Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American recording artist, actress, producer, and model. Houston was also one of the world's best selling music artists, having sold over 170 million albums, singles and videos worldwide.She released seven studio albums and three movie soundtrack albums, all of which have diamond, multi-platinum, platinum or gold certification. Houston's crossover appeal on the popular music charts, as well as her prominence on MTV, starting with her video for "How Will I Know",influenced several African-American female artists to follow in her footsteps.
Houston is the only artist to chart seven consecutive No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits.She is the second artist behind Elton John and the only female artist to have two number-one Billboard 200 Album awards (formerly "Top Pop Album") on the Billboard magazine year-end charts.Houston's 1985 debut album Whitney Houston became the best-selling debut album by a female act at the time of its release. The album was named Rolling Stone's best album of 1986, and was ranked at number 254 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.Her second studio album Whitney (1987) became the first album by a female artist to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
Houston's first acting role was as the star of the feature film The Bodyguard (1992). The film's original soundtrack won the 1994 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Its lead single "I Will Always Love You", became the best-selling single by a female artist in music history. With the album, Houston became the first act (solo or group, male or female) to sell more than a million copies of an album within a single week period under Nielsen SoundScan system.The album makes her the top female act in the top 10 list of the best-selling albums of all time, at number four. Houston continued to star in movies and contribute to their soundtracks, including the films Waiting to Exhale (1995) and The Preacher's Wife (1996). The Preacher's Wife soundtrack became the best-selling gospel album in history.
On February 11, 2012, Houston was found dead in her guest room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, in Beverly Hills, California, of causes not immediately known.News of her death, the day before and after the 2012 Grammy Awards, featured prominently in American and international media.
Her death was the final chapter of a tremulous career that began with the nurturing by superstar cousin Dionne Warwick and stalled as her drug use and marriage to Bobby Brown made for national headlines,
About the Author
Sidney Alvarez is a 10-year veteran in Public Relations and Brand Marketing; an Emmy award winning television journalist; workforce and economic development expert; and social media specialist. Memorable Sidney one on one interviews include: Pink, Beyonce, Destiny’s Child, Oprah Winfrey, Ricky Martin, President George W. Bush, President Bill Clinton, Mexico President Vicente Fox, Laura Bush, Texas Governor Rick Perry, Shania Twain, Gwen Stefani, John Travolta, Kathy Bates, Garth Brooks, Patrick Swayze, Halle Berry, Bill Cosby, Colton Ford, Wynonna Judd, Naomi Judd, Gloria Estefan, Celine Dion, Janet Jackson, and Hillary Clinton. Sidney has worked with different media affiliates as an on air talent; including: NBC, CBS, FOX, ABC, Warner Brothers, Univision, and MTV. Sidney resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania but is a native of El Paso, Texas.
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Robert 2/15/2012 3:56 pm
you know, she had all the talent in the world and no one could help her with her addictions! that's the worst part. so many resources available to her and she couldn't get her act together to get clean! what sad situation.
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Share Your Comments
you know, she had all the talent in the world and no one could help her with her addictions! that's the worst part. so many resources available to her and she couldn't get her act together to get clean! what sad situation.