Whitney Houston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Whitney Houston
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Houston in 1991
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| Born | August 9, 1963 Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Died | February 11, 2012 (aged 48) |
| Burial place | Fairview Cemetery |
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| Years active | 1977–2012 |
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| Children | Bobbi Kristina Brown |
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Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was a famous American singer, actress, and producer. She was known around the world as "The Voice" because of her powerful and beautiful singing. Whitney is one of the most awarded musicians in history and is also one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with over 220 million records sold worldwide.
Her amazing success on the music charts and in her music videos helped open doors for other Black female artists. She starred in popular movies like The Bodyguard and Cinderella. Her version of the song "I Will Always Love You" is one of the best-selling singles ever.
In her later years, Whitney faced some personal challenges that affected her health. She passed away unexpectedly on February 11, 2012. Her death was ruled an accident. News of her passing was shared worldwide, and many people paid tribute to her incredible life and career.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Whitney Elizabeth Houston was born on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey. Music was a big part of her family. Her mother, Cissy Houston, was a Grammy-winning gospel singer. Her cousins, Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick, were also famous singers. The legendary singer Aretha Franklin was a close family friend and her "honorary aunt."
Whitney was raised in the Baptist faith and started singing in her church choir at age five. By the time she was 12, she was performing solos. Her mother Cissy taught her how to sing during her teenage years.
While still in high school, Whitney began performing with her mother in New York City clubs. She also worked as a model and appeared on the cover of Seventeen magazine. Many record companies wanted to sign her, but her mother insisted that she finish high school first. In 1983, when she was 19, the head of Arista Records, Clive Davis, heard her sing and offered her a worldwide recording contract.
A Career of Amazing Success
1985–1989: Becoming a Global Superstar
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In 1985, Houston released her first album, called Whitney Houston. It was a huge success and sold over 25 million copies worldwide. It had three number-one hit songs: "Saving All My Love for You", "How Will I Know", and "Greatest Love of All". The music video for "How Will I Know" was played a lot on MTV, which helped make her the first Black female artist to get heavy airtime on the channel.
Her second album, Whitney, came out in 1987. It was the first album by a female artist to debut at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. This album gave her four more number-one singles: "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)", "Didn't We Almost Have It All", "So Emotional", and "Where Do Broken Hearts Go". This set a record for the most consecutive number-one hits by any artist, with seven in a row.
1990–1997: Movies, Music, and More
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In 1990, Houston released her third album, I'm Your Baby Tonight. It showed a more urban R&B sound and included the number-one hits "I'm Your Baby Tonight" and "All the Man That I Need".
In 1991, she gave one of the most memorable performances of the U.S. national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner", at Super Bowl XXV. Her powerful rendition was so popular that it was released as a single and became a top-20 hit.
In 1992, Whitney starred in the hit movie The Bodyguard with actor Kevin Costner. She also sang most of the songs for the movie's soundtrack. The soundtrack's main song, "I Will Always Love You", became her most famous song. It was number one on the charts for a record-breaking 14 weeks. The soundtrack sold over 45 million copies, making it the best-selling soundtrack of all time.
During the 1990s, she married singer Bobby Brown, and they had a daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown. They later divorced.
Houston continued to act in successful films. She starred in Waiting to Exhale (1995) and The Preacher's Wife (1996) with Denzel Washington. The soundtrack for The Preacher's Wife became the best-selling gospel album of all time. In 1997, she starred as the Fairy Godmother in the TV movie Cinderella, which was celebrated for its diverse cast.
1998–2012: Later Albums and Final Works
Houston's 1998 album, My Love Is Your Love, was a critical and commercial success. It included hit songs like "It's Not Right but It's Okay" and the title track, "My Love Is Your Love". The album sold over 10 million copies worldwide.
In the 2000s, Houston continued to record music and also began producing movies. She produced the popular Disney films The Princess Diaries and The Cheetah Girls.
After a break, she returned to the top of the charts in 2009 with her final studio album, I Look to You. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. Her last role was in the 2012 movie Sparkle, which she also co-produced.
Death and Tributes
On February 11, 2012, Whitney Houston passed away unexpectedly at a hotel in Beverly Hills, California. She was 48 years old. The official cause of death was ruled an accidental drowning.
The news of her death came the day before the Grammy Awards, and the show included a special tribute to her. Fans all over the world were very sad, and her music sales soared as people remembered her incredible talent. Her memorial service was held at the New Hope Baptist Church in New Jersey, where she first started singing as a child.
Artistry and Voice
Whitney Houston was famous for her incredible singing voice, which earned her the nickname "The Voice." She had a wide vocal range, which means she could sing very high and very low notes with power and control.
She was known for a singing technique called melisma, where a singer sings many notes on a single syllable of a word. Her version of "I Will Always Love You" is a famous example of this technique. Her powerful voice and emotional performances inspired many singers who came after her, including Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, and Rihanna.
Legacy and Achievements
Whitney Houston is remembered as one of the greatest and most influential singers of all time. She broke down barriers for Black artists, especially women. Her success on MTV, which at first did not play many videos by Black musicians, opened the door for many others.
- She is in the Guinness World Records as the most awarded female artist of all time.
- She won 8 Grammy Awards, 22 American Music Awards, and 16 Billboard Music Awards.
- She is the only artist to have seven consecutive number-one singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.
- Her album The Bodyguard is the best-selling soundtrack album ever.
- She is the first Black artist to have three albums sell over 10 million copies each (diamond certification).
- In 2020, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Philanthropy
Houston was known for her generosity and work with charities. In 1989, she started the Whitney Houston Foundation for Children. This organization helped children who were sick, homeless, or in need. She raised money for many causes, including the United Negro College Fund and HIV/AIDS research.
She donated all the money from her 1991 Super Bowl single to a fund for soldiers and their families. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, she re-released the song and donated the profits to help firefighters and victims.
Discography
- Whitney Houston (1985)
- Whitney (1987)
- I'm Your Baby Tonight (1990)
- My Love Is Your Love (1998)
- Just Whitney (2002)
- One Wish: The Holiday Album (2003)
- I Look to You (2009)
Filmography
Films starred
- The Bodyguard (1992)
- Waiting to Exhale (1995)
- The Preacher's Wife (1996)
- Cinderella (1997)
- Sparkle (2012)
Films produced
- Cinderella (1997)
- The Princess Diaries (2001)
- The Cheetah Girls (2003)
- The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004)
- The Cheetah Girls 2 (2006)
- Sparkle (2012)
Tours
- The Greatest Love World Tour (1986)
- Moment of Truth World Tour (1987–1988)
- I'm Your Baby Tonight World Tour (1991)
- The Bodyguard World Tour (1993–1994)
- My Love Is Your Love World Tour (1999)
- Nothing but Love World Tour (2009–2010)
See also
In Spanish: Whitney Houston para niños
- List of best-selling albums
- List of best-selling singles
- List of artists who reached number one in the United States
- List of best-selling music artists
- List of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees
