Whitney Houston

Whitney Elizabeth Houston (born on August 9, 1963) is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B/pop Diva, actress, former fashion model, record and film producer. Houston is one of the most successful pop singers of all time, having sold over 200 million records worldwide, according to her official fan club.[1] Her body of work includes ballads, dance-pop and urban contemporary soul. She is well known for her soulful coloratura soprano voice.[2]

Houston was one of the first African American artists to find success on MTV in Michael Jackson's wake. She became the first artist to have seven consecutive U.S. number-one singles, and her 1992 Dolly Parton cover "I Will Always Love You" became one of the biggest singles in music history.[3] She later branched out into acting and eventually became a businesswoman, setting up production and recording studios while continuing to record music. In the 2000s, Houston's personal life became the subject of controversy because of her marriage to Bobby Brown allegations of drug abuse, especially after repeated cancellations of public appearances and erratic behaviour. Her record sales during this period were modest. Houston has since undergone an intense rehabilitation process (which made a success) and is currently recording an anticipated comeback album that will be released in the fall of 2007. Houston was born in Newark, New Jersey to John and Cissy Houston. She was born and raised Baptist but also exposed to the Pentecostal church. She attended a Roman Catholic single-sex high school Mount Saint Dominic Academy.

Houston's mother (Cissy Houston), first cousin (Dionne Warwick) and godmother (Aretha Franklin) are all notable figures in gospel music, rhythm and blues and soul music recordings. At the age of eleven, Houston began to follow in their footsteps and started performing as a soloist in the junior gospel choir at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey.