2013, http://www.biography.com/people/whitney-houston-9344818 [accessed May 23, 2013].
"Whitney Houston," The Biography Channel website, http://www.biography.com/people/whitney-houston-9344818 (accessed May 23, 2013).
Whitney Houston [Internet]. The Biography Channel website; 2013 [cited 2013 May 23] Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/whitney-houston-9344818.
Whitney Houston, http://www.biography.com/people/whitney-houston-9344818 (last visited May 23, 2013).
Whitney Houston. The Biography Channel website. 2013. Available at: http://www.biography.com/people/whitney-houston-9344818. Accessed May 23, 2013.
She released a new album, I Look To You, in 2009. "The songs themselves will speak to you and you'll understand where I am and some of the changes I've gone through for the better," Houston told Entertainment Tonight. The recording received a warm welcome from music fans, making to the top of album charts. Her live shows, however, garnered mixed reviews with some complaining about the quality of her voice.
Death and Legacy
In early 2012, Houston rumored to be experiencing financial trouble, but she denied this claim. She, in fact, seemed to be poised for a career upswing. Houston worked on a new musical film Sparkle with Jordin Sparks, a remake of the 1976 movie about an all-girl musical group similar to the Supremes. She had reportedly been approached to join the singing competition The X Factor as a judge. Unfortunately, Houston did not live long enough to see the latest comeback reach fruition.
Whitney Houston died on February 11, 2012, in Los Angeles. Houston had been seen out in the days before her death, including at one of the pre-Grammy Award parties. According to a report released by the Los Angeles County coroner's office on March 22, 2012, the official cause of her death was accidental drowning. The effects of heart disease and cocaine found in her system were contributing factors. With her passing, the music world has lost one of its most legendary stars. Her longtime supporter and mentor Clive Davis once said that Houston "is in the great tradition of great, great singers, whether it's Lena Horne or Ella Fitzgerald or Sarah Vaughn or Gladys Knight."
© 2013 A+E Networks. All rights reserved.
© 2013 A+E Networks. All rights reserved.
Book
-
-
Learn more about The Soundtrack of My Life by Clive Davis. Buy a copy of Clive Davis' autobiography.
Listen to excerpts and commentary from Clive Davis' new book.
-
Black History People
-
Black History Groups
Learn more about the lives of African-Americans who have made extraordinary achievements in their fields, with our collection of Black History Groups.
Explore our curated collections of African-American figures, including:
Black History Videos
-
Black History Videos
Watch full episodes of Black History icons, record-breakers and leaders. See how famous figures like Barack Obama, Abraham Lincoln and Jackie Robinson changed history. See all videos.
profile name: Whitney Houston profile occupation:
Your Connections
Sign in with Facebook to see how you and your friends are connected to famous icons.
Profile Connections
Included In These Groups
-
Ladies of Pop Music
View groupMadonna unapologetically celebrated and monetized her sexuality when she began her career in the 1980s. Her bold behavior paved the way for other female performers—including Cyndi Lauper, Britney Spears, and Janet Jackson—giving them the freedom to explore previously taboo roles and take control of their image and career.
Ladies of Pop Music 9 people in this group
-
Celebrity Self-Imploders 12 people in this group
-
- In this group:
- Whitney Houston
- Bobby Brown
Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston
View groupMusical duo Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston married in 1992, and had one daughter, Bobby Kristina. In 2003, Brown was arrested for misdemeanor battery, for allegedly hitting Houston and shouting epithets. That didn't stop the family from starring in their own reality show, Being Bobby Brown, in 2005. Two years later Houston and Brown divorced.
Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston 2 people in this group
presented by Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston -
