The daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston and entertainment executive John Houston, Whitney became popular during the 1980s and reigned as one of the biggest pop/R&B vocalists of our time. She became the only artist to chart seven consecutive #1 Billboard Hot 100 hits ("Saving All My Love For You," "How Will I Know," "Greatest Love Of All," "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)," "Didn't We Almost Have It All," "So Emotional," and "Where Do Broken Hearts Go"); the first female artist to enter the Billboard 200 album chart at #1 (her second album, Whitney, 1987); and the only artist with seven consecutive multi-platinum albums (Whitney Houston, Whitney, I'm Your Baby Tonight, The Bodyguard, Waiting To Exhale, and The Preacher's Wife soundtracks, and My Love Is Your Love).
Her career as an actress was strong, yet short-lived. Starring roles in "The Body Guard," "The Preacher's Wife," "Waiting to Exhale," and in "Cinderella" with Brandy, helped launch her acting career. Yet while massive success continued, personal struggles abounded. Addiction to cocaine and marijuana contributed to the downward spiral of her life as a master vocalist, stripping her chords of its natural gift. A long-standing feud with her father, allegedly over money, didn't mend before his passing, and Whitney never attended his funeral. Her marriage to Bobby Brown was tumultous due to professional jealousy and rumors of infidelity. She spoke with Oprah about how unhappy she was during that time in her life and that drugs became her solace.
Though friends and family members tried to intervene it wasn't until Whitney was able to pull away herself that things started to get back on track. The remake of the movie "Sparkle," set for an April 2012 release, marked an attempt for Whitney to show the world she was back on her feet. Sadly she died the night before The Grammys, the awards show that crowned her twice, and on the night of the infamous party by her mentor, music legend Clive Davis. Cause of death is unknown. Whitney Houston was 48 and is survived by her daughter, Bobby Kristina, 18.
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