My heart was truly broken with the news of Whitney Houston’s death on Saturday Feb. 11th, I literally was having a hard time breathing…
There have been so many supersonic talents in the music industry that have made such a permanent mark on our lives that when they pass away it feels like a part of our lives is gone forever. Their amazing songs became like soundtracks to our lives. Although the music will always be available for reminiscing, it feels so different to listen to a voice that’s recorded instead of having the possibility to hear that voice live again one day. Whitney Houston was one of those artists. From a young child dancing to her videos on MTV, singing my best off pitch renditions of “The greatest love of all” “You Give Good Love”, then as a teenager singing into my hairbrush giving my most dramatic version of “I Will Always Love You” and “I Have Nothing”, and as an adult dancing in the club to her comeback hit “Million Dollar Bill” and reflecting on my blessings while listening to “I Look to You”. Her voice, her style and her acting abilities set her apart from any other female singer, performer and icon in history.
Photo courtesy of whitneyhouston.com
Her last public appearance was a few days before her untimely death was at her best friend Kelly Price’s party. She was in attendance and sang at the Kelly Price & Friends Unplugged: For The Love Of R&B GRAMMY Party at Tru Hollywood on February 9, 2012 in Hollywood, California.
Whitney with daughter Bobbi Kristina arriving to Kelly Price's Pre-Grammy Party Feb. 9th
She would have attended the Pre-Grammy party that Clive Davis (her mentor) has every year, which she has attended each year as well. The party ironically was held in the same hotel that Whitney was found and pronounced to be dead. It was a sad but celebratory occasion on the eve of one of the biggest nights in music. Last night the 54th Annual Grammy Awards Show aired live with LL Cool J as host opening with a prayer for Whitney and a short video from highlights of the singer singing at previous shows. Later in the show Jennifer Hudson gave a short but sincere rendition of the Whitney’s all time No. 1 hit “I will always love you”.
Thankfully in 2010, Jennifer had the chance to sing to her idol in person during the BET Honors show that paid tribute to Whitney with an Entertainment Award.
Whitney won 6 Grammys, 22 AMAs and 33 Billboard Music Awards over the years among 415 awards in total.
Award for "I Look to You" given during her performance on the Italian version of X Factor
She seemed to be on the way to another comeback in in 2009 with her double platinum album “I Look to You”, then in 2010 she had great reviews while on her “Nothing but Love Tour”, during 2011 she had been working with her final movie Sparkle (remake of the 1970s original), which is set to be released this August, as well as being rumored to possibly become a new judge on the singing competition TV show, X Factor.
Jordin Sparks plays Whitney Houston's daughter in the remake of the 1970s classic "Sparkle", Aaliyah was originally cast as Sparkle, but died in a plane crash around the time they were set to originally start filming. They held off production until they found their new character, and now the film is set to be released this August. Photo courtesy of Whitneyhouston.com.
Although many will beat down her legacy and talk about her troubled years, I will continue to only focus on the amazing soundtrack she gave to my life. Whitney you will be greatly missed!
There was so much about Whitney I wanted to cover, so there are 2 other posts dedicated to her! Make sure to check them out
Loading tweets...